Nose: Stewed / preserved black and red fruit (blackberry, black cherry, dates, raisins), wood notes (oak, cedar), cigar box / tobacco, eucalyptus, warming spices, forest floor.
Palate: Follows the nose, plus a black licorice note. Powerful and concentrated, with chewy but fairly well-integrated tannin, medium acid, medium+ body, long finish. Has that amazing "old wine" mouthfeel which I'm not sure how to describe.
This was a WineBid purchase, so I was a little wary about the condition of the wine, but it turned out great! Drinking well now, but I expect it could go another decade. While this wine is excellent, it's less complex / evolved less than what I was hoping for.
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Denver Wine Group Bordeaux dinner. This took an hour or so to open up after decanting. Outshined by the '06 P-C, my WotN, which was softer, fuller and more balanced. The '11 was pleasant, with tobacco aromas and cassis.
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Didn't expect too much for this underated vintage. Wine is sexy. Tanins are round and soft. Pauillac soul is there and the wine vibrates. Sexy and elegant, a characteristic of Pontet Canet? An extra point for the happy ending
Dark garnet red with translucence. Pretty sparkle. Aromas veer towards blackberry with some red jujubee sweetness too. Vanilla along with cedar and some forest funk. There is definitely an old world earthy minerality veering more towards rock and wood than soil. Finish has length but not overly dry. Medium-full bodied with soft, round feel.
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Having had the 2010 not that long ago - this just doesn’t compare. Lacking the fresh fruit profile you want to complete the balance of the wine. The mouthfeel does show the quality of the wine. It’s just not especially memorable and for me feels a bit lacking in depth. My first of the 6 pack so maybe my future scores will be higher - but wasn’t loving it tonight
Bu au resto AVV La suite de Sherby avec les Fouduvin du chapitre de l'Estrie. Surement le meilleur 2011 bu à vie!. Celui-ci est de beaucoup supérieur à la dernière bue de ce Château. Vraiment bien défini et complexe. Sur les cerises, la terre, le cuir et le cèdre. Les tannins sont bien intégré et on salive pas mal. Belle impression de sève avec une finale interminable sur des relents chocolatés. Pas mal à point et SUCCULENT!
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3e et dernière bouteille, hélas! Celle-ci m'a fait forte impression, avec un équilibre entre la finesse et la concentration. Au nez, on dénote la mûre, la canneberge et le bois de rose. La bouche est ample et velouté: tabac blond, cèdre, confiture de cerises, clous de girofle, café, et tant d'autres... Pour année dite mineure, c'est un vin assez majeur
My first Pontet-Canet, and to my mild annoyance and enormous delight, the best BDX I've ever had by a considerable margin. Deep, clear violet, tenacious legs. Nose of plum, licorice, wet earth, and ammonia. Beautiful purity of fruit on the palate, much more black than red, with some spicebox and petrichor notes. Medium-long finish, with some silty old world tannins. Open and accessible, with tons of structure and nuance, and, I'd argue, some serious QPR even with the relatively high price tag. An all-around joy.
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Nice aroma from the time the bottle was popped. The taste started of with some tannins but over 2 hours of decanting, it went into smooth to heavier body closer to the end of the second hour.
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Had in Seoul with Jae Huen. Needs at least 2-3 hours decant for the wine to open up. Still very closed at the moment. If you have a few bottles left better wait for at least 5 more years before opening. If you only have one bottle left wait for at least 10 more years. Should drink well into the 2040s. Has the potential to become a 95-96 pointer
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from 375ml. PnP and drank over two hours. This has developed nicely and is in a good drinking phase. The fruits are in balance with the structure and tannins, especially after a little air.
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Blind tasting. Pnp. Nice mature hue with turning to light brown border. Nice flavours of sap, leather, iron, with a core of dry berries of genièvre. Tertiary notes of underwood. Structure with good acidity, polished tannins ending on mineral graphite. Globaly dry, elegant and long. Still in the windows of it life. Difficult vintage, the wine keap all his noblesse.
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Nose delivers a narrow band of red currant, cedar, and oak. Palate starts with black currant and peppery minerals that fade quickly into slate and graphite, but there's not a lot of body to it. Damp soil wit loads of iron and bitter silt lingers long but lacks verve or energy. A bit disappointing.
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Tasted blind the 2011 Pontet-Canet offers some classic dark fruit and cedar with a slightly herbal green note. I wrote, "good chateau, humble vintage?" which just about sums it up.
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Dekantert. Litt nølende første glass, tar seg opp. Et klart hakk opp dag 2. Meget behagelig, herlig frukt. Syre og tanniner høflig på plas i baksetet. Slett ikke fet av den grunn.
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Well crafted for a '11 with surprising density. Oak still evident but not protruding. Dark savory fruit dominant at this stage with classic Paulliac austerity. Good length.
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Still has plenty of fruit left, and the nose is killer. I wanted to sniff it all night long but sadly had to drink it. I have it with prime rib and it was amazing. I am lucky to have one more bottle left for another special dinner.
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Coming to it’s apogee. A short decant (1 hour) but enough to lift the aromas). Opens more on the red fruited; cherry to dark cherry spectrum. Does show Pauillac typicity and cooler, almost saline. Thought oak was a bit heavy handed on the aroma; but not a minor flaw. Medium bodied; the 2011 greener tannins seems to be dissipating. Had it with Herb Roasted Chicken and thought a cooler, more spicy/leafy vintage would work; and it did! A real success for 2011 and glad I have more! Drink or hold for a few more years; but not a lot of longevity (as with the 2010)
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Decanted for 6 hours prior to consuming. Certainly color development. Classic Pauillac nose with blackberry, cigar box, leather. Nice acidity to provide lift, which makes this wine very palatable. Still some tannins but nothing overly disturbing, though. This is no wine for the long haul but it has a lovely balance without being too heavy. Paired with pommes gratinées and steak. Great performance from Pontet Canet in this difficult vintage.
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Bought 2 bottles from Spec's in Texas for not a bad price, the label was flaking off like it had been in the sun for years. Not a good sign, so I uncorked and the cork was just fine, decanted it and tried a sip right away and it had plenty of fruit and soft tannins. Decanted and drank over a four-hour window and I was highly impressed by this wine! It was light on its feet with great acidity and fruit forward. They have one bottle left and I will be buying it. Bottom line if you find it at a good price point (around $170ish) pick it up and you will be pleased. Just one last note it is nowhere near 2010 but damn close.
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Purchased on release and held in my cellar since then. Lovely dark red fruit on the nose with some cedar in the background. Alluring. It does not disappoint upon drinking, lots of red fruit, cedar, acidity, and tobacco, very classic Pauillac. Think this is just starting to enter its window, despite how good it is tonight.
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Decanted for a few hours. Plenty of dark fruit still, floral aromas, earth, leather, and some more subtle herbs on the nose. Same on the palate with strawberry, honeysuckle, a bit of cigar box. Tannins are silky smooth. Drinking pretty well.
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Thyme, spearmint, flowers, forest floor, and red fruits are found in the nose. Medium-bodied, with a strong tobacco edge to the fruits on the palate, the wine is a bit drying in the otherwise, sweet, red currant filled finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2022-2035.
Classic Bordeaux. I love the 2011's, not nearly as flashy as so many of the vintages of late (2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). Just old school. Yes this needs time, I would wait a few more years and will with my remaining bottles, but this does not need decades. Blue fruits, some barnyard hitting in (love that) and the oak is in a good place. Rounding out nice and gaining some secondary flavors I love inside Bordeaux. These are very reasonable on price too, will buy more for sure. This does not hold up to 2009 or 2016 PC (which to e need another 15-20 years, but this is still a great wine and I can actualy drink it in the near future
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This is a classic style Bordeaux; wherein more Red fruit expression; elegance vs power and restraint in it’s youth. For me; it’s going thru an inward phase, but does offer drinkability on the palate. I recommend “Hold” on your bottles in your cellar for a few years and find some 08 or 06 (or older) PC to drink now. I will say that the tannin extraction was spot on for a difficult vintage. Has promise
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Light in body and style for Pauillac, shading to Saint-Estèphe. The perfume features red and purple fruits, meadow flowers, spring potpourri, raspberry leaf and hibiscus teas, light roast coffee beans, carob, tobacco, and gravel. More red fruited than is typical for this estate, with Merlot comprising 35 percent of the assemblage. Some secondary elements, including autumn leaves and worn leather, but nothing tertiary.
Upon opening, quite approachable. The longer it breathed, the greater structure it showed, particularly fruit acid. Exceptional balance of fruit and terroir. Judicious oak treatment, seamless alcohol.
The last glass on the first evening and the glass on the second evening featured piercing acidity, enhanced by medium minus tannins. A highly sophisticated Pontet-Canet. Whatever it may lack in raw power, it makes up for with finesse and verve.
A mind-bender on the second day, showing incredible range, precision, tension, and lift. This will not age as long as some vintages, but it has not peaked, and I would not expect it to for at least another five years, but probably ten+. Did I mention the acidity!?
Difficult to understand commentary here stating this is ready to drink. It is certainly drinkable, but decidedly still evolving. If drinking over the next several years, a long decant will allow it to show its best.
Perhaps technically a 94 point wine, but its latent potential and enjoyment factor push it to 95 points.
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Third bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2016. Pristine bottle, perfect level and cork. I really liked in 2016 and 2019, when it was a youthful Cabernet, classical but approachable. Over the past three years however, the flavours seem to have evolved pretty quickly to more mature, cedary notes. I like the restraint in the tannic extraction, and the palate is fresh without being drying, but I wonder how well this will age. Maybe it's just this bottle. Retaste soon.
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Pontet Cantet is one of the best wines for me. It undoubtedly represents all the tradition and potential of Bordeaux. An extremely elegant wine, still young, with complex aromas, camphor and spices, leather and some red fruit. On the palate it is soft and velvety, with a slight astringency. The bottle was opened three hours in advance.
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Alfred Tesseron's hard work shines in the 2010++ vintages Pontet-Canet, juicy, delicious and sexy.. quite possibly my fave all around Chateau.
Smoky red fruits, the most incredible juicy tannins, med-long finish too.
Dinner with TC and AK's families in Bangsar where we had Tomahawk wagyu and Charsiew wagyu as well as Wagyu-fat CKT noodles.
If I was to pick one bottle from the quad selection of 2 lefties, 1 right bank and 1 iconic Napa.. I would still have picked my own, this PC 2011 is lovely!
Bangsar, KL, Malaysia - Mar 2022
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The Chateau Pontet Canet 2011 is a 5th growth Bordeaux from Pauillac. The wine is deep ruby with a bit of bricking around the rim. Aromas are of dried fruit and leather, with a hint of brett. Medium+ acidity with balanced and well-integrated, medium tannins, medium body and medium (13.5%) alcohol. Flavors of sour cherry, blackberry and mushroom with undertones of slate and wet stone. Medium length on the finish. Ready to drink now with a bit of decanting.
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Garnet in color with bricking at the edges, the nose opens with savory herbs, tobacco, wet earth, and smoky red fruits. On the palate, the wine is fresh, soft, and focused on its spicy red currants, red plums, and sweet cherries. There is a savory quality to the fruits and a touch of cocoa on the palate and in the olive-tinged, spicy, polished finish. With a brief decanting, the wine is fully ready to drink.
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Very delicious, but young P-C. I wasn't expecting much from this first bottle of the 2011 vintage, but was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it tasted. We decanted it and lit is sit for about 4 hours before consumption. It seemed a little weak initially, but then really opened up and the sweet red fruits showed nicely. Typically excellent mouthfeel and purity. Great aftertaste. Rebottled and then drank the remainder several days later. It seemed even better with a weightier feel.
