Region: Paulliac, Bordeaux, France
Grape: 30% Merlot, 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4%Cabernet Franc, 1%Petit Verdot 
Rating: Robert Parker 100pts

The fifth-growth Chateau Pontet-Canet is located in the heart of Pauillac appellation, just south of the famous Chateaux Mouton Rothschild. The beginning of one of the largest estates in the Médoc dates back to the 18th century. Pontet-Canet's terroir features rises of Garonne gravel on limestone bedrock. The château's winegrowing philosophy is to intervene as little as possible and as naturally as possible in the vineyard. Only traditional viticultural and cultivation practices are used.

Tasting Note: Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pontet-Canet is a little shut down to begin, but with coaxing this baby is soon firing on all cylinders with a full-throttle nose of chocolate-covered cherries, crème de cassis, boysenberries and spice cake plus tons of kirsch and cranberry sauce sparks and a beautiful undercurrent of emerging tertiary characters: cigar box, sandalwood, chargrill, truffles and cast iron pan.
Full-bodied, rich, multilayered and completely seductive, the palate is charged with incredible energy, with a firm backbone of velvety tannins and seamless freshness providing solid grounding and promising a very long life ahead. It finishes with an incredible display of epically long-lasting flavor fireworks.