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. — 5 years ago
Dinner tasting Paul - at its peak, very round. Cedar notes, dark intense ripe fruitS (blackberries, plum) and notes of tonacco — 5 years ago
When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 6 years ago
Loved this Zin. Hubby and I drank the bottle in one sitting. — 8 years ago
Round. Reserved. — 11 years ago
Lighter in color for a 2019, more of a medium ruby. Nose is cherry pie, not tart cherries but sweet black cherry. A bit of dust and a lot of cedar chest. Great structure, smooth tannins, and medium to full-bodied. The lighter color fooled me into thinking this would be a lighter cab, but it packs plenty of punch. The finish lingers especially pumping those cedar notes throughout. — 2 years ago
Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.
Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!
Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years. — 4 years ago
Visiting again this splendid Paulliac from the 2011 vintage. 2011 vintage was labeled as mediocre in Bordeaux and this lovely wine showed that it is actually a classic vintage with some great wines, so trust the chateau not only the vintage. The nose is tempting with notes if coffee, earth, oak, cassis, black fruits and hints of chocolate, the body is full with round tannins, acidity is splendid and finish is long. My score 92, drink to 2026, perhaps longer — 5 years ago
Another 4th Friday for the books! What a variety this month!
At 24yrs old, it’s incredible how this drinks. Obviously past its prime, but by no means a lost bottle. Had never heard of this vineyard. Butterscotch, salted popcorn kernels, and cornbread note too. Still retaining some nice acidity! — 6 years ago
Took a while to open up, so let it sit and breathe. It'll be worth it. Lots of dark fruit. In the mouth, feels round and full with satisfying lingering finish and layered tannins. I wanted to taste the 2012 now before laying it down for a few years. It's going to be great next time around. — 7 years ago
Very bold blend. Tastes more like a cab than a blend. Thick and chewy with a long finish. Highly recommend. — 7 years ago
Customers rejected this wine this evening, claiming it was "done", past its prime, and not fruit-forward enough. I decanted it to see if it would change their mind, to no avail. To me, it had a complex but reserved nose, seemed a bit wound up, and had a metallic finish. Two hours later, it was singing another song altogether, was rich, round, and graceful, with solid but velvety texture. The fruit became an unusual and unique perfume, like dried figs, vanilla, and sagebrush. The acidity was gleaming. It was a shame that a wine this pretty was so misunderstood. — 8 years ago
This is so good, unlike anything I've ever had. "Round" is the only word I can think of. Or maybe spherical, filling up the whole mouth. — 10 years ago
Deep purple without a hint of any other suggesting improper storage. Classic if a bit understated Napa nose. Soft yet appropriately firm tannins. Ripe black fruits. Luscious wine. Suggest drinking sooner rather than later owing to fruit ripeness. — 3 years ago
Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.
The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.
The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.
Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.
Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 4 years ago
Elegantly balanced all round red. Great to go with meal or savor alone. — 6 years ago
This is the 08 Insignia out of magnum. This drinking beautifully.
On the nose, ripe, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices with fresh red and very dark flowers.
On the palate, the body is near full. The tannins are beautifully rounded. It guides across the palate. So fresh and beautiful! blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices, river stone, crushed rocks, cedar, with fresh red and very dark flowers. Beautiful round acidity and an elegantly polished finish. — 6 years ago
Amazing Pinot! — 6 years ago
Full and round- still quite a good drink. Very strong after 39 years with many more in future. — 7 years ago
Black current and black cherry. Earth. Nice round Bordeaux. — 7 years ago
One of my fav's — 8 years ago
This gets a 11+ rating if it was possible. The gods would be so lucky to have a sip of this. Incredible wine for Christmas. Such a light color for the age. So round and perfect. Finish that never ends. Doesn't get better. — 9 years ago
Awesome wine. Very earthy — 11 years ago
Ed Chin
Not as chiseled as I hoped. More round but it has some great depth of flavors — 10 months ago