Pontet-Canet and other 1966 wines from Arden Fine Wines.
Château Pontet-Canet takes its name from Jean-François de Pontet – Grand Squire of France under Louis XV – and the estate he established in 1781 at Canet, north of the great winemaking village of Pauillac.
The Cruse family owned Pontet-Canet until 1973, when the Cruse wine business was found to have been selling cheap Languedoc plonk as more expensive Bordeaux, with the fraudulent profits averaging almost $100 per bottle on 8,000-9,000 bottles.
The Scandale à Bordeaux forced the sale of Pontet-Canet to Guy Tesseron, Cognac merchant and owner of Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe.
It was diligently reported by Paris Match…
Happily, there are no such concerns about this 1966 Château Pontet-Canet.
Overall, the 1966 vintage for Bordeaux was generally excellent, probably the best year since 1962.
The wines were light but elegant and stylish. Once they were bottled and had received some age the quality of the year was apparent.
Like a lean long-distance runner, well-cellared examples of Pontet-Canet and other 1966s have lasted well.
Château Pontet-Canet and other 1966 wines from Arden Fine Wines.