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Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Pauillac: Focused dark berries and oak in the bouquet. Graphite as well. On the palate dark berries, black olives, chocolate, tobacco, some green impressions, oak, a bit rustic. Firm acidity and firm, drying tannin. The bottle I had Sept 30th was popped and poured. The note above is about a bottle which had a five hour decant. Plenty of future in this wine. Waiting another 5 – 8+ years will be rewarding. 92 – 93++
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Brief notes. Good, not great, classic Bordeaux left bank. Drinking very well right now, not sure there's an upside from here, but a solid representation of what to expect from a quality Bordeaux.
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Seriously good but still very tight. Needs decanting for hours. Dark berry fruit. Lovely acidity gives it a tremendous freshness in the palate. Long finish.
I really like the 2011 Pontet-Canet, it is full-bodied and smells wonderfully, especially after some air. Much easier than the 2010, which we tasted some months ago and was still completely closed, so leave that in the cellar. Cassis and lingering. Still some tannins of course but getting softer. Yummie.
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On sent le brouillon de qq chose de grand, mais avec retenue. Les aromes sont là, mais avec une définition évanescente: prunes, cerise noire, thé noir et cèdre. C'est bon, mais ce n'est pas grand.
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Solid wine with the typical notes of flavor and aroma one would associate the chateau, although the intensity was lacking as compared to other vintages we've had. Decant 90 minutes and tasted over the next 90. Definitely improved over time, but can't say we'll be looking for more from this vintage.
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This half bottle was opened at home. The wine was clear and mid deep garnet red in colour with a nose of dark berries, vanilla and a very strong amount of paprika. In the glass was a wine dominated by flavours of dark cherries. The acidity and tannin levels were very strong. The wine had nice flavours but dissipated quickly with no length to the finish.
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Retailer tasting; Bordeaux: A lot of dark berries, graphite and oak in the bouquet. On the palate a lot of good acidity, some green impressions, a slight touch of sweetness and firm tannin. Give this wine at least 5 years of cellaring. 91 – 92 for now.
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Delicious wine...plums, cherries, at first as it is still a little tannic since I popped and poured it. Starting to soften up a bit after about 45 minutes to an hour. Pencil lead...green peppery a bit...big mouthfeel, great structure, one of my favorite Chateau's, nice earthiness as it continues to breathe...may have to update later on...
This "tasting note" is really from a couple of months ago. I believe Pontet-Canet can rival the first growths. Years ago the 2011 was given a 95 by me, very high for that year as it seemed a very good Pauillac indeed. At my latest tasting I gave it 95+. (The 2012 was rated less highly by me, but I have not had it recently.)
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1st bottle from a half case bought en primeur. A good wine in the context of a poor vintage for Bordeaux. Blackcurrant and cedar nose. A little lacking in body mid palate but well balanced and with fine tannins. Decent length on the finish. Enjoyable and will continue to develop for a few years.
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Nose of damp earth, cassis, and lead pencil. Medium bodied with silky tannins, salt butter and a menthol infused finish. In a very good spot at 10 years.
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I'm a big fan of Pontet, but like the previous reviewer, this bottle/vintage just didn't do it for me - from the aromatics (or lackthereof) to the somewhat shortness of length and lack of complexity, it's just somewhat different from all other vintages of Pontet I've had so far. Perhaps it's a bottle variation issue?
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Having hard time getting into this wine. Opened for two days, not much change on day two. Maybe just an off year. I don’t remember disliking other vintages.
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Decanted for 2 hours, beautiful classic Bordeaux nose, regal, impeccably crafted, has improved from my last bottle in 2019, tannins are very fine, very enjoyable, drinking well though I think it needs 2-3 more years to reach its peak 92-93
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Typical BDX. Dark fruit and cedar. Drank nicely with a 2 hour decant. tannins e not too intrusive. Flavor was still quite primary. Hope it develops more complexity with bottle age.
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Dark maroon. Barnyard, forest floor nose which evolved to a classic Cru Classe Bordeaux nose, and creme de cassis. Tannins were still palpabele, but enjoyable. Concentrated with predominantly dark fruits. An enjoyable bottle, paired well with Braised short ribs.
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Initially there’s a funky smell of wet board. After an hour of aeration, the smell went away. Cassis, pencil lead, toast, cedar, vanilla. Medium+ acidity and high tannin.
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Decanted half the bottle for two hours. Subdued nose initially. Black fruits, plum, earth and slight graphite notes. Medium body. Medium acidity with fine grained tannins. Initial flat spot mid-palate opened up with time in the glass. Tertiary dry fruits more prevalent throughout dinner. Next day pours from the bottle were better, smoother. Price too high @ $125. Will hold remaining bottle a couple more years.
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Expressive nose of ripe dark fruit, oak, sweet spice, red flowers, a touch of leather. Medium bodied with biting tannins and balancing acidity, pure fruit with good depth of flavours and nice long finish with some cocoa bean kicking in along with some dried herb elements. Given the legacy of the vintage this is a pretty solid showing. Primary with lively tannins, needs time to mellow. Long life ahead. 92+
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Blackcurrant, dried plum, smoke, some meatiness, blood orange, rosemary. Medium to medium+ tannins, medium acidity. The wine shows good length but I am missing balance here. It seems like a lot of moving parts here. Curious how the wine will develop. Considering the price no great value IMHO.
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First from the case exposed to a short decant. Brilliant and pure black currant jelly colour. Pure black currant on the nose as well with black raspberry, blue plum, char, spicy oak and a whiff of cocoa at the end. Seems a bit subdued and in need of more air to open up. Over time it retains the black currant dominant note and develops a bit of a meaty note as well. Medium bodied, high but fine tannins, moderately high acidity and very, very dry. The flavours are all purple and black fruits, mostly black currant and blue plum, with also spicy oak, camphor, pencil shavings and black tea. Feels perhaps a touch over extracted and forced at times. But has a nice long, grippy finish that ends on a cassis pastille note. Definitely needs a few more years to mellow and soften. Overally, very good potential!
I really like this, decanted for 6 hours. Currant, earth, leather and some cedar on the mid palate. Vastly different than 2009 and 2010 which were these opulent, almost cult like, wines(I do love the 2009 and 2010 BTW.). This was more subdued, this will not last 30 years but has another 15 in it for sure. and for the price point, worth picking up. Give it time in the decanter and this was a really good wine
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Was initially a bit one dimensional after I opened the bottle. This note is written based on how it showed the second day. I stored the bottle under vacuum at +/- 18 degrees over night.
Medium dark ruby color with no signs of ageing yet. Expressive aromas of cherry, plum and some lead pencil and dried herbs. Full bodied with chewy tannins, balanced fruit and acidity. A long finish that has a slight bitter twist to it. Seems to be at/near its peak. Needs time to open up, I will slow-ox the next bottle for at least 4 hours.
I’m not a big Bordeaux fan but Pauillac is my favourite area. This wine is good and enjoyable, although I think the QPR is pretty bad at this pricepoint.
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Nez suave que j’ai bien identifié comme Pauillac. Un vin fin et absolument délicieux, équilibré, aux tanins discrets, qui me parait prêt à boire. Je le croyais d’un millésime plus mûr. Délicieux. 92 pts
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A tough vintage and it shows. Some strong tannins continue to linger even on day 2. Plum and pencil lead. Not bad but nowhere close to the truly great versions of this wine.
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Still young. Cherry, a bit smoky and spicy, fine tannin with good balance of acidity. Medium body and quite long finishing. Opened up around 3 hours and it is only better for 24 hours breathing. Can be drank beautifully now.
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Drinking very well for a 2011 vintage - opened about 3 hours before consumption and probably would have benefitted with more air. Nice example of Pontet Canet, even if lacking the complexity of the 'bigger' vintages.
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Wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this young off vintage. Double decanted open air for 3 hours. Intense smoked luxado cherry, new leather, wet forest floor. Ultra fine tannin framed by a very lengthy finish.
Initial aromas and power of this wine tells you it's high quality Bordeaux. Very much my style of Pauillac. Towering fruit balanced with dust, earth, tannin. That being said it still needs 3 to 4 more years to unveil it;s true potential. 93-94
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1 hour plus decant. Dark purple color. Nose and wine were a mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Wine was fruit forward with dark cherry. Very young wine that coats your teeth. Little bit of a rough finish with some tartness and pepper. Probably needs 7+ yrs.
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Opened this far too early. I would give it at least another 5 years (I will leave my other bottle from this vintage sit). Decanted for over an hour before first taste, and it really only started to settle down 2+ hours after pulling the cork. Lots of complexity - tobacco, cassis, some espresso and bitter chocolate. But the tannins are still overpowering and it needs time.
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Decanted for 1 hour, dark coloured, tobacco, cassis, trademark PC finesse & silky tannins, medium bodied, surprised how concentrated this was given the vintage, should get better with age
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Nez immédiatement séduisant sur des notes très pures de fruits noirs frais (cassis), de feuille froissée, de résine. La bouche, si elle n'est pas d'une puissance notable, est de bonne facture avec un joli soyeux et de la fraîcheur et sans creux. Il s'en dégage beaucoup d'élégance! Finale d'une longueur correcte, elle n'est clairement pas le point fort de ce vin.
Un très bon compagnon de dimanche midi, 1h de mise à l'épaule a été très bénéfique pour que la bouche prenne un peu d'ampleur (le nez est immédiatement causant!)
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Tasting among Napa giants consisting of 58 wines. No notes as spitting was frowned upon with my group... even punishable. Top wines 2018 Keplinger Oakville and Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet, Tusk, 2016 Colgin Tychson Hill, 2016 Vine Hill Ranch, Maxem Pinot and Chardonnay (tied for top QPR with La Pelle), La Pelle SB & Cabernet, 2012 Del Dotto Beast. Runner ups 2018 Memento Mori SVDs, 2018 Vice Versa, 2018 Keplinger Sumo and Lithic, 2016 Dana Hershey, 2016 Colgin Cariad and IX Estate.
Was super excited for the vertical tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron, owner of Château Pontet-Canet tasted with us on the following vintages: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016. Unfortunately for my palate, the 2015 I tried earlier this year and the 2016 were more towards my palate preference than the older vintages. Worth the freight but no need to purchase back vintages. Great experience!
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Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
Certainly one of the better 2011’s I’ve had. Drinks nicely early considering 2011 was not a stellar vintage.
The body is lean. The fruits are bright and ripe. Lean blackberries, lots of both cherries, strawberries, strong presence of dark spice with heat, crushed dry rocks, clay and bright fresh florals.
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30 min decant. Could benefit from longer decant. The 2011's seem to be easy drinkers but still good quality. Did not notice the tannins. Medium bodied with plenty of flavor. Not a serious wine but a good one. Drinkable now but can last.
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Drank from magnum: Cassis aromas, with slight lychee tertiaries. Tasted black fruits, gravel with bitter and minty finish. Tight and austere. Not for me tonight. Definitely needs more time - keep away for 5-8 more years at least.
Short note. Elegant and very charming in one. On the nose black and red berries with a hint of mint and cedar, on the palate, good acidity, medium bodied and medium to long finish. Early drinking window, drink between 2020 and 2035 (92+).
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From a 375ml. Noticed a distinct herbal note to this wine along with sweet black fruit, anise, and cedar on the finish. Agree, this should be held a few more years.
