Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The fruits are dark & muted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, plums with strawberries come on late. Lots of moist clay, dry soils, deep dark spice, crushed, rock powder, graphite, black, dry soils, hints of green bell pepper, dry herbs with blue, dark withering flowers. The acidity is round but could be better. The long finish is balanced but, for me, comes up short and a little flat.

Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago

John Miller

9.2

Full bodied, earthy pinot. Tart and crisp with and round and buttery finish. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

Lovely wine.
Nice nose, laidback and relaxed, soft earthy palate, black tea, olives, clay, dark fruit, tannines all integrated. — 8 years ago

Natalie Griffin

9.0

medium berries — 9 years ago

Luke Frost

9.5

A personal favourite. Untouchable. — 10 years ago

with Jen

Christine Havens

9.2

'Les Picasses' lies along a riverbank on a fairly steep slope that is primarily alluvial clay overlaying chalk and limestone. The vines are over 50 years old and the site is known to produce wines with fabulous purity and minerality. As such the Olga Raffault 'Les Picasses' Chinon 1989 has had time to mellow, the aromas are quite lovely—lavender, game, worn leather, a touch of barnyard, and cellar dust. There is a throaty, sensual wildness to this wine, punctuated by a vein of bright acidity and minerals. Everything I love in Loire Valley Cab Franc. — 11 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Ready to rock and roll. Blackberry and red clay on the nose. Entry of black cherry and cola with acidic character. Middle is dark, smoky, leather, more blackberry and hint of cocoa. Still finishes with a young semi sweet baking chocolate and Rutherford dust! Black pepper finish is unmistakable with a ton of black fruit, and plenty of life left. Dang. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Straw gold. Distinct and vibrant in the glass. Notes of sweet lemon, stone, white flowers, clay dust and a little ginger spice. Rich in the mouth. Long finish coats the palate. Very nice. Needs more time on its side to gain some complexity. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Light gold. Silky in the glass. Textbook Raveneau nose with notes of light apricot, lime blossom, white clay, honey and brown spice. Round and vibrant in the mouth. Long finish. Still young but the vintage remains approachable at age 13. Two bottles paired well with our Oysters Rockefeller course for a group. — 8 years ago

Tony Capone

9.5

This was a tuff year, with lots of rain and cool summer. Cassis, blackberries, with an intense dark Ruby color. Lots of minerals, clay, evergreen notes, smooth tannins. A little bit of vanilla on the finish. Great bottle for "Technical Year". — 9 years ago

Will Anderson

9.3

Great chilled!!! — 10 years ago

Mark Schumacher

8.9

Drank at Sportello with Ev. Aged in clay pots — 11 years ago

Scott Mahon

9.7

The 2012 is awesome. — 12 years ago

Martinez

8.9

Softly aromatic, ripe strawberry, clay, tobacco, nice acidity — 8 years ago

Tom Ellis

9.7

No tasting notes necessary. Almost unreal flavor, textures capable of restructuring your brain cells. This wine almost ruined me by raising the bar impossibly high for everything else that followed. Now regretting I sold my double magnum of '70 in 1997. "Dark chocolate-covered berries, fresh moss, leathery clay bound in a sensory rush that lingers all evening". This is what separates the classics from so many wines; One thinks of it and can taste it for the rest of your life. — 8 years ago

Matt Forester

9.0

2014. Delicious for a. “simple value pinot”. Cherry Jolly Rancher flavors but not at all cloying. Some nice smooth glycerin. I like everything I’ve had from De Ponte Cellars. — 8 years ago

Steve Messinger

10

1990, perfection. Wonderful boutique of cedar box, clay, and sage. Medium bodied evolved tannins great depth w long finish — 9 years ago

Matt

9.0

Really nice and pleasant blend. Young and a bit cranky but rewarding with some air. Dark black fruits, fennel seed, turned wet earth, coffee, cedar, cocoa, tobacco, and dried flowers. Enjoyed the acid that balanced the forward but fine clay-like tannins. — 10 years ago

Matt

9.2

Cool site Garnacha grown on clay limestone (unusual for Priorat). Meaty, flesh, leathery, earthy, spices, dried roses, citrus peel. Deeply layered and would be a blast with age. — 10 years ago

David Singer

Sommelier/Wine Educator LibationEducation

9.0

From 1/2 bt. Much better as it warms up. Honeyed Bosc pear, Creme brûlée, clay, limestone. Solid complexity and length. $65 at legal seafood, what a steal — 11 years ago