Château Pontet-Canet 2015 Pauillac (75cl, 13.5%)

A full-bodied Pauillac red wine from the 1855-classified Fifth Growth estate, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The 2015 blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Ageing uses 50% new French oak barrels, 35% concrete amphorae and 15% second-fill barrels; the amphorae were made for the estate using limestone-and-cement for Merlot and gravel-and-cement for Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate has been owned by the Tesseron family since 1975 and uses biodynamic viticulture. The nose shows black cherry preserves, blackcurrant, black raspberry, kirsch, wilted roses, tobacco leaf, camphor and cinnamon, with graphite, lead pencil shavings and fragrant soil. The palate is dense with red and black fruit, cassis, graphite, smoke and dark vegetal notes, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, with licorice, pencil lead, spice and residual berry fruit.