Club le Pontet; single vineyard Grand Cru Saint Emilion
Club le Pontet; single vineyard Grand Cru Saint Emilion
Club le Pontet: our single vineyard Grand Cru Saint Emilion (club). One of the original Bordeaux ‘garagistes’, 100-point St Emilion winemaker Jonathan Maltus (of Le Dôme fame), is a friend of Iridium Luxury's wine guru, Tom Harrow. This enables Iridium subscribers to access his newest and final wine ‘Chateau Pontet Labrie’.
This small 1Ha vineyard produces only 300 cases of a new Merlot / Cabernet Franc wine (with vines pre-dating the frost of 1957!), which he is developing as the Merlot equivalent to Le Dôme. The first two vintages (2015 & 2016) have attracted excellent 95/96 point reviews, but more importantly, given the very limited production, it’s immediately a collector’s item.
Membership provides 24 bottles per year of 2015/16/17 vintage). First vintage (2015) is being prepared for delivery ex chateau in November. Bottles can be signed and further personalised by arrangement too.
Price: £7,500 per person.
Pontet Labrie & Le Pontet - an exclusive wine, a unique club
Jonathan Maltus, who has just been honoured with an OBE for his services to wine, is one of Bordeaux’ most pioneering and successful 100-point winemakers. Famous for his single vineyard cru wines which are consistently rated in the mid-high 90’s, including scores of 99 and 100 points,“What Jonathan has achieved in Bordeaux is nothing short of remarkable.” says Will Lyons, of The Wall Street Journal.
Last year Jonathan approached Tom Harrow and Honest Grapes as he wanted to present a very special new wine, in a way
unique for Bordeaux...
He has one last boutique vineyard on the plateau in Saint-Émilion on some of the best soils in the region, with old vines (some pre-’56), surrounded by Grand Cru Classé châteaux. Production has begun with the 5-star 2015 vintage, acclaimed in Saint-Émilion as one of the greatest ever, of which Jonathan himself says “In 21 years making wine in the region, I don’t recall
harvesting in conditions that ideal.”
Critical reception for Pontet Labrie’s maiden vintage has been enthusiastic on both sides of the Atlantic, barrel samples receiving 94-96 points from The Wine Enthusiast and 4.5 stars (out of 5) from Decanter, aswell as the same score as Mouton Rothschild from Tim Atkin MW, and the following review from The Wine Advocate: “The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannin, very well-balanced with touches of blueberry and black cherry, fine delineation towards the finish that lingers long in the mouth... 2015 was the perfect way to introduce Le Pontet - this is splendid.” 93-95 points
The wine (of which only 300 cases will be produced) can only be accessed as part of a 3-year founder membership to Club Le Pontet, whose members will receive an allocation each year and a number of other exclusive privileges (see below). Funds are going towards the construction of a stunning new winery and tasting rooms (completion 2018), to which founder members will have access and whose names will be engraved on the foundation plaque. Less than 200 Founder Members worldwide will have access to this wine from the first vintage and contribute to the crowdfunded winery.
Founder Member annual benefits include:
• 24-bottle allocation of Pontet Labrie (for 3 years starting with 2015 vintage). Also available in larger formats, and labels can be personalised for gifting and display.
• Complimentary membership of Honest Grapes Grand Crew Classé fine wine concierge service.
• Invitation to join Paris to Bordeaux Rally, culminating in a gala dinner in Saint-Émilion hosted by Jonathan with selection of his top-scoring wines (Inaugural event planned for May 2018, dates TBC).
• Opportunities for private guided visits and tastings to the château.
• Access to Maltus fine wine dinner at private member’s club 67 Pall Mall in London.