Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I’ve had a number of PC 96’s over time, none quite this good. The fill line & cork perfect. Very little sediment. Some bottle neck tannin burn. For me, Pontet Canet didn’t really hit its consistent, quality stride until 2005. Doesn’t mean they didn’t make a few beauties before then. Pontet Canet is proof that the 1855 Bordeaux Classification needs to be redone. Unlikely it will in my lifetime.

This 96 maybe just short of its precipice. Stylistically a little better than 94.

The nose reminds me of everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola. Sweet forest floor w/ leaves, sweet mushrooms, sweet led pencil shavings, steeped tea w/ hints of fruit, charcoal, dry tobacco/leather, some dry herbs, withering dark, red flowers, red roses with violets.

The palate is also everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola/red vines. Everything I understood the first time standing in the estate vineyard of Pichon Baron. Tasting limestone, dry river stone, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, dry stems. In fact, I’ve tasted vineyards soils everywhere I have been in every world wine region. Basically, everywhere in the wine world that has reliance. Many multiple times. Sweet graphite, steeped tea w/ hints of dark fruit, understated, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanillin, dark cocoa, dark exotic spices, some anise to black licorice, charcoal, dry tobacco with ash/leather, some dry herbs-safe/bay leaf, limestone, dry river stone, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, dry topsoils, dry stems, withering/dry dark, red flowers, red roses with violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with an extremely well balanced/structured/tensioned, great length and an elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls nicely on dry earth and dark spices.

A very, very slow roll with my Ribcap. Definitely better with the steak than on its own.

This bottle tells me this 96 has plenty of good drinking ahead, another 8-10 yrs+.

ABV is 13%. Disappointing it ever changed. — 19 days ago

Tom Kohli

8.9

Very good - will buy again. — a year ago

with Anna, Daniel and 2 others

Mark S.

9.0

Aroma good. Aged, liquor like.
Château Grand-Pontet Saint-Emilion 16 @8360, Pieroth, 251117 — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Ist time trying this from the owners of Pontet Canet. Well made with everything in place showing good balance. Everyone seemed to enjoy it — 5 months ago

Adam Baker

8.9

Really good with food. Drank with Mediterranean buffet at Citizen House for board meeting. — 8 months ago

with Brud

Anders Johnson

9.2

A very alluring blend, still young. — 2 years ago

Thomas Ryan

9.2

2000 for daughters birthday decanted, wonderful immediately and grew better over time sitting in the decanter. Only one bottle left in cellar after this one. — 4 months ago

James K

9.3

Impressed this held up for so long. Has zero hope or expectations when our neighbor brought it over. — 6 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. A more flashy, extracted style compared to stable mates Villemaurine and Sansonnet, but very well done. — a year ago

Joy Hammons

9.7

Excellent! It took very little time to breathe which was unexpected for a 2011. We will be buying more of this if we can find it. — 2 years ago