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A matter of taste (The Dolder Grand, Zurich): *** Brief notes from wine fair, primary for my own memory *** Glass: Stölzle Universal Very round and soft. Rather elegant, with a well integrated acidity. Good pressure and concentration 90-91+
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Drank over two days. First day very nice lighter-bodied Pauillac with melted leather, a bit of chocolate, fine tannins and light acid. Second day more secondary with dusty earth entering the palate and more relaxed. Very nice for the vintage and drinkable now.
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Clos des Réas / Pontet-Canet tasting-cum-lunch (Restaurant Bak, Amsterdam, NL): Third bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2016. Pristine bottle, perfect level and cork. Does not have the power of the 2009 or 2010, but it is a beautifully classical Pauillac, elegant and fresh, floral and elegant, with refined oak tannins, and good length. A lovely drink.
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2000-2011 Pontet-Canet. Third wine of the fourth (and last) flight. Surprisingly good for the vintage. Very interesting tasting of the 2000-2011 Pontet-Canet's. The 2009 is the best today, but maybe will be outshined by the 2010 in time? Also, very much loved the 2008, followed by the 2005; 2003 and 2000!
Dinner with friends on New Years Eve, two bottles generously contributed by one of the hosts. Short decant, drank over 45 minutes.
Vivid ruby/purple color. Nose showing graphite, dark plums, garrigue/underbrush. Palate of dark fruit, licorice, earth notes, violets.
Wine really needed coaxing on this evening, may be slightly closed at this stage or we didn't allow a long enough decant. Not bad by any stretch, just felt we didn't get the fullest expression on this evening. If opening, would allow this a 2-3 hour decant or better yet several more years in the cellar...PC is a great wine (IMO), not going to rate on this tasting for reasons mentioned...
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Decanted for 1.5 hours, dark purple, tight nose, with air some black fruits and mint emerges, very refined palate, medium bodied, sneaky long, lovely PC 92+
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Alfred notes that '11 followed '09 & '10 which were two 100 point vintages for them. So there was allot of pressure. And the result is that the price for the '11 has not moved.
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This was appealing from the first smell, with dark berry, anise, and mint mingled together. On the palate, the sweet fruit dominates, but there is cedar, something a touch green, and then tannins behind it. Complemented grilled chicken very nicely. From a 375.
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Mini verticale de Pontet Canet, au restaurant, avec Justine Tesseron. Non carafé. Grenat foncé brillant. Année de certification bio dynamique. Nez retenu puis s’ouvrant sur des arômes floraux à l’aération. La bouche est plutôt fine, avec une certaine distinction, on remarque qu’il y a moins eu de bois neuf durant l’élevage. Finit un peu court. Servi en même temps que le 2008. À boire dans les 10 ans.
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Decanted 30 Mins Nose: strawberry, Forrest floor, Palate: fresh, red fruit, graphite, light acidity with absence of tannin and shockingly short finish. This wine is closed.
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I got a late en primeur delivery of these wines and decided to open one to see how it's going ... Decanted and drunk over two days, I was a little disappointed. A rich, slightly cooked fruit, bouquet of plums, red liquorice, cassis and milk chocolate. There's a lot of vanillin oak, on the quite lactic, slightly confected, nose. Also, it's presently not a lot of fun to drink. It's pretty shut down. Cassis and dark fruit with that lactic, chocolatey element. A sweetish edge. Simultaneously seeming both tending overripe and a little underripe. Rich unctuous fruit but with some bell pepper, minty greenness. Not very concentrated. Also harsh tannins on the finish. I recently tried the 2008 Pontet-Canet blind and although it was very structured and closed, I could see it having a future (like for the 2009 and 2010, although I've had them less recently), while I'm a lot less confident about this vintage. Anyway, give it 7-10 years, perhaps it'll come together.
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On day two, cinnamon, dark clove, spice, dark cherry, with some gravitas, showing day two but really good, so just lay down for at least a couple more years.
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Chateau Pontet-Canet Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Nose is aromatic and shows a touch of development with dark fruit, hint of mushroom and a slight note of pyrazine. Medium bodied with attractive dark fruit, a touch of earth, fresh acidity but lacks a bit of depth and falls away a touch on the finish which again shows a touch of green. ***(1/2?)
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This is so far out of my wheelhouse I won't give a score. Flavor was TART cherries. Very TART (almost sour). Nothing else on the palate. As I am not a fan of sour, this was a no for me. No evidence of being flawed, just not my cup of tea (actually, a cup of tea would have been better!)
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Mid to deep ruby. A bit restrained aroma of cassis, bellpepper, blackberry, plum, cedar, wood, expresso, sweet spices, earth. Full body, obvious ripe grippy tannins back by high acidity. Flavour of ripe black and red fruits, pencil shavings, oak flavours, some leather. Moderate concentration with good potential for midterm enjoyment. Good value, too.
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Les Vinissimes de NICOLAS (Paris, Maison des Polytechniciens): Couleur : belle robe grenat. Nez d’assez bonne intensité aromatique, dégageant une certaine fraicheur. Un fruit précis, assez rond, doté d’une certaine profondeur (mûres, prunes, épices). Bouche : Entrée douce et souple. Une très belle trame, veloutée avec un grain de tanin d’un très beau raffinement qui rend ce Pontet-Canet 11 très abordable dès aujourd’hui. Corps normal (+), vin plein, sapide, doté d’une belle sève développant une très belle précision aromatique, charmante et gourmande même si la bouche manque un peu de structure pour passer le niveau supérieur des grands millésimes. Les tanins se resserrent légèrement en fin de bouche. Finale de longueur moyenne (+) à normale. En résumé, la réussite de ce Pontet-Canet dans ce millésime challenging ne vient pas de la densité de sa structure mais de sa texture remarquable. Note : 17+/20 (94+/100)
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Engagement Party (San Francisco, CA): Deep ruby; nose is moderately aromatic with black fruit, somewhat ripe, slight vanilla; palate is full bodied, youthful tannins, black fruits, needs 10 years; medium-long finish. Very nice wine. 90-91
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Like its younger brother (tasted alongside the 2012), rich, smooth and complex with a full yet youthful balance unlike any I've ever tried before. I've never fully experienced wines like these before but know more than enough to say it was almost a shame to drink them this young. Nonetheless, my new go-to wine in the €125-140 range.
More about Chateau Pontet-Canet: Already known as a consistent high quality producer in the early 1990s, it's star rose with the 2009 vintage when both Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast blessed it with perfect 100-point scores. Parker followed up with another tally of perfection the following year.
Tasted at the TopVino International Wine Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 17-Oct-2016
Edited on 8-Jan-2022 - found my notes!
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First bottle from a case. What a delicious and pure Pauillac! Medium weight, very elegant, no noticeable oak, delicious skin phenolics, superb balance, completely unforced, eminently drinkable already at five years of age, very good length. A very successful 2011. Drink now - 2030.
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Medium bodied, forward, early drinking style with a focus on dark red fruits and freshness which makes this great for tasting, while waiting for vintages like 2005, 2009 and 2010 to come around.
This was clearly lighter and had less structure than the '10 Clarence de Haut-Brion. Classic mid-level, poor vintage Bordeaux. Not bad, not great, too young, decent price for it though. I would not buy. This was a bonus wine opened after all of the greats which did not help in the review of this wine. High-End Bordeaux Tasting at Monopole.90-91
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A little Pontet-Canet on a sunny Sunday afternoon has to be close to perfection.
It's young of course. But, this wine screams freshness and balance. The nose opens with strawberries, raspberries, stone and tobacco. This wine hits me rear palate with a bit of cedar and forest but then rapidly moves forward as the dark fruit emerges. Tannins are nicely present without being chewy for such a young wine. The finish is clean, long, fresh and concentrated fruit.
As the prices steadily rise on PC, 2011 is still a great wine and accessible at a great price. Can't go wrong here. Obviously more time in the bottle will bring more integration and more mature, ripe fruit. But this is drinkable (and enjoyable) now. A great bottle of wine and a great value for this producer.
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This wine took a long time to impress, and I am a seasoned drinker of this property. Not deep and dark as other "off" vintages were. Needs a lot of air time, then the dry fruit emerges with those graphite grippy tannins on the finish. Expected more, but still enjoyable. In the end this wine smells like and tastes like Pontet Canet.
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MW Institute 2011 Bordeaux Tasting: Cherry, mint, redcurrant and musk. Medium bodied and approachable. Nice length and balance. Not too much intensity but I think the restraint works for the moment.
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Dark red, very ripe nose, I guess a Pauillac, very young, for a 2011 v ripe but balanced, at present one dimensional, be very good when mature, next bottle in 3 years 92+
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Four nights in Manhatten (Manhatten, NY): Decanted at table and tasted, quite primary but yet approachable, all the usual suspects here when it come to Bordeaux, with layers of flavors that constantly evolved in the glass over the 1+ hours it took to drink. Descriptions are to numerous to mention, but this certainly is a classis Pauillac and paired nearly perfectly with multiple cuts of BBQ Kobe beef we cook our selfs at our table @ Gyu Kaku in lower mid-town east Manhatten. What a culinary treat!
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During a Bordeaux tasting: In the nose a scent of licorice and cedar. Fruity taste but still very tannic. Also tannic finish but one can guess that this will develope nicely.
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Vertical tasting of Pontet Canet 2003-2012. Not easy to follow on after the 2009 and the 2010, but this is a fantastic wine. Ripe fruit, lots of richness, smoky oak, spiciness. Fairly open on the palate, no greenness at all, juicy, pure, mineral, fresh and balanced. The tannins are really ripe and polished. Very long and vibrant. I don't think I have had a 2011 red Bordeaux as good as this. No comparison to the 2004 and 2007. Not one for very long-term aging, but should be given more time in the cellar. 93-94+
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In a field of Bordeaux this time this wine comes across as boldly red fruited, with hints of cab. franc stem coming through (in a very charming way) and silky smooth on the palate. Long mineral finish, very integrated tannins. Just opened.
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Drank at Pontet I have to say that we started to giggle when the guide started to explain the calming influence of the Donkey in the vineyard. Never the less even if you don't agree with all the Bio Dynamic methods this wine really stood out well for the vintage. Still very young come back in 5 years.
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The nose was dark, almost sappy, with intense pine, cedar and menthol, followed by floral perfumes and crushed raspberry fruit. On the palate, it was rich with silky textures, giving way to young tannin. A mix of tart wild berry saturated the senses with a gorgeous sense of balance throughout. The fruit here lingered long upon the senses with hints of inner floral tones and tannin.
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Overall, a pretty good wine. Nose was rather sweet with vanilla and oak. Palate was similar with splashes of cassis and blackberries. In a nutshell, this wine is almost a fruit bomb. Certainly not in the Aussie style but from the french perspective, the wine is surely sweeter and fruiter than most. Personally, I find that the wine does not represent Pauillac or even Bordeaux. But, on the whole, it is a well made wine and will age at least 8 - 10 years. Perhaps the oak will soften up in the coming years. Drinking well now.
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Candied roses, cotton candy, black plum, anise, grahpite, clay, and cedar nose. Faint vanilla. Very perfumed. On the palate very plum, anise, more roses, graphite, and again the clay. Dark caramel, cassis, and blackberry around the edges. Fruit forward, with fresh acidity. Vibrant, and nearly juicy but restrained. Medium+ weight, clear and well defined. Tannins are abundant but tame. Bottomless depth. Elegant and long. More textured, savory and autumnal with air.
