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. — 20 days ago

Diane M. Napolitano

9.9

Likely from Williston Park Wines and Spirits. Cranberry juice, a hint of spice like nutmeg maybe, vanilla, wow. — 3 months ago

Valerie Finley

9.2

Nice crisp Gamay. Dark fruits. Some earthiness which I like! Having this in Paris at Freddy’s! — 24 days ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

8.9

Pleasant drinking. — a month ago

Mark S.

9.0

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

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2010 | 15 y old and still fruit, always a bit sturdy - which I like - good balanced for the long haul and now drinking perfect. If all Bordeaux would be this good… paired with a beef schnitzel and red cabbage apple mint cole slaw. — 4 months ago

Ana Lizardi Macias

9.3

Thanks Costco! — a month ago

Ericsson

8.9

Good wine. WSET3 London. — 2 months ago

Edward

9.0

Very good. — 2 months ago

ESF

9.1

very pleasant, elegant, all kinds of cherry, raspberry and red currant on nose, some red florals, spice and an herbal note. great varietal typicity w/out carbonics - legit, classic style, has many more years ahead, mild tannins and decent acidity make this versatile for food options — 4 months ago