Pauillac

Surface area: 296.4 acres in all, but only 192.3 acres are planted in vines

Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc

Average yields (over the last 5 years): 55 hectoliters per hectare

Total average annual production: 35,000-42,000 cases

Upbringing: Harvest is done manually. Winemaking is traditional, and fermentations last 3 weeks. Only old Merlot vines undergo malolactics in barrels; others complete malolactics in vats. Wines are aged in casks, 40%-45% of which are new, for 16-18 months. They are fined and filtered.

Plateau of maturity: 8-30 years following the vintage

NOTE:

The harvest is always carried out manually. For those parcels that give the grand vin, eventual young vines are harvested first and separately, and the older vines are harvested afterward, when they are deemed fully mature. The grapes are sorted on a table that has been specially designed for the chateau.

vineyard positioned directly across from Mouton-Rothschild, one would expect the quality and stature of the wines of Pontet-Canet to be exceptionally high."

"Recent vintages, notably those since the late eighties, give strong signs that Pontet-Canet is serious about challenging the elite of Pauillac. In particular, the 1994, 1995, and 1996 were fantastic efforts."

Chateau Pontet-Canet 1996       

(5º Growth)

Wine Spectator: “A young red, with bright black licorice and berry aromas and hints of spice.  Full-bodied, with firm tannins and compact fruit structure.  Slightly closed on the finish, but impressive nonetheless.  Best after 2002.”

Robert Parker: “A classic Pauillac, the wine is full-bodied as well as extraordinarily rich, ripe and powerful.  This is a profound Pontet-Canet that may turn out to be even more classic and longer-lived than the 1995.”