Consumed over 6 hours and the last sip was the best. Who knows where it wouldve peaked. 93+
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Huge depth, an almost abysmal nose. Not too showy initially but opened up with some time, concentrated aromas of dark fruit preserves, graphite, cedar, clove and some pepper. You can almost smell the clay through the wine, a seductive earthy backdrop. Moves across the palate with substantial breadth and structure, but very well-balanced. Surprisingly ripe palate offers evidence of quality winemaking. Something that you COULD drink now with a reasonable decanting, but worth revisiting in 3-5 years.
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A well rounded, balanced wine, leaning toward fruit forward with Pauillac dust and bones...showed slightly over ripe...seems to me that this wine will mature fast and hit peak enjoyment within the next few years. It will be even better in secondary phase..
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K&L Bordeaux Tasting (K&L Hollywood): Great spice on the nose with earth, clove, and great fruit. Good acidity, and on the palate there is blackberry and crushed rock. Beautiful soft tannin on the finish. This was such a pleasure to contemplate that I think I stopped paying attention to writing down my notes.
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dark color. Nose nice black fruit (currant, cherries) , chocolate and black tea. Smooth tannins, good acidity, structure and length. Easy drinking and quite hedonistic. Overall a solid wine for a 2011. Drink - 2025.
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If for whatever weird reason you open this up, it's drinkable. The nose is heavenly and as it opens up you can feel that elevator shaft descending into the cedar mine. The taste goes on forever. So you *can* drink it, but why? It's pitifully young. Its better self is sort of a shadow of a ghost you can just about make out if you squint. I had regrets during the second glass. On night two, that cedar thing makes a long, long, long, long ping and echo on your tastebuds. It's a pleasure, it's great, but it's going to be even better in 2020. Hold onto it.
The wine was medium to dark ruby in colour and offered candy-like fruit aromas, black currant, blackberry confit, plum, fennel, cocoa, espresso and graphite on the nose. On the palate the wine showed black currant, cherry, blackberry, plum, cocoa, tobacco and graphite, paired with fresh medium-plus acidity, fine, medium-plus tannin, a good mouthfeel and very good length. The medium-bodied wine was juicy, balanced and elegant, with a firm structure, and very enjoyable. It also showed good potential for mid- to long-term development. I really loved the fresh acidity and, in particular, the quality of tannin, which set this wine apart from most of its pears in 2011. A beauty! I will start drinking my remaining bottles around 2020. 92+ for now.
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Dark ruby in hue, primary as you would expect, with a boatload of fresh, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco, fennel and stone aromas in the nose. The wine is balanced, soft and round, with freshness, slightly powdery tannins and a clean, concentrated, sweet, fresh boysenberry finish. This is already drinkable.
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Again, in my opinion the best wine in Bordeaux. Fresh, perfumed, pure and deep. This wine is perfectly executed. Raspberry, currant and creamy strawberry with a very floral kick. Fantastic
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From a 375mm bottle. Not in the market yet (July next year). Even though still restrained, it shows a complex nose both floral and fresh fruits, with good integrated and not predominant oak. Tannins and acidity still tough, excellent structure
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Académie des Cinquante Bordeaux visit; 9/26/2012-9/29/2012: Echantillon prélevé le 25 Septembre 2012. Final assemblage not determined yet. Charming, seductive, floral; wonderful fruit, great purity and balance, silky, elegant tannins.
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2012 CellarTracker Bordeaux Trip; 5/21/2012-5/24/2012 (Bordeaux, France): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 35% Merlot / 3% Cabernet Franc / 2% Petit Verdot. Barrel Sample. Beautiful nose, opening with a blast of roasted coffee beans, followed by black cherries, red plums, strawberries, sweet ripe blackberries, prunes, and some great violet floral aromas. A solid amount of lead pencil shavings and graphite on the palate, along with some more coffee beans, black cherries, strawberries, fresh cut flowers, rounded out with a touch of clove. A fair showing of dusty tannins complimented by a moderate amount of crisp acidity. Long length finish ending on notes of lead pencil shavings and black cherries. Very well balanced for a wine this young, along with a nice smooth texture on the palate. As usual, a solid wine for the vintage from this Château. Very good.
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Whiff of oak here but some very good fruit as well; good density and ripe fruit evident. Balanced. Very good in the context of the vintage (and from 90% of production). 90-93
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Produced from an assemblage of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby in color with scents of coffee, licorice, truffle, smoke and blackberry. The wine is fresh, pure, clean and filled with spicy cassis. Compared to recent vintages, this is a round, approachable, refined style of Pontet Canet finishing with silky cassis and spice. 93-95 Pts
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3/27/2024 - djsaunde Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: Stewed / preserved black and red fruit (blackberry, black cherry, dates, raisins), wood notes (oak, cedar), cigar box / tobacco, eucalyptus, warming spices, forest floor.
Palate: Follows the nose, plus a black licorice note. Powerful and concentrated, with chewy but fairly well-integrated tannin, medium acid, medium+ body, long finish. Has that amazing "old wine" mouthfeel which I'm not sure how to describe.
This was a WineBid purchase, so I was a little wary about the condition of the wine, but it turned out great! Drinking well now, but I expect it could go another decade. While this wine is excellent, it's less complex / evolved less than what I was hoping for.
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3/3/2024 - Discobiscuits42 wrote: 90 Points
Pretty closed and basic. Potential is there but not showing much of anything. Hold.
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3/2/2024 - DrBad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Denver Wine Group Bordeaux dinner. This took an hour or so to open up after decanting. Outshined by the '06 P-C, my WotN, which was softer, fuller and more balanced. The '11 was pleasant, with tobacco aromas and cassis.
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2/3/2024 - Antoine G wrote: 93 Points
Didn't expect too much for this underated vintage. Wine is sexy. Tanins are round and soft. Pauillac soul is there and the wine vibrates. Sexy and elegant, a characteristic of Pontet Canet? An extra point for the happy ending
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1/24/2024 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dekantert. Stort behag fra første til siste glass. Både dag 1 og dag 2. Hakket før fløyel.
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1/8/2024 - FRFTF wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet red with translucence. Pretty sparkle. Aromas veer towards blackberry with some red jujubee sweetness too. Vanilla along with cedar and some forest funk. There is definitely an old world earthy minerality veering more towards rock and wood than soil. Finish has length but not overly dry. Medium-full bodied with soft, round feel.
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12/24/2023 - tgkswine wrote:
Gifted
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12/14/2023 - DonDon wrote: 90 Points
Having had the 2010 not that long ago - this just doesn’t compare. Lacking the fresh fruit profile you want to complete the balance of the wine. The mouthfeel does show the quality of the wine. It’s just not especially memorable and for me feels a bit lacking in depth. My first of the 6 pack so maybe my future scores will be higher - but wasn’t loving it tonight
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12/13/2023 - Arcturus wrote: 92 Points
92. Leather, pipe tobacco black fruit on the nose. Palate-black currant and sweet blackcherry. Tannins still present on a slightly dry finish.
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12/7/2023 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Bu au resto AVV La suite de Sherby avec
les Fouduvin du chapitre de l'Estrie.
Surement le meilleur 2011 bu à vie!.
Celui-ci est de beaucoup supérieur à la dernière bue
de ce Château.
Vraiment bien défini et complexe.
Sur les cerises, la terre, le cuir et le cèdre.
Les tannins sont bien intégré et on salive pas mal.
Belle impression de sève avec une finale interminable sur
des relents chocolatés.
Pas mal à point et SUCCULENT!
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11/27/2023 - J&M Cave à vin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice, smooth and warming, first taste warm and full, middletaste a bit watery, but aftertaste long with strong tannines
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11/23/2023 - FrancoisD Likes this wine: 95 Points
3e et dernière bouteille, hélas!
Celle-ci m'a fait forte impression, avec un équilibre entre la finesse et la concentration.
Au nez, on dénote la mûre, la canneberge et le bois de rose.
La bouche est ample et velouté: tabac blond, cèdre, confiture de cerises, clous de girofle, café, et tant d'autres...
Pour année dite mineure, c'est un vin assez majeur
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11/6/2023 - finlero Likes this wine: 95 Points
My first Pontet-Canet, and to my mild annoyance and enormous delight, the best BDX I've ever had by a considerable margin. Deep, clear violet, tenacious legs. Nose of plum, licorice, wet earth, and ammonia. Beautiful purity of fruit on the palate, much more black than red, with some spicebox and petrichor notes. Medium-long finish, with some silty old world tannins. Open and accessible, with tons of structure and nuance, and, I'd argue, some serious QPR even with the relatively high price tag. An all-around joy.
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10/12/2023 - Counsel71 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice aroma from the time the bottle was popped. The taste started of with some tannins but over 2 hours of decanting, it went into smooth to heavier body closer to the end of the second hour.
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9/10/2023 - MJReb wrote: 93 Points
Powerful but elegant wine, accessible, no detailed notes at the end of a long evening.
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9/1/2023 - Drinkslogger Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had in Seoul with Jae Huen. Needs at least 2-3 hours decant for the wine to open up. Still very closed at the moment. If you have a few bottles left better wait for at least 5 more years before opening. If you only have one bottle left wait for at least 10 more years. Should drink well into the 2040s. Has the potential to become a 95-96 pointer
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8/12/2023 - prof b wrote:
from 375ml. PnP and drank over two hours. This has developed nicely and is in a good drinking phase. The fruits are in balance with the structure and tannins, especially after a little air.
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7/19/2023 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dekantert. Virker litt lite utviklet, men for all del., absolutt behagelig, også dag 2.
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7/8/2023 - Campelo Filho Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent wine. Spicy touches, light red fruit and leather. A complex, dry wine with many years of life ahead of it.
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7/1/2023 - cy_eats Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful nose upon opening, tastes of rich fennel, menthol, leather. But losing steam after ~hour so would recommend to drink now or soon.
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5/14/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was great for an "off" vintage. A fair tariff for what was displayed in the glass.
For some reason Pauillac reminds me of Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage in the more viscosity driven vintages.
93
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4/30/2023 - dead puddle wrote: 92 Points
Blind tasting. Pnp. Nice mature hue with turning to light brown border. Nice flavours of sap, leather, iron, with a core of dry berries of genièvre. Tertiary notes of underwood. Structure with good acidity, polished tannins ending on mineral graphite. Globaly dry, elegant and long. Still in the windows of it life. Difficult vintage, the wine keap all his noblesse.
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4/17/2023 - VAGenius wrote: 89 Points
Nose delivers a narrow band of red currant, cedar, and oak. Palate starts with black currant and peppery minerals that fade quickly into slate and graphite, but there's not a lot of body to it. Damp soil wit loads of iron and bitter silt lingers long but lacks verve or energy. A bit disappointing.
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3/25/2023 - Rune Schwartz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dense fruit, structure with round tannins. Complexity, well balance and good lenght.
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3/2/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
A nice wine...but just no identification markers on this for me. This one really gives 2011 little hope. Drink
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2/15/2023 - englishman's claret wrote:
Tasted blind the 2011 Pontet-Canet offers some classic dark fruit and cedar with a slightly herbal green note. I wrote, "good chateau, humble vintage?" which just about sums it up.
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1/24/2023 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dekantert. Litt nølende første glass, tar seg opp. Et klart hakk opp dag 2. Meget behagelig, herlig frukt. Syre og tanniner høflig på plas i baksetet. Slett ikke fet av den grunn.
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1/22/2023 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
A Bordeaux that’s so well made, rich yet elegant & beautiful, in its window
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12/30/2022 - Andice wrote: 92 Points
Well crafted for a '11 with surprising density. Oak still evident but not protruding. Dark savory fruit dominant at this stage with classic Paulliac austerity. Good length.
