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

Catherine Leith

9.3

Full flavour of honey and figs. Mellow, but rich. Smooth and complex. Would like more of a finish. — 6 years ago

Nagib Nasr

9.0

Amazing Port to celebrate my brothers 50th birthday!!!! — 7 years ago

with Wissam

NFL Wine Guy

9.1

2017 Marcel Lapierre Morgon in the House!
Did you know that Morgon is the second largest Cru (group of vineyards) in Beaujolais after Brouilly?
Yea anyway.... This Full Bodied Gamay was dope🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Deep Garnet, Red fruit on the nose like cherry or pomegranate.
I get plum, & nectarine/peach.
Nice finish !
I’d give it around 91 points.
#morgon #beaujolais #frenchwine #gamay #france #france🇫🇷 #wine #winetasting — 7 years ago

Michael Morris

Wine Director The Park Café

9.2

Super fresh and complex — 9 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Deep dark black 🍒 in color with no bricking. Potent nose dark fruit, earth, leather and mushroom. Dense fruit flavors with hint of olive. Smooth tannins. Elegant, persistence on the finish. Very fresh and vibrant. In a great drinking window. Makes the price of perfect storage worthwhile. @Andrew Schirmer there is more for you! — 10 years ago

with Judy

Brad Pejcic

9.3

I love how in Spain you can go to a restaurant order a half bottle of Rioja and a 14 year old wine comes out aged perfectly. This is drinking great right now and can't imagine it's going to get any better. — 10 years ago

Mark Lipton

9.4

If you have to drink a 2011 Napa Cabernet, this is the one. Overcomes the flimsiness and off-centered taste of many of its peers. Blueberry, suggestive of Alexander Valley cabs, is present in spades, and wonderful, smooth, and satisfying midpalate and finish. — 10 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.1

At Redstone w/Shelly. Just back from Orlando w/Rettke. #pro — 11 years ago

with Rick, Jeff and 2 others

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. — 9 months ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.5

Our (not so) little (anymore) princess her birthday so time for our yearly 2011. After having rated two previous bottles not as high as you would expect this one actually delivered. Very elegant, in balance and clearly at peak. Quite some years ahead — 9 months 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

Joseph Lewinski

9.0

Wow. One of the most interesting Sangiovese that I have had. Nice under carbonic that brings out notes of rhubarb tart. Great with grilled vegetables in the summer. — 7 years ago

Melissa Kingman

9.4

Sometimes you just gotta drink it! Smooth, balanced, big dark fruit. Total yum. — 9 years ago

with James

Matthieu Bordes

9.3

Strong colour for this 2007 and very powerful for this vintage at St Julien, smoked notes on the nose spicy and red fruit. Powerfully Wine better if you wait 2 or 3 years more. — 10 years ago

David Langstaff

9.4

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 10 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Joe Lucca

9.5

Settle into this well worn, comfortable leather club chair. Cigar tobacco, leather, briar berry, and cracked rocks. Velvety tannins, earth, charcoal, autumn leaves, stewed berries. Beautifully light and delicate. A brooding force at one point, now refined over time to elegance. Close your eyes and find yourself in that club chair, a cigar smoldering next to you. And peace in your heart. — 10 years ago

with Diana, Anne-marie and 1 other

Denise Collins

9.5

My love for Krug knows no bounds. Bready, yeasty notes jump out of the glass towards you but quickly soften into those of honey butter. Ginger and spice notes. Lees driven but well integrated with medium high acid. This champagne is so complex that it's almost impossible to truly detect where one note of flavor ends and the other begins. — 11 years ago

Michael Lobaza

9.7

Excellent offering from ifyouseekaywine.com. — 13 years 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?” — 9 months ago

Tobin Spratte

9.4

Bananas foster, Christmas fruitcake, with balanced gun smoke aromas. Much fruitier and more concentrated than the Warres. Fantastic. — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. 375 ML format. Tasted with @Neil Valenzuela Gorgeous, somewhat candied and dominant melon fruits evident currently. In the youthful, know it all phase now. Has the basis/structure for the long haul. Load up the truck now or in three decades. Thank you @Neil Valenzuela So good. 12.10.25. — 10 months ago

with Neil

Todd Doolan

9.7

Long, mint and cinnamon. Once in a while it is nice to feel like you are drinking a great bottle at exactly the right time. — 7 years ago

Andrew Neyer

9.5

Thank you @Steve Haro ! Great start to Xmas. Absolutely fantastic! — 8 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.2

When you feeling like a big ol baby and need a pacifier, Olga fits the bill. — 9 years ago

Stephan Schindler

9.8

Thank you father in law! — 10 years ago

Mark Dowling

9.1

Meaty, fruity, minerally... Everything you want from a Morgon. — 10 years ago

Kimberly Michelle

9.0

Thank You to my Ex-husband for this like...19yrs of Dom @ all special occasions from our first date to last year together 😊 — 10 years ago

Sarah Dade

10

Hands down the best cab I've ever had. Its worth all the hype. Consistent perfection from nose to finish. This is one you take your time with. — 11 years ago

Bernardo Llaguno G.

9.4

Amazing how you could smell and taste the fruit in the wine. Even though it has 24 years. Incredible wine. You could definitely store this for many years. — 11 years ago