The 2002 Pontet-Canet is showing really well now, with a rich, full-bodied structure and smooth tannins. It opens up with hints of violets, red fruit, and a touch of wood. It’s got great depth and a nice long finish. After a bit of time to settle, this wine is in a great spot—ready to enjoy but will keep evolving for a while. Perfect if you're after a classic Pauillac that’s drinking beautifully now.

The Wine Advocate | RP 88
Published: Apr 29, 2005
Drink: 2011-2020

This wine has seemingly gone to sleep and is in a dormant, ungracious stage, exhibiting notes of green tea leaves intermixed with red and black currants in its dusty nose. A medium-bodied wine with moderately high tannin and a certain austerity, it seems to be a much less impressive effort than I thought from barrel or is it just impossibly closed? There is still substantial size and tannic clout to the wine, but the fruit seems to have gone into hiding. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020 . 

As most well-informed insiders in Bordeaux know, proprietor Alfred Tesseron has been doing everything right since 1994 in order to fully develop the enormous potential of this vineyard adjacent to Mouton-Rothschild. Some serious work is done in the vineyard including de-budding, de-leafing, and crop-thinning. The harvest usually takes place in several attempts trying to maximize ripeness and there are two separate sorting tables. Yields have dropped dramatically, and of course there is a severe selection.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16
Published: Mar 28, 2012
Drink: 2012-2020

Mid crimson. Very light nose. Solid and very earthbound with some really earthy flavours. Lots of acidity on the finish. Stolid.

Pontet-canet.com

The vintage 2002 can be distinguished by dry weather conditions during spring, followed by an average summer. The flowering and the ripening came out late.
On the other hand, the month of September, exceptionally hot and dry, allowed outstanding maturation, which was very good / perfect for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
The harvest started on September 30th, with the picking of Merlot within the first week with 40% of the pickers. The picking of Cabernet started on October 7th but was interrupted in between by the harvest of Petit Verdot.
Harvest finished on October 14th.
During vinification, the fermentations were very slow because of the use of natural yeasts and the filling up of the wooden vats by gravity. The procedure brought up a progressive release of grape sugars. 
The extractions were made with lot of softness, which allowed to get only the best tannins and to express clearly the characteristics of each microterroir.
The selection of the terroirs and the control of free-run wine and press-wine are a hard work which allows to obtain the full potential of both vintage and vineyard during the blending time.

Tasting:
On the nose, a woody hint is dominated by floral notes such as violets and red fruits.
The attack is full and followed by a structure in the mouth which is both full-bodied and very rich. The tannins demonstrate great quality without the roughness and the length in mouth is impressive.

Harvest : from September 30th to October 14th
Grape varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon - 32% Merlot
2% Cabernet Franc - 1% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 13°