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12/29/2022 - voldous wrote: 92 Points
Cherry notes. Noticeable acidity which detracted from the taste IMO, but was nonetheless very enjoyable. Long finish.
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12/28/2022 - Goodjob! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good and ready to go with a little bit of air. Everything is in balance.
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12/25/2022 - Gene_Mo wrote: 92 Points
4 hour decant. Tannins to me are still a bit green. Maybe wait a few more years.
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12/20/2022 - Agunner23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still has plenty of fruit left, and the nose is killer. I wanted to sniff it all night long but sadly had to drink it. I have it with prime rib and it was amazing. I am lucky to have one more bottle left for another special dinner.
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12/6/2022 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coming to it’s apogee. A short decant (1 hour) but enough to lift the aromas). Opens more on the red fruited; cherry to dark cherry spectrum. Does show Pauillac typicity and cooler, almost saline. Thought oak was a bit heavy handed on the aroma; but not a minor flaw. Medium bodied; the 2011 greener tannins seems to be dissipating. Had it with Herb Roasted Chicken and thought a cooler, more spicy/leafy vintage would work; and it did! A real success for 2011 and glad I have more! Drink or hold for a few more years; but not a lot of longevity (as with the 2010)
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11/27/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 6 hours prior to consuming. Certainly color development. Classic Pauillac nose with blackberry, cigar box, leather. Nice acidity to provide lift, which makes this wine very palatable. Still some tannins but nothing overly disturbing, though. This is no wine for the long haul but it has a lovely balance without being too heavy. Paired with pommes gratinées and steak. Great performance from Pontet Canet in this difficult vintage.
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11/25/2022 - michael weasel Likes this wine:
Peut encore attendre quelques années
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11/24/2022 - Agunner23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bought 2 bottles from Spec's in Texas for not a bad price, the label was flaking off like it had been in the sun for years. Not a good sign, so I uncorked and the cork was just fine, decanted it and tried a sip right away and it had plenty of fruit and soft tannins. Decanted and drank over a four-hour window and I was highly impressed by this wine! It was light on its feet with great acidity and fruit forward. They have one bottle left and I will be buying it. Bottom line if you find it at a good price point (around $170ish) pick it up and you will be pleased. Just one last note it is nowhere near 2010 but damn close.
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9/20/2022 - skifree wrote: 93 Points
Purchased on release and held in my cellar since then. Lovely dark red fruit on the nose with some cedar in the background. Alluring. It does not disappoint upon drinking, lots of red fruit, cedar, acidity, and tobacco, very classic Pauillac. Think this is just starting to enter its window, despite how good it is tonight.
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9/3/2022 - seeyouintee Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for a few hours. Plenty of dark fruit still, floral aromas, earth, leather, and some more subtle herbs on the nose. Same on the palate with strawberry, honeysuckle, a bit of cigar box. Tannins are silky smooth. Drinking pretty well.
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7/9/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Thyme, spearmint, flowers, forest floor, and red fruits are found in the nose. Medium-bodied, with a strong tobacco edge to the fruits on the palate, the wine is a bit drying in the otherwise, sweet, red currant filled finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2022-2035.
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6/14/2022 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Bordeaux. I love the 2011's, not nearly as flashy as so many of the vintages of late (2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). Just old school. Yes this needs time, I would wait a few more years and will with my remaining bottles, but this does not need decades. Blue fruits, some barnyard hitting in (love that) and the oak is in a good place. Rounding out nice and gaining some secondary flavors I love inside Bordeaux. These are very reasonable on price too, will buy more for sure. This does not hold up to 2009 or 2016 PC (which to e need another 15-20 years, but this is still a great wine and I can actualy drink it in the near future
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6/4/2022 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a classic style Bordeaux; wherein more Red fruit expression; elegance vs power and restraint in it’s youth. For me; it’s going thru an inward phase, but does offer drinkability on the palate. I recommend “Hold” on your bottles in your cellar for a few years and find some 08 or 06 (or older) PC to drink now. I will say that the tannin extraction was spot on for a difficult vintage. Has promise
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5/25/2022 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
Tasted over two days.
Light in body and style for Pauillac, shading to Saint-Estèphe. The perfume features red and purple fruits, meadow flowers, spring potpourri, raspberry leaf and hibiscus teas, light roast coffee beans, carob, tobacco, and gravel. More red fruited than is typical for this estate, with Merlot comprising 35 percent of the assemblage. Some secondary elements, including autumn leaves and worn leather, but nothing tertiary.
Upon opening, quite approachable. The longer it breathed, the greater structure it showed, particularly fruit acid. Exceptional balance of fruit and terroir. Judicious oak treatment, seamless alcohol.
The last glass on the first evening and the glass on the second evening featured piercing acidity, enhanced by medium minus tannins. A highly sophisticated Pontet-Canet. Whatever it may lack in raw power, it makes up for with finesse and verve.
A mind-bender on the second day, showing incredible range, precision, tension, and lift. This will not age as long as some vintages, but it has not peaked, and I would not expect it to for at least another five years, but probably ten+. Did I mention the acidity!?
Difficult to understand commentary here stating this is ready to drink. It is certainly drinkable, but decidedly still evolving. If drinking over the next several years, a long decant will allow it to show its best.
Perhaps technically a 94 point wine, but its latent potential and enjoyment factor push it to 95 points.
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4/24/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Third bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2016. Pristine bottle, perfect level and cork. I really liked in 2016 and 2019, when it was a youthful Cabernet, classical but approachable. Over the past three years however, the flavours seem to have evolved pretty quickly to more mature, cedary notes. I like the restraint in the tannic extraction, and the palate is fresh without being drying, but I wonder how well this will age. Maybe it's just this bottle. Retaste soon.
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4/23/2022 - Campelo Filho Likes this wine: 98 Points
Pontet Cantet is one of the best wines for me. It undoubtedly represents all the tradition and potential of Bordeaux. An extremely elegant wine, still young, with complex aromas, camphor and spices, leather and some red fruit. On the palate it is soft and velvety, with a slight astringency. The bottle was opened three hours in advance.
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3/29/2022 - Romz Likes this wine: 92 Points
So youthful even though opened for more than 2 days!
Blackberries, cassis, cigar box, forest floor, cedar and hint of graphite. So much complexity with layered finish. Such a sexy and feminine Bordeaux.
Definitely still approachable if aged for another 4-5 years
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3/28/2022 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Alfred Tesseron's hard work shines in the 2010++ vintages Pontet-Canet, juicy, delicious and sexy.. quite possibly my fave all around Chateau.
Smoky red fruits, the most incredible juicy tannins, med-long finish too.
Dinner with TC and AK's families in Bangsar where we had Tomahawk wagyu and Charsiew wagyu as well as Wagyu-fat CKT noodles.
If I was to pick one bottle from the quad selection of 2 lefties, 1 right bank and 1 iconic Napa.. I would still have picked my own, this PC 2011 is lovely!
Bangsar, KL, Malaysia - Mar 2022
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3/25/2022 - Solidgold Likes this wine: 94 Points
2 hours to decant. Superb balance and poise. Layers and layers of soft tannins, minerality and complexity.
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3/6/2022 - MJMcCarthy Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Chateau Pontet Canet 2011 is a 5th growth Bordeaux from Pauillac. The wine is deep ruby with a bit of bricking around the rim. Aromas are of dried fruit and leather, with a hint of brett. Medium+ acidity with balanced and well-integrated, medium tannins, medium body and medium (13.5%) alcohol. Flavors of sour cherry, blackberry and mushroom with undertones of slate and wet stone. Medium length on the finish. Ready to drink now with a bit of decanting.
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2/16/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Garnet in color with bricking at the edges, the nose opens with savory herbs, tobacco, wet earth, and smoky red fruits. On the palate, the wine is fresh, soft, and focused on its spicy red currants, red plums, and sweet cherries. There is a savory quality to the fruits and a touch of cocoa on the palate and in the olive-tinged, spicy, polished finish. With a brief decanting, the wine is fully ready to drink.
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2/12/2022 - lcw1031 Likes this wine: 95 Points
산도 있음. 풍부한 과실향, 딸기, 연유향
시간이 지날수록 삼나무, 민트, 후추
2시간 이후 과실향 사라지나
구조감좋고 밸런스 훌륭
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1/10/2022 - Asmiller Likes this wine: 98 Points
Really good!
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1/9/2022 - Snowryeder wrote:
Bad bottle
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1/2/2022 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very delicious, but young P-C. I wasn't expecting much from this first bottle of the 2011 vintage, but was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it tasted. We decanted it and lit is sit for about 4 hours before consumption. It seemed a little weak initially, but then really opened up and the sweet red fruits showed nicely. Typically excellent mouthfeel and purity. Great aftertaste. Rebottled and then drank the remainder several days later. It seemed even better with a weightier feel.
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12/22/2021 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Pauillac: Focused dark berries and oak in the bouquet. Graphite as well. On the palate dark berries, black olives, chocolate, tobacco, some green impressions, oak, a bit rustic. Firm acidity and firm, drying tannin. The bottle I had Sept 30th was popped and poured. The note above is about a bottle which had a five hour decant. Plenty of future in this wine. Waiting another 5 – 8+ years will be rewarding. 92 – 93++
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12/20/2021 - frenchiecagowine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brief notes. Good, not great, classic Bordeaux left bank. Drinking very well right now, not sure there's an upside from here, but a solid representation of what to expect from a quality Bordeaux.
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11/21/2021 - jctra wrote: 93 Points
This young beauty is already great to enjoy.
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11/20/2021 - vanderpee wrote: 91 Points
Ready for business, not great but very nice. Typical left bank impressions, tannins present but not drying. Medium length. 91+
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11/19/2021 - moods wrote: 93 Points
Seriously good but still very tight. Needs decanting for hours. Dark berry fruit. Lovely acidity gives it a tremendous freshness in the palate. Long finish.
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11/14/2021 - MichaelJJ Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really like the 2011 Pontet-Canet, it is full-bodied and smells wonderfully, especially after some air. Much easier than the 2010, which we tasted some months ago and was still completely closed, so leave that in the cellar. Cassis and lingering. Still some tannins of course but getting softer. Yummie.
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10/28/2021 - FrancoisD Likes this wine: 92 Points
On sent le brouillon de qq chose de grand, mais avec retenue.
Les aromes sont là, mais avec une définition évanescente:
prunes, cerise noire, thé noir et cèdre.
C'est bon, mais ce n'est pas grand.
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10/15/2021 - gsomers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid wine with the typical notes of flavor and aroma one would associate the chateau, although the intensity was lacking as compared to other vintages we've had. Decant 90 minutes and tasted over the next 90. Definitely improved over time, but can't say we'll be looking for more from this vintage.
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10/14/2021 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 89 Points
Strong, savoury, old school claret. Less flashy than usual. In time it will be good. Ch d’Armailhac did better in 2011.
Cork, 13.5%
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10/10/2021 - Rosengoo wrote: 90 Points
This half bottle was opened at home. The wine was clear and mid deep garnet red in colour with a nose of dark berries, vanilla and a very strong amount of paprika. In the glass was a wine dominated by flavours of dark cherries. The acidity and tannin levels were very strong. The wine had nice flavours but dissipated quickly with no length to the finish.
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9/30/2021 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Retailer tasting; Bordeaux: A lot of dark berries, graphite and oak in the bouquet. On the palate a lot of good acidity, some green impressions, a slight touch of sweetness and firm tannin. Give this wine at least 5 years of cellaring. 91 – 92 for now.
