96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Deeply brooding, refined aromas of blackcurrants, bitter chocolate, blood plums, dark cherries, cedar and coffee beans. The palate is full-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity that lead into a structured yet silky-smooth and savory finish. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot, 2% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Great to drink young, or will reward after time in bottle. Drink or hold.

93-95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2022 Insignia is a similar blend to the 2021 and checks in as 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% each of Malbec and Cabernet that's still resting in new barrels. It has a terrific dense purple/plum color as well as a perfumed, lifted nose of red and blue fruits, candied flowers, chocolate, and nicely integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied, it's balanced, shows the plush, riper style of the vintage, has good tannins, and outstanding length.

93-95 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Insignia is packed with succulent red cherry fruit, rose petal, sweet spice and new leather. The 2022 is shaping up to a be a showy Insignia, but it is not overdone.

95 Jonathan Cristaldi - Decanter Magazine

2022 is a beautifully structured and expressive wine. It opens with savoury wild herb notes—spearmint, bay laurel, and high-toned cinnamon spice—lifted by elegant red florals. A core of crunchy red fruit delivers ripe density balanced by energy and tension. Cocoa powder tannins provide grip without heaviness, and the finish is exceptional in length, refined and savoury. This is a poised and polished wine that confidently delivers the goods.

91 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

The 2022 Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Le Murate is impossible to ignore. Its burst of wild blueberries and sweet sage is complicated by hints of chalk dust and cocoa. This is wonderfully fresh and vibrant in style, with pure wild berry fruits and violet pastille that resonate throughout. It tapers off long and is perfumed with a liquid floral concentration, leaving traces of lavender and blue flowers lingering. This lovely Montepulciano is refined entirely in stainless steel tanks. It's a fantastic value.

98 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries with hints of crushed walnuts, grilled thyme, cocoa powder and graphite. It’s full-bodied with layers of ultra-fine, silky tannins that elegantly coat your palate, allowing the juicy and vibrant fruit to shine. Delicate and pristine, yet compact with lots of energy and power to uncover in the coming years. It lasts for minutes and is delicious now. The purity of fruit is really impressive. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. Try after 2027."

97+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The flagship from this estate, the 2020 Château Pontet-Canet is a beauty based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new oak, with 35% in amphora. Deep purple-hued with a great nose of dark currants, plums, tobacco leaf, and truffly earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel and a great finish. The higher Merlot content here really shows in its overall sexy, supple, seamless style, and while this already offers pleasure, it's going to be one for the ages as well.

97 Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Dark chocolate, bramble tones, not overly floral or fruity with some cedar and cinnamon notes. Lovely high acidity straight away, forward, bright and energetic with lovely crunchy blue fruit on the palate but creamy textured tannins giving a round and complete mouthful. Nothing feels overdone, this is quietly seductive and confident but not at all showing off. I love the minerality and the graphite grip with plum and black cherry and tons of slate, liquorice and menthol freshness. Long finish, slowly expansive, building and growing from start to finish showing an impressive structure overall. Nicely constructed, charming still with the Pauillac touch. A great Pontet - immediately seductive and enjoyable with a long ageing potential.

97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs a lot of swirling and aeration to coax out notes of crushed blackcurrants, blueberry compote, and candied violets, leading to suggestions of allspice, fertile loam, kirsch, and dark chocolate with a touch of Indian spices. The medium-bodied palate delivers a firm backbone of grainy tannins with loads of bright, perfumed red and black fruits and seamless acidity, finishing long and fragrant. This is stunning.

97 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

A powerful character to this wine, touch of oyster shell, soy, salinity, but also creamy with energy, lift and precision, and a violet character that you find increasingly in Pontet Canet. Plenty of Pauillac signature in its tannic grip and heft, with cocoa bean and slate. Deft and exceptionally successful. Harvest September 14 to September 30. No second wine, as has been true for the past half-decade at Pontet Canet. First full vintage for Mathieu Bessonnet who replaced the previous long-term director Jean-Michel Comme in 2020. 45% new oak barrels, 15% one year, 40% in amphoras.

97 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

With a nose that displays truffle, tobacco leaf, cedar, licorice, and black currants, the wine is soft, fresh, refined, and focuses you on its cassis, blackberry, earth, spice, and peppery herb character. There are no hard edges in the finish, just soft, vibrant currants, herbs, and spice. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.8. The wine is aged in 45% new, French oak barrels and amphora. The harvest took place September 14, to September 30. Drink from 2026-2055

92-95 Jasper Morris, MW - Inside Burgundy

A bright vigorous purple. The nose starts very well, dark cherry and blackberry, while the fruit on the palate is in more luxurious mode, possibly the sample needs freshening. This is in morello cherry territory with quite a coating of oak. More sumptuous all round than Boudots, so depends which style you prefer. Higher alcohol, just under 14%. Drink from 2031-2037. Tasted Nov 2024.

93 Wine Spectator

"Bright acidity and detailed texture frames rich flavors of date, candied orange peel, dried apricot, graham cracker and almond cream in this seamlessly integrated, vibrant Blanc de Blancs. A wine drinker's Champagne. Drink now through 2018. 3,000 cases made. -AN"

94+ Erin Brooks - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard, vinified entirely with whole clusters, features scents of raspberry, pomegranate, black tea leaves, blood orange and Angostura bitters, revealing earthy accents as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and tense, with a concentrated core of alluringly herbal fruit and a long, ethereal finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.

97 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

While billed as an entry level/second wine of the estate, the 2021 Asterisk is anything but, and it's a killer wine. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot brought up in a mix of new and used oak, it has a deep ruby hue as well as a classic Sloan nose of meaty red and black fruits, iron, roasted herbs, graphite, and licorice. This Pauillac-like full-bodied, concentrated effort has ample mid-palate depth, supple tannins, and a great finish.

92 Wine Enthusiast

Black fruit and vanilla aromas set the scene for this dense wine. There are firm tannins in this mature wine, combined with mushroom and spice flavors. Drink now. — Roger Voss