Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 8 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.3

The 2004 Vieux Château Certan was picked starting September 20. This is a little fuller on the nose compared to the 2002, with more fruit concentration, red plum and raspberry, wilted rose petals and a touch of thyme. This is very endearing and open, yet there is vigor. The palate is well-balanced with finely chiseled tannins. While not the most complex vintages of this decade, it is very well-balanced with a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced with a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. I have admired this Pomerol since first tasting it from barrel, and I still do. Drink now or over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 years ago

Scott Strickler

9.5

Dark fruits and well balanced tannins highlight this excellent wine. More in the medium to full body Pinot noir‘s which I prefer  — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

The juice, the energy, the dammit I don’t want it to be so tasty but...Artemis got you. Because she’s a goddess and says so. I mean, there are other deities. Ones more powerful or whatevs but I’ll run through the woods with this for a night — 7 years ago

Sydney Provence

9.9

Really nice, crisp, minerally chenin blanc. At this price point, it's everything I want from a wine. — 7 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

Nero d’avola? Native yeasts 💁🏻‍♂️
#sommcon — 8 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.8

A softened ruby color. Beautiful balance, everything in harmony. Wet earth, raspberry, cinnamon, a whiff of truffle, intoxicating nose. So much ripe, fresh red fruit on the palate. Such soft tannins, damson plum, a mineral streak running through. Drinking a 15 year old wine for 15th anniversary of diabetes. This is splendid in the moment — 9 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.2

2011: all varieties. Meaty, lavender, garden herbs, smoky, but still very vibrant red fruit. Lovely vibrancy of red fruit and all Mouvedre and Grenache aromatics. Sweet fruit, juicy acidity, hot indian spice and liquorice. Plum, cherry, spiced. Quite ready now. — 11 years ago

Victor Demydov

8.9

Great for 30 — 13 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. — 8 months ago

Jack Krawczyk

9.8

still tight on the tannins and rich plum flavor. could enjoy for 5-10 more years. — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.3

mint and plum. Lovely midpalate. Delicious — 3 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Sean Sims

8.9

Wow, jam, dark stone fruit. Deep purple rim. A pleasure to drink as I grill — 6 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Beautiful scents of black plum and a little vanilla. On the feminine side for a Napa Cab. Precise flavors of black fruit, tobacco, leather with an under layer of smoke. Nice smooth finish — 7 years ago

with Chad

Manny Abascal

9.4

New leather, licorice, graphite on nose, juicy plum and black fruit on palate, velvet texture, integrated tannins, long finish, balance. — 8 years ago

Vincy

9.5

One of the best vintages, inky fruits, plum, scents of floral, concentrated aroma, adorable and sweet smiling. A little flabby for me made it not a perfect night.
2018/6/21 — 8 years ago

Deborah Parker Wong

10

Umami, tea leaves, leather, bright and focused mid palate of umeboshi plum, celery salt and sweet pipe tobacco. Looong and memorable. — 9 years ago

Kai Chang

9.6

Tried this for the first time at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, I had such a great memory with this wine. It hits you with a fully oak filled fruity and substantial aroma of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, cigar, caramel, vanilla and a little breadiness. Burst of energetic fruit flavours supported by its vibrant acidity and smooth yet chewy tannin goes into long a fulfilling finish. Still young, still a lot of potential.. Thanks to my wife for a great dinner of pan seared beef shank steak. — 12 years ago

Andrew Goldstein

9.8

Black berries, plum, light, chocolate, spicy finish. — 13 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.8

This wine is dark ruby in color. The nose offers beautiful aromas of black fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, and anise. It’s lush. The palate is exquisite, with blackberry, blueberry, and plum flavors. There is some minerality, but it's the fruit that shows out. It is a magnificent Bordeaux, of a vintage that I'm told is much better than previous years. The tannic grip is remarkable, and the finish leaves one wanting another glass. Steak, as fatty as you can get it, is the pairing for this wine. — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This had a polished, elegant mouthfeel showing red, black fruits, plum, graphite, mocha, spice with floral & tobacco notes. — 9 months ago

Andrea

10

Delicious!!! Warm, soft. Enjoy and be merry. Lucious purple plum flavor. #MAH — 9 months ago

Richard Russell

9.1

Wava likes publix bogo 30 per — 3 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.6

A surprise addition of the night. A great blend, about 75% Cab, 14% merlot with CF and PV filling in the remainder. Plum, blackberry and fig show through nicely. Touches of vanilla. — 4 years ago

with Marilea

R. David Liebers

9.0

Pleasant aroma, fruity on the tongue with a dry finish. — 6 years ago

Calvin Liang

9.4

Forest floor, crushed gravel, crushed black plum, fig compote, lavender, and mocha. Many layers and nuances. Delicious! -2003 Vintage — 7 years ago

Forrest Trevor Henderson

9.5

Had this with a nice creamy cheese and fruit/nut crackers (slightly sweet) and it was all delicious. — 8 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.0

Ruby violet color. Blackberry, cassis, plum, cedar, and hints of green pepper on the nose. Although there is ripe, supple New World fruit on the palate, it drinks a bit like an Old World Bordeaux. Made from Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. — 9 years ago

with Lisa and Kelly

Matthew nadel

9.3

Very nice cab..Drinking with amy to celebrate the run — 10 years ago

Elizabeth McCrone

8.9

Tried this 2009 we got as a holiday gift ... Nicely balanced in terms of structure and fruit. Great plum flavors, smokey finish. We liked it a lot! — 12 years ago