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9/28/2021 - leftbankwine wrote: 94 Points
Delicious wine...plums, cherries, at first as it is still a little tannic since I popped and poured it. Starting to soften up a bit after about 45 minutes to an hour. Pencil lead...green peppery a bit...big mouthfeel, great structure, one of my favorite Chateau's, nice earthiness as it continues to breathe...may have to update later on...
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9/23/2021 - rthpal Likes this wine: 95 Points
This "tasting note" is really from a couple of months ago. I believe Pontet-Canet can rival the first growths. Years ago the 2011 was given a 95 by me, very high for that year as it seemed a very good Pauillac indeed. At my latest tasting I gave it 95+. (The 2012 was rated less highly by me, but I have not had it recently.)
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8/28/2021 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking very well. Dark fruit, smoke, tobacco, vanilla, some chocolate. Needs time to open up. Still young.
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8/28/2021 - Zambraia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of fruit, maybe a little too much for my taste, but pleasant. Cassis and berries. Long finish of “bottom of drawer” :).
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8/22/2021 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
1st bottle from a half case bought en primeur. A good wine in the context of a poor vintage for Bordeaux. Blackcurrant and cedar nose. A little lacking in body mid palate but well balanced and with fine tannins. Decent length on the finish. Enjoyable and will continue to develop for a few years.
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7/29/2021 - Euoinos wrote: 93 Points
Nose of damp earth, cassis, and lead pencil. Medium bodied with silky tannins, salt butter and a menthol infused finish. In a very good spot at 10 years.
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7/11/2021 - glassofhans wrote: 90 Points
I'm a big fan of Pontet, but like the previous reviewer, this bottle/vintage just didn't do it for me - from the aromatics (or lackthereof) to the somewhat shortness of length and lack of complexity, it's just somewhat different from all other vintages of Pontet I've had so far. Perhaps it's a bottle variation issue?
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7/11/2021 - wineguy1968 wrote:
Having hard time getting into this wine. Opened for two days, not much change on day two. Maybe just an off year. I don’t remember disliking other vintages.
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6/23/2021 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, beautiful classic Bordeaux nose, regal, impeccably crafted, has improved from my last bottle in 2019, tannins are very fine, very enjoyable, drinking well though I think it needs 2-3 more years to reach its peak
92-93
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6/19/2021 - qcwino wrote:
Typical BDX. Dark fruit and cedar. Drank nicely with a 2 hour decant. tannins e not too intrusive. Flavor was still quite primary. Hope it develops more complexity with bottle age.
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5/15/2021 - SonnyChiba wrote:
No detailed notes. But remember liking this a lot and felt it was drinking well at the moment.
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5/13/2021 - dentistdhk wrote: 90 Points
Little biy old
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5/13/2021 - HWG99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not that impressed, good wine but the character was not really my type. Cant remember much after a few days.
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5/8/2021 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruit and forest floor. Very delicate tannins. Drinking very well delicious!
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4/10/2021 - jkwoodward Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great bottle from an off year. Nice fruit. Starting to stitch together well, classic nose. Still has time.
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3/28/2021 - AAJR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Short decant - dark berry, cassis, spice flavors. Soft textures, medium finish, very nice.
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3/20/2021 - M.Y. Chong Likes this wine:
Decent red GCC from an average vintage. Can still go a couple of years.
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3/20/2021 - Saint B Likes this wine:
Dark maroon. Barnyard, forest floor nose which evolved to a classic Cru Classe Bordeaux nose, and creme de cassis. Tannins were still palpabele, but enjoyable. Concentrated with predominantly dark fruits. An enjoyable bottle, paired well with Braised short ribs.
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3/12/2021 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showed up better than 2 years ago...lots of concentration...this likely to keep improving
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1/18/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 90 Points
Initially there’s a funky smell of wet board. After an hour of aeration, the smell went away. Cassis, pencil lead, toast, cedar, vanilla. Medium+ acidity and high tannin.
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1/16/2021 - mvande21 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted half the bottle for two hours. Subdued nose initially. Black fruits, plum, earth and slight graphite notes. Medium body. Medium acidity with fine grained tannins. Initial flat spot mid-palate opened up with time in the glass. Tertiary dry fruits more prevalent throughout dinner. Next day pours from the bottle were better, smoother. Price too high @ $125. Will hold remaining bottle a couple more years.
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1/1/2021 - Yorgos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Expressive nose of ripe dark fruit, oak, sweet spice, red flowers, a touch of leather. Medium bodied with biting tannins and balancing acidity, pure fruit with good depth of flavours and nice long finish with some cocoa bean kicking in along with some dried herb elements. Given the legacy of the vintage this is a pretty solid showing. Primary with lively tannins, needs time to mellow. Long life ahead. 92+
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12/23/2020 - Vertigo wrote: 90 Points
Blackcurrant, dried plum, smoke, some meatiness, blood orange, rosemary. Medium to medium+ tannins, medium acidity. The wine shows good length but I am missing balance here. It seems like a lot of moving parts here. Curious how the wine will develop. Considering the price no great value IMHO.
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12/22/2020 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First from the case exposed to a short decant. Brilliant and pure black currant jelly colour. Pure black currant on the nose as well with black raspberry, blue plum, char, spicy oak and a whiff of cocoa at the end. Seems a bit subdued and in need of more air to open up. Over time it retains the black currant dominant note and develops a bit of a meaty note as well. Medium bodied, high but fine tannins, moderately high acidity and very, very dry. The flavours are all purple and black fruits, mostly black currant and blue plum, with also spicy oak, camphor, pencil shavings and black tea. Feels perhaps a touch over extracted and forced at times. But has a nice long, grippy finish that ends on a cassis pastille note. Definitely needs a few more years to mellow and soften. Overally, very good potential!
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11/25/2020 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I really like this, decanted for 6 hours. Currant, earth, leather and some cedar on the mid palate. Vastly different than 2009 and 2010 which were these opulent, almost cult like, wines(I do love the 2009 and 2010 BTW.). This was more subdued, this will not last 30 years but has another 15 in it for sure. and for the price point, worth picking up. Give it time in the decanter and this was a really good wine
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10/18/2020 - Jochems Likes this wine: 90 Points
Was initially a bit one dimensional after I opened the bottle. This note is written based on how it showed the second day. I stored the bottle under vacuum at +/- 18 degrees over night.
Medium dark ruby color with no signs of ageing yet. Expressive aromas of cherry, plum and some lead pencil and dried herbs. Full bodied with chewy tannins, balanced fruit and acidity. A long finish that has a slight bitter twist to it.
Seems to be at/near its peak. Needs time to open up, I will slow-ox the next bottle for at least 4 hours.
I’m not a big Bordeaux fan but Pauillac is my favourite area. This wine is good and enjoyable, although I think the QPR is pretty bad at this pricepoint.
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10/3/2020 - cheksiang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted an hour. Tannins well structured and firm. Fruit there but lacking some lustre though overall still well balanced. Shouod drink up soon.
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9/5/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well done for an "off year"
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7/23/2020 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Nez suave que j’ai bien identifié comme Pauillac. Un vin fin et absolument délicieux, équilibré, aux tanins discrets, qui me parait prêt à boire. Je le croyais d’un millésime plus mûr. Délicieux. 92 pts
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6/30/2020 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
A tough vintage and it shows. Some strong tannins continue to linger even on day 2. Plum and pencil lead. Not bad but nowhere close to the truly great versions of this wine.
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6/12/2020 - Ballballsheep Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still young. Cherry, a bit smoky and spicy, fine tannin with good balance of acidity. Medium body and quite long finishing. Opened up around 3 hours and it is only better for 24 hours breathing. Can be drank beautifully now.
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3/20/2020 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fine Wines SG - Bordeaux 2010 vs 2011 BYO (Fine Wines SG): Deep ruby, thick and highly extracted. Spicy herby nose and a good amount of florals. Savoury, red cherries, cloves, and even meaty. A nice persistence as well
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3/11/2020 - Wino133 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well for a 2011 vintage - opened about 3 hours before consumption and probably would have benefitted with more air. Nice example of Pontet Canet, even if lacking the complexity of the 'bigger' vintages.
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3/4/2020 - R.Jos.Valent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this young off vintage. Double decanted open air for 3 hours. Intense smoked luxado cherry, new leather, wet forest floor. Ultra fine tannin framed by a very lengthy finish.
Initial aromas and power of this wine tells you it's high quality Bordeaux.
Very much my style of Pauillac. Towering fruit balanced with dust, earth,
tannin. That being said it still needs 3 to 4 more years to unveil it;s true potential. 93-94
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2/1/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 94 Points
1 hour plus decant. Dark purple color. Nose and wine were a mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Wine was fruit forward with dark cherry. Very young wine that coats your teeth. Little bit of a rough finish with some tartness and pepper. Probably needs 7+ yrs.
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1/25/2020 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. Had at the Suckling Great Wines of the World 2020 tasting.
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1/2/2020 - Robbie1905 wrote:
done
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11/22/2019 - davo22 wrote: 90 Points
Opened this far too early. I would give it at least another 5 years (I will leave my other bottle from this vintage sit). Decanted for over an hour before first taste, and it really only started to settle down 2+ hours after pulling the cork. Lots of complexity - tobacco, cassis, some espresso and bitter chocolate. But the tannins are still overpowering and it needs time.
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11/16/2019 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1 hour, dark coloured, tobacco, cassis, trademark PC finesse & silky tannins, medium bodied, surprised how concentrated this was given the vintage, should get better with age
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11/2/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
That a powerhouse off the cork pull.
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11/1/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Halpern Grand Cru; thinner than 2014 with pepper and cherry notes; still graceful
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9/9/2019 - Marc C Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nez immédiatement séduisant sur des notes très pures de fruits noirs frais (cassis), de feuille froissée, de résine.
La bouche, si elle n'est pas d'une puissance notable, est de bonne facture avec un joli soyeux et de la fraîcheur et sans creux. Il s'en dégage beaucoup d'élégance!
Finale d'une longueur correcte, elle n'est clairement pas le point fort de ce vin.
Un très bon compagnon de dimanche midi, 1h de mise à l'épaule a été très bénéfique pour que la bouche prenne un peu d'ampleur (le nez est immédiatement causant!)
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9/7/2019 - LiteItOnFire wrote: 88 Points
Tasting among Napa giants consisting of 58 wines. No notes as spitting was frowned upon with my group... even punishable. Top wines 2018 Keplinger Oakville and Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet, Tusk, 2016 Colgin Tychson Hill, 2016 Vine Hill Ranch, Maxem Pinot and Chardonnay (tied for top QPR with La Pelle), La Pelle SB & Cabernet, 2012 Del Dotto Beast. Runner ups 2018 Memento Mori SVDs, 2018 Vice Versa, 2018 Keplinger Sumo and Lithic, 2016 Dana Hershey, 2016 Colgin Cariad and IX Estate.
Was super excited for the vertical tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron, owner of Château Pontet-Canet tasted with us on the following vintages: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016. Unfortunately for my palate, the 2015 I tried earlier this year and the 2016 were more towards my palate preference than the older vintages. Worth the freight but no need to purchase back vintages. Great experience!
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9/7/2019 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
Certainly one of the better 2011’s I’ve had. Drinks nicely early considering 2011 was not a stellar vintage.
The body is lean. The fruits are bright and ripe. Lean blackberries, lots of both cherries, strawberries, strong presence of dark spice with heat, crushed dry rocks, clay and bright fresh florals.
