Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2018 vintage. Nicolas Jay 10th Anniversary wine dinner @Mister A’s Restaurant-San Diego. 4.12.26. — a month ago

Ira Schwartz

9.5

Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, and chalky minerality are layered with hints of toasted brioche and hazelnut. On the palate, vibrant acidity with a creamy, seamless texture. The finish is long and precise. A confident elegance. This bottle makes you yell , “Why don’t I own magnums?” — 4 months ago

Karyn Fricke

9.1

Berry aromas, smooth tannins and lingering finish. Nice on its own and even better with steaks. — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.5

Crafted by Philippe Melka, aromas of dried herbs, forest floor, and tobacco leaf frame a core of cassis and black plum. The palate is savory yet refined, with fine tannins, graphite nuance, and integrated oak. The finish is long with earthy depth.

I love Napa 2011 vintage, which is very underestimated in my opinion for its cool, extended season with resulting bottlings from top producers leaning towards restraint and classicism. — 3 months ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Burst of blackberry aroma, earthy and smoky, with a hint of cigar aftertaste. Juicy and delicious, more than held its own with the Lafite Rothschild we also had at same dinner! — 5 months ago

Ron R

9.5

This producer is in a class of its own.
No signs of maturity. Pure notes of saddle leather and oak on the nose. A pure expression of Bdx with balance and power. Mid palate displays mature cherries and a hint of olives. Grainy tannins play second fiddle to prominent acidity.
My mental shortcut here is; GET SOME!
Thanks Rick. — 8 months ago

with Andrew and Rick

Roberto Carli

9.2

Very lean on the nose, red rocks and Syrah-like olive tapenade. Brambly black fruit, vanilla (a hint, would never guess it’s 100% new oak), a core of cassis. Tannins are still quite grippy. — 4 years ago

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. — 4 months ago

Christie S

9.1

Delicious. Smooth red that would pair with almost anything or perfect to drink on its own. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Although I find that La Closerie generally needs some bottle age to fill out and come into its own, LC19 is already showing fabulously flaunting deep, powerful layers of ripe orchard fruit with smoky minerals, toasted hazelnuts and exotic spices. The palate is impeccably structured and concentrated with a satiny texture and vibrant energy that gives way to a long mineral inflicted finish. Pinot Meunier from the master, it just can’t be matched. This is the best release since LC13. — 4 years ago