Lunch 🥪
K&L notes as follows, Grand Pontet is an interesting property, positioned in the neighborhood of other stars of the appellation such as Châteaux Canon, Beau-Séjour-Bécot and Clos Fourtet. It is, however, a small estate, a mere 14 hectares, and its prices are much better than some of its more prestigious neighbors. In 1980 it was purchased by Gerard and Dominique Bécot, owners of the neighboring Beau-Séjour-Bécot. They have applied the same high standards to both Châteaux in their possession, and their winemaking team crafts Grand Pontet alongside the Beau-Séjour-Bécot wines. Recently purchased in 2021 by Domaines Clarence Dillon (Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion, et al.), the property was combined with and incorporated into Château Quintus. Full-bodied and luscious, this Grand Pontet is laden with ripe blackberry fruits, savory tobacco, licorice notes, and ripe, softened tannins. It’s seamless and bold, not shy. It’s going to require something decadent to pair with, such as filet mignon or some other black-tie dish with plenty of flavor and rich umami presence. — 3 years ago
Thanks to @David L , I’m a believer. Loads of ripe melon, lemon zest, white grapefruit, lemongrass, and tropical fruits of all kinds; green guava, pineapple, kiwi. This is better with lots of air and closer to room temp. Jesse Katz is doing some really fun wines right now, and this stands out. I think this will age really nicely. Extremely interested to learn more about the oak treatment. When I heard Haut Brion Blanc barrels, my ears perked up. Check out @Greg Ballington ‘s post. — 6 years ago
Love this! Fresh squeezed lime, light grapefruit notes. A little peach and white pepper. This is a very well integrated wine. — 8 years ago
This might be the best QPR wine out there (I think I paid 20bucks) drinks like 10x that and then some. White pepper, slate and grapefruit. Chewy structure. Just awesome wine. Story is this is either the press wine or the after picks from a 1st growth BDX. Somebody told me Haut Brion. I can see that. Wish I had a lot more. — 9 years ago
Not sure if it's just in a dumb phase or didn't want to come out and play. Not very inspiring, last bottle was better. Out of OWC — 10 years ago
2001 still very nice! Improves still with some air. Looong finish. — 10 years ago
2014/5/25@baoge hotspot dinner HK — 11 years ago
Good @, Pieroth, 231117 — a year ago
Top notch. — 4 years ago
Did not know what to expect but trying to drink my cellar down and have to open this old stuff. Opened, decanted and but back in the bottle about 4 hours before dinner. Tasted when first opened and it seemed very light and not much there. When we poured it for dinner it had opened, very integrated, had a lot going on without that old wine funk. Very enjoyable but did seem to lose some fruit a couple of hours later. RP rated this wine a 98+ and considered it along with Haut Brion as the wines of the vintage. Paid $22.95 back in the day. — 6 years ago
Superb wine, a little young, strong tannins, rich body, deep red, strong currant, berry and soil flavors — 8 years ago
Clearly aged, but still had some fruit and exotic notes of a wonderful wine — 8 years ago
6L 1989 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape. Drank w K at the 50th gala. What a cool bottle of wine, especially to compare with the 6L 1982 LA Mission Chateau Haut Brion. — 10 years ago
1992. Drank after haut brion and petrus 82 so no accurate comment here. Nose is typical pomerol, but the coating effect remains long n silky. Drink. — 11 years ago
Top notch — 4 years ago
Dominus 94 won out this night. A little muted on the palate but smells right — 5 years ago
Really a Grand Vin de Bordeaux. You know that a flower was named after this wine? The Rose Demoiselles de Larrivet Haut Brion. How cool is that? — 6 years ago
Young and should have never ordered this along side of Haut Brion. It was a distant back up to the Chateau Margaux, which sold just before we could lock it down! Probably above average by itself, but tonight it was mediocre with the other wines. — 7 years ago
Woah. This may be the greatest white wine I've ever had. Seriously. It out-shined the night's reds - Lafite, Haut Brion, and Palmer. It's rich with fruit (apple, honeysuckle) with great minerality. A super long finish. I'll be seeking out more of these 2011s, and I highly recommend that you do too! — 8 years ago
My first shot at the Realm white and it delivered huge. Astounding aromatics of sassafras (yes! @Roman Sukley) and rain soaked vegetation. Melon rind, stream bed and a lively verve. I may be crazy but I get a Haut Brion blanc vibe here. Outstanding with fresh oysters and good company. — 9 years ago
Deep honeyed with complex nutty flavor. Balanced with plenty of life left. The complexity ratio is SB and Semillion is in full flower. One of Woltners best even at 37 years of age. — 10 years ago
Perfect right now. Pencil lead ect. Nice bordeaux. Drink up — 10 years ago
2014/2/9 @Royal China Club Shanghai with Sir Huang by me, 适饮最重要,完胜86,96拉圖,07拉菲一开就香,下午四点开瓶,持续力也漂亮,黑醋栗铅笔心转咖啡豆,年轻的拉菲好迷人很亲近,今晚波尔多顺序lafite 07, mouton 96, haut brion 03, cheval blanc 02, Margaux 94, latour 96, latour 86 — 11 years ago
Peter Rosenfeld
Fabulous. 2020. Deep smooth. Long finish. — 8 months ago