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8/18/2019 - miadelt Likes this wine: 91 Points
30 min decant. Could benefit from longer decant. The 2011's seem to be easy drinkers but still good quality. Did not notice the tannins. Medium bodied with plenty of flavor. Not a serious wine but a good one. Drinkable now but can last.
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6/1/2019 - vinhonotte wrote: 89 Points
Vintage Club - Bordeaux 2018 En-Primeur and Gala Dinner (Andaz Hotel): Mostly of blackberry and green herbs, of dill and rosemary. Could have a bit more fruits
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6/1/2019 - dnnk88 wrote: 86 Points
Drank from magnum: Cassis aromas, with slight lychee tertiaries. Tasted black fruits, gravel with bitter and minty finish. Tight and austere. Not for me tonight. Definitely needs more time - keep away for 5-8 more years at least.
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4/11/2019 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Short note. Elegant and very charming in one. On the nose black and red berries with a hint of mint and cedar, on the palate, good acidity, medium bodied and medium to long finish. Early drinking window, drink between 2020 and 2035 (92+).
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4/2/2019 - stefr wrote: 91 Points
mixed left bank tasting. PC was in a good shape, liked the nose very much. The wine will need more time but is already enjoyable.
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3/19/2019 - skifree wrote: 90 Points
From a 375ml. Noticed a distinct herbal note to this wine along with sweet black fruit, anise, and cedar on the finish. Agree, this should be held a few more years.
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2/23/2019 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine:
A matter of taste (The Dolder Grand, Zurich): *** Brief notes from wine fair, primary for my own memory ***
Glass: Stölzle Universal
Very round and soft. Rather elegant, with a well integrated acidity. Good pressure and concentration 90-91+
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2/19/2019 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank over two days. First day very nice lighter-bodied Pauillac with melted leather, a bit of chocolate, fine tannins and light acid. Second day more secondary with dusty earth entering the palate and more relaxed. Very nice for the vintage and drinkable now.
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2/2/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Clos des Réas / Pontet-Canet tasting-cum-lunch (Restaurant Bak, Amsterdam, NL): Third bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2016. Pristine bottle, perfect level and cork. Does not have the power of the 2009 or 2010, but it is a beautifully classical Pauillac, elegant and fresh, floral and elegant, with refined oak tannins, and good length. A lovely drink.
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2/2/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 92 Points
2000-2011 Pontet-Canet. Third wine of the fourth (and last) flight. Surprisingly good for the vintage. Very interesting tasting of the 2000-2011 Pontet-Canet's. The 2009 is the best today, but maybe will be outshined by the 2010 in time? Also, very much loved the 2008, followed by the 2005; 2003 and 2000!
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1/4/2019 - Hanibal wrote: 91 Points
wine is closed not worth opening for at least another 5 to 6 years.... really guys dont !
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12/31/2018 - walkerjfw wrote:
Dinner with friends on New Years Eve, two bottles generously contributed by one of the hosts. Short decant, drank over 45 minutes.
Vivid ruby/purple color. Nose showing graphite, dark plums, garrigue/underbrush. Palate of dark fruit, licorice, earth notes, violets.
Wine really needed coaxing on this evening, may be slightly closed at this stage or we didn't allow a long enough decant. Not bad by any stretch, just felt we didn't get the fullest expression on this evening. If opening, would allow this a 2-3 hour decant or better yet several more years in the cellar...PC is a great wine (IMO), not going to rate on this tasting for reasons mentioned...
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11/14/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours, dark purple, tight nose, with air some black fruits and mint emerges, very refined palate, medium bodied, sneaky long, lovely PC
92+
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9/20/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Alfred notes that '11 followed '09 & '10 which were two 100 point vintages for them. So there was allot of pressure. And the result is that the price for the '11 has not moved.
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9/20/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Alfred wants to achieve that "no matter what the vintage in Bordeaux, when you have a Pontet Canet, you know you have a quality wine."
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8/13/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice wine but a bit one-dimensional. Sentimental wine for me as this was the year we visited the estate.
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6/27/2018 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
This was appealing from the first smell, with dark berry, anise, and mint mingled together. On the palate, the sweet fruit dominates, but there is cedar, something a touch green, and then tannins behind it. Complemented grilled chicken very nicely. From a 375.
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6/16/2018 - Hiway2000 Likes this wine: 96 Points
it might get a touch better but it is drinking outstandingly well now.
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6/6/2018 - G_H wrote: 88 Points
Pretty rough, some edges, good for the vintage but so so
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3/16/2018 - valedeniro wrote: 90 Points
A very pleasing wine that is easy to like even if it is not the most concentrated and not the most profound.Enjoyable but certainly not mind blowing.
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12/1/2017 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Don't serve after 2009/2010, felt thin and reedy.
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10/24/2017 - Ericsson wrote: 90 Points
Mini verticale de Pontet Canet, au restaurant, avec Justine Tesseron.
Non carafé. Grenat foncé brillant. Année de certification bio dynamique.
Nez retenu puis s’ouvrant sur des arômes floraux à l’aération.
La bouche est plutôt fine, avec une certaine distinction, on remarque qu’il y a moins eu de bois neuf durant l’élevage.
Finit un peu court.
Servi en même temps que le 2008.
À boire dans les 10 ans.
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10/8/2017 - Fishtillidie wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 30 Mins
Nose: strawberry, Forrest floor,
Palate: fresh, red fruit, graphite, light acidity with absence of tannin and shockingly short finish. This wine is closed.
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7/17/2017 - HowardNZ wrote: 89 Points
I got a late en primeur delivery of these wines and decided to open one to see how it's going ... Decanted and drunk over two days, I was a little disappointed. A rich, slightly cooked fruit, bouquet of plums, red liquorice, cassis and milk chocolate. There's a lot of vanillin oak, on the quite lactic, slightly confected, nose. Also, it's presently not a lot of fun to drink. It's pretty shut down. Cassis and dark fruit with that lactic, chocolatey element. A sweetish edge. Simultaneously seeming both tending overripe and a little underripe. Rich unctuous fruit but with some bell pepper, minty greenness. Not very concentrated. Also harsh tannins on the finish. I recently tried the 2008 Pontet-Canet blind and although it was very structured and closed, I could see it having a future (like for the 2009 and 2010, although I've had them less recently), while I'm a lot less confident about this vintage. Anyway, give it 7-10 years, perhaps it'll come together.
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6/27/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
On day two, cinnamon, dark clove, spice, dark cherry, with some gravitas, showing day two but really good, so just lay down for at least a couple more years.
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6/26/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
ALways with that mineral tart cherry freshness of Pontet in its modern formation. Unmistakable. To be served with lite meats .
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6/9/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking nicely and really soft tannins but deep dark color and long finish. Lovely and likely better in 5+ years.
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5/27/2017 - bgreenak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice bottle of wine. Still very young. Needs lots of time to open.
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5/3/2017 - Paul D wrote:
Chateau Pontet-Canet Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Nose is aromatic and shows a touch of development with dark fruit, hint of mushroom and a slight note of pyrazine. Medium bodied with attractive dark fruit, a touch of earth, fresh acidity but lacks a bit of depth and falls away a touch on the finish which again shows a touch of green. ***(1/2?)
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4/29/2017 - BobMilton Does not like this wine:
This is so far out of my wheelhouse I won't give a score. Flavor was TART cherries. Very TART (almost sour). Nothing else on the palate. As I am not a fan of sour, this was a no for me. No evidence of being flawed, just not my cup of tea (actually, a cup of tea would have been better!)
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4/9/2017 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mid to deep ruby. A bit restrained aroma of cassis, bellpepper, blackberry, plum, cedar, wood, expresso, sweet spices, earth. Full body, obvious ripe grippy tannins back by high acidity. Flavour of ripe black and red fruits, pencil shavings, oak flavours, some leather. Moderate concentration with good potential for midterm enjoyment. Good value, too.
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3/25/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted 8 hours ahead. Really lovely wine with nice round fruit and good length. This will age nicely.
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3/9/2017 - I've Got Bottle (JP Abela) wrote: 94 Points
Les Vinissimes de NICOLAS (Paris, Maison des Polytechniciens): Couleur : belle robe grenat.
Nez d’assez bonne intensité aromatique, dégageant une certaine fraicheur. Un fruit précis, assez rond, doté d’une certaine profondeur (mûres, prunes, épices).
Bouche : Entrée douce et souple. Une très belle trame, veloutée avec un grain de tanin d’un très beau raffinement qui rend ce Pontet-Canet 11 très abordable dès aujourd’hui. Corps normal (+), vin plein, sapide, doté d’une belle sève développant une très belle précision aromatique, charmante et gourmande même si la bouche manque un peu de structure pour passer le niveau supérieur des grands millésimes. Les tanins se resserrent légèrement en fin de bouche.
Finale de longueur moyenne (+) à normale.
En résumé, la réussite de ce Pontet-Canet dans ce millésime challenging ne vient pas de la densité de sa structure mais de sa texture remarquable.
Note : 17+/20 (94+/100)
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2/3/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Engagement Party (San Francisco, CA): Deep ruby; nose is moderately aromatic with black fruit, somewhat ripe, slight vanilla; palate is full bodied, youthful tannins, black fruits, needs 10 years; medium-long finish. Very nice wine. 90-91
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12/12/2016 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Tremendous backbone. Not underripe, as one might expect for 11. Long finish.
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12/10/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Very high tone note off the top of the glass and very red fruited. Rich across the mid palate and very fine. Elegant. EXtremely long.
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10/19/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Wow, on day two still really there. More floral and lavendery notes Bill. He can see the love.
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10/18/2016 - swade wrote: 94 Points
Large consumer tasting. WOTN for mine. Super polished. Creme de cassis. Long finish. 94
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10/18/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still has that tart cranberry when just opened. Still tons of complexity. Charly notes that its all there. Just all there.
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10/17/2016 - Bob Ramsak Likes this wine:
Like its younger brother (tasted alongside the 2012), rich, smooth and complex with a full yet youthful balance unlike any I've ever tried before. I've never fully experienced wines like these before but know more than enough to say it was almost a shame to drink them this young. Nonetheless, my new go-to wine in the €125-140 range.
More about Chateau Pontet-Canet: Already known as a consistent high quality producer in the early 1990s, it's star rose with the 2009 vintage when both Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast blessed it with perfect 100-point scores. Parker followed up with another tally of perfection the following year.
Tasted at the TopVino International Wine Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 17-Oct-2016
Edited on 8-Jan-2022 - found my notes!
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9/10/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
First bottle from a case. What a delicious and pure Pauillac! Medium weight, very elegant, no noticeable oak, delicious skin phenolics, superb balance, completely unforced, eminently drinkable already at five years of age, very good length. A very successful 2011. Drink now - 2030.
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8/21/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied, forward, early drinking style with a focus on dark red fruits and freshness which makes this great for tasting, while waiting for vintages like 2005, 2009 and 2010 to come around.
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7/28/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Smells beautiful - gravel, red pit fruit, coffee, complexity. Quite powerful and forceful on the palate. Very mineral, stiff, needs more time.
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7/9/2016 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
This was clearly lighter and had less structure than the '10 Clarence de Haut-Brion. Classic mid-level, poor vintage Bordeaux. Not bad, not great, too young, decent price for it though. I would not buy. This was a bonus wine opened after all of the greats which did not help in the review of this wine. High-End Bordeaux Tasting at Monopole.90-91
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6/17/2016 - bgreenak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours, which it needed. Lovely bottle of wine--still young. Very balanced. Great value
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6/5/2016 - mikeharris wrote: 93 Points
A little Pontet-Canet on a sunny Sunday afternoon has to be close to perfection.
