2013 Château Pontet-Canet

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Harvest  30 September to 10 October.  Pale garnet, light at the rim. Perfumed, pleasant with leafy, red-fruit notes. Rather  light and fluid on the palate, the acidity present and the tannins green and drying on  the finish. Well-handled but shows the weakness of the vintage. Clearly for early  consumption. (JL)

For such a challenging year, that is a real success, and I place it above the 2012 if you are looking to open now (in fact I would strongly suggest opening now, as this is not a vintage to age). There are some lovely autumnal fruits on display, with delicacy and charm, and plenty of Pauillac character, if a more tempered, subdued version. Blackberry rather than cassis - there is juice rather than concentration here, and tobacco leaf rather than cigar box, but plenty of sage, white pepper and graphite. Enjoyable and deftly handled. Harvest September 30 to October 10.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2013 Pontet-Canet is evolving into tobacco, new leather and dried mulberries scents with a core of kirsch, baked plums and cigar box plus a waft of Indian spices. Medium-bodied, elegantly styled and wonderfully refreshing in the mouth, it has a solid line of grainy tannins and loads of mineral sparks on the finish.