2018 Grand Pontet
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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Grand-Pontet—a blend of 39% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc and 12% Malbec—comes prancing out of the glass with flamboyant notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by suggestions of cinnamon stick, cumin seed and ground cloves with a waft of unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bags of spicy black and blue fruit flavors, framed by velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a minty lift.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Lots of ripe black raspberry, cassis, and graphite notes emerge from the 2018 Château Grand-Pontet, another beautiful Saint-Emilion from this estate, which appears to be on an upward trajectory. With medium to full-bodied richness, silky, polished tannins, and a focused, elegant texture, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for a decade. If it gains more mid-palate depth as well as richness over the coming couple of years, it will warrant an even higher rating.
Barrel sample. Dark crimson with bright cherry rim. Very ripe on the nose, almost jammy. That ripeness has made it rather flat on the palate, the tannins thick and a bit tough. Not sure if this is a good sample. Did they just pick too late? Second sample very similar. (JH)
About the producer
Ch. Grand Pontet was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon wines (owners of Ch. Haut-Brion and Ch. la Mission Haut-Brion) in 2021. The last vintage was 2020, with the vineyards absorbed by Ch. Quintus, Clarence Dillon’s prestige Saint-Emilion estate from the 2021 vintage.