It's young of course. But, this wine screams freshness and balance. The nose opens with strawberries, raspberries, stone and tobacco. This wine hits me rear palate with a bit of cedar and forest but then rapidly moves forward as the dark fruit emerges. Tannins are nicely present without being chewy for such a young wine. The finish is clean, long, fresh and concentrated fruit.
As the prices steadily rise on PC, 2011 is still a great wine and accessible at a great price. Can't go wrong here. Obviously more time in the bottle will bring more integration and more mature, ripe fruit. But this is drinkable (and enjoyable) now. A great bottle of wine and a great value for this producer.
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6/5/2016 - wineotim Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine took a long time to impress, and I am a seasoned drinker of this property. Not deep and dark as other "off" vintages were. Needs a lot of air time, then the dry fruit emerges with those graphite grippy tannins on the finish. Expected more, but still enjoyable. In the end this wine smells like and tastes like Pontet Canet.
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4/17/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
MW Institute 2011 Bordeaux Tasting: Cherry, mint, redcurrant and musk. Medium bodied and approachable. Nice length and balance. Not too much intensity but I think the restraint works for the moment.
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2/11/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red, very ripe nose, I guess a Pauillac, very young, for a 2011 v ripe but balanced, at present one dimensional, be very good when mature, next bottle in 3 years
92+
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2/9/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 94 Points
Four nights in Manhatten (Manhatten, NY): Decanted at table and tasted, quite primary but yet approachable, all the usual suspects here when it come to Bordeaux, with layers of flavors that constantly evolved in the glass over the 1+ hours it took to drink. Descriptions are to numerous to mention, but this certainly is a classis Pauillac and paired nearly perfectly with multiple cuts of BBQ Kobe beef we cook our selfs at our table @ Gyu Kaku in lower mid-town east Manhatten. What a culinary treat!
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1/20/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 91 Points
Institute of Masters of Wine - 2011 Bdx Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): Meaty with a warm stinky note. A beautiful tone of faint cassis essence - pure and modest. Very nice.
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1/10/2016 - Don't Know Who wrote: 96 Points
fruit, tannic but pure grape
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11/28/2015 - Longrange380 Likes this wine: 91 Points
During a Bordeaux tasting:
In the nose a scent of licorice and cedar.
Fruity taste but still very tannic. Also tannic finish but one can guess that this will develope nicely.
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11/7/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Vertical tasting of Pontet Canet 2003-2012. Not easy to follow on after the 2009 and the 2010, but this is a fantastic wine. Ripe fruit, lots of richness, smoky oak, spiciness. Fairly open on the palate, no greenness at all, juicy, pure, mineral, fresh and balanced. The tannins are really ripe and polished. Very long and vibrant. I don't think I have had a 2011 red Bordeaux as good as this. No comparison to the 2004 and 2007. Not one for very long-term aging, but should be given more time in the cellar. 93-94+
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11/3/2015 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
The Institute of Masters of Wine Annual Bordeaux Tasting - 2011 Vintage (Vintners Hall, London): Light nose, dark fruits, a touch of raisiny edge a few times but not one to put us of from seeing what a beautiful wine this is . Nice balance, well made, good structure and almost soft at times. Big tannin of course but not overpowering. Very very good, (92)
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10/30/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Young and tight. Opened two hours prior to dining and still needs time or a vigorous decant. Lots of potential and will try again in 3-5 years.
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9/23/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Spicy high toned cranberry fruit. Linear, direct, needs some time to open up. Now, opened just one hour, we will see how it goes.
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9/2/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Really bright and tart and tight fisted. Needs some time.
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7/9/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
In a field of Bordeaux this time this wine comes across as boldly red fruited, with hints of cab. franc stem coming through (in a very charming way) and silky smooth on the palate. Long mineral finish, very integrated tannins. Just opened.
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7/6/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Well this doesn't suck.
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6/10/2015 - Papies wrote:
Decanter's Great Cabernets of the world with Steven Spurrier, Brian Croser and Cecilia Torres (Bluefin Building, London): Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
Touch of light cocoa on the nose. dark fruits, no real richness per se, definitely old world. Mineral, a touch dry. A touch tough on the tannin side and efinitely a child of a difficult vintage. Still on the elegant, well made side. Not bad for a 2011. Still too young. Lets see.
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6/4/2015 - RayOB wrote: 91 Points
Drank at Pontet
I have to say that we started to giggle when the guide started to explain the calming influence of the Donkey in the vineyard. Never the less even if you don't agree with all the Bio Dynamic methods this wine really stood out well for the vintage. Still very young come back in 5 years.
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5/14/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was dark, almost sappy, with intense pine, cedar and menthol, followed by floral perfumes and crushed raspberry fruit. On the palate, it was rich with silky textures, giving way to young tannin. A mix of tart wild berry saturated the senses with a gorgeous sense of balance throughout. The fruit here lingered long upon the senses with hints of inner floral tones and tannin.
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4/25/2015 - Nicholas81 wrote: 92 Points
Overall, a pretty good wine. Nose was rather sweet with vanilla and oak. Palate was similar with splashes of cassis and blackberries. In a nutshell, this wine is almost a fruit bomb. Certainly not in the Aussie style but from the french perspective, the wine is surely sweeter and fruiter than most. Personally, I find that the wine does not represent Pauillac or even Bordeaux. But, on the whole, it is a well made wine and will age at least 8 - 10 years. Perhaps the oak will soften up in the coming years. Drinking well now.
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3/29/2015 - sillofshade wrote: 93 Points
Candied roses, cotton candy, black plum, anise, grahpite, clay, and cedar nose. Faint vanilla. Very perfumed.
On the palate very plum, anise, more roses, graphite, and again the clay. Dark caramel, cassis, and blackberry around the edges. Fruit forward, with fresh acidity. Vibrant, and nearly juicy but restrained. Medium+ weight, clear and well defined. Tannins are abundant but tame. Bottomless depth. Elegant and long. More textured, savory and autumnal with air.
Consumed over 6 hours and the last sip was the best. Who knows where it wouldve peaked. 93+
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3/11/2015 - Duke88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Huge depth, an almost abysmal nose. Not too showy initially but opened up with some time, concentrated aromas of dark fruit preserves, graphite, cedar, clove and some pepper. You can almost smell the clay through the wine, a seductive earthy backdrop. Moves across the palate with substantial breadth and structure, but very well-balanced. Surprisingly ripe palate offers evidence of quality winemaking. Something that you COULD drink now with a reasonable decanting, but worth revisiting in 3-5 years.
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2/24/2015 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cedary, toasty, dried cherry, leather and marmite nose. Medium-full, stylish, savoury and complex palate; fresh, balanced finish.
5/5
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2/22/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
A well rounded, balanced wine, leaning toward fruit forward with Pauillac dust and bones...showed slightly over ripe...seems to me that this wine will mature fast and hit peak enjoyment within the next few years. It will be even better in secondary phase..
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2/21/2015 - Aravind Asok wrote:
K&L Bordeaux Tasting (K&L Hollywood): Great spice on the nose with earth, clove, and great fruit. Good acidity, and on the palate there is blackberry and crushed rock. Beautiful soft tannin on the finish. This was such a pleasure to contemplate that I think I stopped paying attention to writing down my notes.
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1/17/2015 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
dark color. Nose nice black fruit (currant, cherries) , chocolate and black tea. Smooth tannins, good acidity, structure and length. Easy drinking and quite hedonistic. Overall a solid wine for a 2011. Drink - 2025.
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12/22/2014 - ledocq Likes this wine:
If for whatever weird reason you open this up, it's drinkable. The nose is heavenly and as it opens up you can feel that elevator shaft descending into the cedar mine. The taste goes on forever. So you *can* drink it, but why? It's pitifully young. Its better self is sort of a shadow of a ghost you can just about make out if you squint. I had regrets during the second glass. On night two, that cedar thing makes a long, long, long, long ping and echo on your tastebuds. It's a pleasure, it's great, but it's going to be even better in 2020. Hold onto it.
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9/16/2014 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Nose of sous bois, black fruit cassis... powerful black fruit, nice acidity, average lenght, tannins integrated
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5/25/2014 - PSPatrick wrote: 92 Points
The wine was medium to dark ruby in colour and offered candy-like fruit aromas, black currant, blackberry confit, plum, fennel, cocoa, espresso and graphite on the nose. On the palate the wine showed black currant, cherry, blackberry, plum, cocoa, tobacco and graphite, paired with fresh medium-plus acidity, fine, medium-plus tannin, a good mouthfeel and very good length. The medium-bodied wine was juicy, balanced and elegant, with a firm structure, and very enjoyable. It also showed good potential for mid- to long-term development. I really loved the fresh acidity and, in particular, the quality of tannin, which set this wine apart from most of its pears in 2011. A beauty! I will start drinking my remaining bottles around 2020. 92+ for now.
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5/21/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby in hue, primary as you would expect, with a boatload of fresh, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco, fennel and stone aromas in the nose. The wine is balanced, soft and round, with freshness, slightly powdery tannins and a clean, concentrated, sweet, fresh boysenberry finish. This is already drinkable.
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5/1/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
Tannic at first, but supple, this is classic dark ruby with meaty, anise, red fruits and coffee bean, classical and elegant and drinks well right now.
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4/3/2013 - camben wrote: 98 Points
Again, in my opinion the best wine in Bordeaux. Fresh, perfumed, pure and deep. This wine is perfectly executed. Raspberry, currant and creamy strawberry with a very floral kick. Fantastic
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11/25/2012 - madia wrote: 91 Points
From a 375mm bottle. Not in the market yet (July next year). Even though still restrained, it shows a complex nose both floral and fresh fruits, with good integrated and not predominant oak. Tannins and acidity still tough, excellent structure
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9/27/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Académie des Cinquante Bordeaux visit; 9/26/2012-9/29/2012: Echantillon prélevé le 25 Septembre 2012. Final assemblage not determined yet. Charming, seductive, floral; wonderful fruit, great purity and balance, silky, elegant tannins.
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5/21/2012 - MattTM wrote:
2012 CellarTracker Bordeaux Trip; 5/21/2012-5/24/2012 (Bordeaux, France): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 35% Merlot / 3% Cabernet Franc / 2% Petit Verdot. Barrel Sample. Beautiful nose, opening with a blast of roasted coffee beans, followed by black cherries, red plums, strawberries, sweet ripe blackberries, prunes, and some great violet floral aromas. A solid amount of lead pencil shavings and graphite on the palate, along with some more coffee beans, black cherries, strawberries, fresh cut flowers, rounded out with a touch of clove. A fair showing of dusty tannins complimented by a moderate amount of crisp acidity. Long length finish ending on notes of lead pencil shavings and black cherries. Very well balanced for a wine this young, along with a nice smooth texture on the palate. As usual, a solid wine for the vintage from this Château. Very good.
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5/3/2012 - vespasian wrote: 91 Points
Whiff of oak here but some very good fruit as well; good density and ripe fruit evident. Balanced. Very good in the context of the vintage (and from 90% of production). 90-93
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4/10/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Produced from an assemblage of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby in color with scents of coffee, licorice, truffle, smoke and blackberry. The wine is fresh, pure, clean and filled with spicy cassis. Compared to recent vintages, this is a round, approachable, refined style of Pontet Canet finishing with silky cassis and spice. 93-95 Pts
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