2014 Château Pontet-Canet

Community Tasting Note

americanstorm Likes this wine:

90 Points

Monday, April 22, 2024 - Opened at the end of the evening to compare to a bottle of 1995 Pontet-Canet a friend brought. The nose and pallet of both wines were almost identical with the 2014 being slightly brighter/fresher with more acidity. Given the high critic scores of the 14 I expected a great wine but this was average at best and I was underwhelmed. Of the 6 different red, two bottles each of 13 dunn Napa Valley 13 Palo Scavino bric del fiasc 16 torbreck Descendant and 08 circa cab franc, the two Pontet-Canet were my least favorite. Perhaps I'm just not a bordeaux guy or maybe my pallet isn't sophisticated enough (im sure the bordeaux lovers would say this- LOL) to appreciate them, but, at least for me, there are a lot of places making better wine then bordeaux. Would not buy again and not a particularly good qpr. Having said all that, I do think Bordeaux makes the best chardonnay in the world!

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6 comments have been posted

Comment posted by CompleterZRH:

4/22/2024 10:32:00 AM - I'm not so sure about the irony-level of your last sentence... ;)
Comment posted by americanstorm:

4/22/2024 12:46:00 PM - Guess I should have stated -- not a fan of RED bordeaux! Lol
Comment posted by boillatm:

4/22/2024 5:22:00 PM - I do love Chardonnay from the Bordeaux region. A shame that they are so hard to find!
Comment posted by novocane:

4/28/2024 2:06:00 AM - Most Bordeaux whites are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris, or Muscadelle (usually blended). There's a few other varietals allowed in small proportions. (Even Sauternes, the Bordeaux dessert wine is made of these). I don't believe the Bordeaux AOC allows Chardonnay (though I know a few Bordeaux based producers making a 'vin de france' Chardonnay).

Chardonnay is more often associated with Burgundy, and some other slightly cooler climate regions. Though white burgundy wines are some of the best whites in the world. Ramonet Montrachet for example.
Comment posted by americanstorm:

4/28/2024 4:44:00 AM - You are 100 % correct. After I wrote the comment I thought to myself "the chardonnay you like actually comes from burgundy " but I didn't feel like going back and editing the note. My bad.
Comment posted by boillatm:

4/28/2024 12:27:00 PM - My comment was meant to be tongue in cheek but I actually found an article saying that Château Kirwan, a Cru Classé, will launch a 100% Chardonnay with the 2023 vintage https://janeanson.com/whats-new-bordeaux-2023-vintage

Glad to have learnt something!