Some visual evolution. Still opaque in the middle but fading to garnet at the edge. Cedar, mint, blueberry, raspberry, and graphite are all present on the beautiful nose. On the palette, more blue and red fruit, more cedar, and more graphite. Plenty tannin. Epic length. Like the other high end 2008s I’ve had (Pavie Macquin and Duhart Milon) it’s great now, but with significant upside.
A big, dark, inky bastard this one is! Deep berry fruit, hints of cinnamon, and a whiff of green pepper. The tannins are still primary, somewhat remarkable considering the age. I will let this rest another 2-3 years and then revisit.
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A good 12 years since we had this last ( Papies 93) . The first of the Michel Rolland Pontet Canets and we remember back in the day how different it was vs the others albeit age 4 at the time. With age this has become graceful and ever so classic , old school left bank beauty. We even felt there was no need to decant it. Effortless and albeit not the best PC out there still a very elegant and beautiful one 92-93 and we regret selling our EP allocation some years back.
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Previous 2 bottles didn’t show very well but this one now at 16 years old was really good. Pure cassis and blue cool fruit, fresh finish , good acidity and lengh. Dark in colour and fairly primary still. Give 5-10 years and it will be excellent and develop into secondary aromas.
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Dinner at Peter's: A sense of cool tightness plays against depth and richness of cassis, cedar, mint. The oak influence is still quite fresh and with big tannins and a sense of hardness on the palate this feels like it has decades in the tank to soften and unfurl.
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Decanted for 3 hours before sampling (at 5.5 hours now). Cassis, licorice, vanilla, black cherry, cherry pits, plums (and some minty notes earlier). Really a refreshing drink, due to the acidity. Still lots of tannins, but after the long decant, it is smoothing out nicely. It's been 5 years since the first bottle, and I think that the wine has improved markedly. This might still be on an upward trajectory, but probably won't drop off anytime soon. Drank in remembrance of Mike, who passed way too young.
Had with Steak au Poivre dinner along with a 2012 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Christine and I and several guests preferred the Gigondas. Gave it about an hour decant, nice aromas of tobacco and cedar. Medium plus body with good acidity to go along with the meal.
Bouquet of grilled peppers, dark berries, jam, a bit of funk at times. Drinks well, with a good mix of fruit, some sweetness, freshness and a bit saltiness. Still feels a bit young, but already great to drink.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.
Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.
This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.
I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.
Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
13% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
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Direkt nach dem Öffnen probiert. - Farbe: Hohe Farbintensität. Dunkles Rubinrot. - Geruch: Typisch Cabernet. Rote Frucht. Feuchtes Leder. - Geschmack: Voller intensiver CS. Könnte auch Napa Valley sein. In der Geschmacksrichtung großartig und auch schon gut zu trinken. Sicherlich toll zum Steak
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Black. Very ripe concentrated cassis, crushed herbs, ink and plums. Chalky tannins, good length. Cassis fruit is intense, oak is now integrated but strong.
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Superior to the 2007 in every way. More depth in color, much more body and complexity and flavor. More tannin and acid, and could easily go another 5+ years whereas the 2007 is all it's ever going to be now.
Slowly but surely improving with age. Was closed when I opened the first bottle 4 years ago. Better last year and the 3rd seems to be coming into its drinking window. More fruit forward - but still a 3-4 hr decant - with medium tannins and a med to long finish. Dark red fruit on the nose with black cherry, brambles and a touch of spice on the palate. More of the rustic notes came out in this one which gives it a hint of herbs, more akin to rosemary or eucalyptus. Good effort getting better.
The key is to decant this 08 PC at least 5 to 6 hours for it to start opening up. The wine looks ruby colored. It smells like blackberry and oak. Elegant.
Losing a bit of the primary notes with less bright fruit and still a lot of tannin. Still some upside here. Against 08 Cos, Ducru, LLC, PLL, Montrose, Haut-Bailly it won WOTN in a blinded tasting (6 tasters). It looks like I was wrong in 2011 when I claimed this wine would be an early drinker. On the contrary, this wine has some legs and will last a couple of more decades (granted this has been stored at 55 degrees for most of its life)
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Decided to check in to see how this is evolving. While still at the front end of its maturity, it is drinkable and enjoyable with a proper 2 hour decant. Signature Pauillac notes in the glass and on the palate. Still restrained and holding back all that is packed into this bottle. For my palate, the ideal drinking window is probably between 2028 - 2035.
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What a special opportunity to have this very same vintage, from what is probably my most prolific tasting of any Bordeauxs, this was my 2nd Pontet-Canet 2008 in under 2 weeks!
This blend of 65% Cab, 30% Merlot, 4% CF with 1% PV is still in a very closed state now. In the previous tasting, we did a rushed decanting of 2 hours, and it was closed.
For this tasting at Krabi, Thailand, I personally decanted the bottle for nearly 7 hours, and it remained tight. Hints of dark cherries and cassis, with very nuanced graphite aromatics on the nose.
This opaque black-purple wine has a palte of blackberries, barbecue smoke and a hints of forest floor with a lot of richness and freshness, but lacked the layered complexities we would expect of a fully mature Pontet-Canet.
Alfred Tesseron is legendary of being one of the most attentive winemakers in all of Bordeaux, working with very low yields, as well as a very late harvest. This along with its draconian selection means this is a big wine of incredible quality and potential.
I would not recommend trying this again until 2026 and beyond, and I plan to pop my last bottle in the cellar, say 2029.
Oldham Hall reunion, 9th of 9 wines TC, Jack and me contributed to our gathering in our island getaway.
Cassis and hint of tobacco on the nose. Fine tannins, slightly resolved red fruits on the palate with spice (presumably from the oak) and perhaps a little spiky. Seems noticeably youthful Checking in later on, it had settled down nicely.
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Was in a rush to get to the restaurant and only opened this at Champignon for Ls belated birthday celebration..
And that was a real mistake. This PC 2008 needs a lot of coaxing to come out of its shell, and even after 2 hours in the Decanter, it barely came out of its shell.
My 4th time having this vintage and by far the most blocked experience!
This vintage is a blend of 65% Cab, 30% Merlot, 4% CF with 1% PV.
Very dark opaque black-purple colour, and palate of very ripe black currant and blueberries with hints of forest floor and smoke.
Alas it was overly full-bodied and lacking in complexity or elegance at this stage. Texture and mouthfeel showed how much quality was in this bottle, and I would give it more cellaring time.
Dinner with LMC, new buddy WF, SKT and LMK, WMK and Hue as well as Eng and A. Thanks for sharing the evening of 9 wines.
I have wanted to try a Pontet-Canet with some age for many moons and was delighted to pick up a bottle from a good year at auction recently.
I opened this mid-week to celebrate the fact that I am one of the planet's great toss-pots. I decanted it and drank like a demon over about 8 hours. It was very hard to stop because it was such a joy.
The colour is quite dense and still not showing much sign of bricking. It speaks of richness and power to come and it does not disappoint.
At first, the wine is medium bodied, surprisingly elegant and it takes me back to what I regard as the classic pre-Parker style of Bordeaux. However, there is great intensity and a very long finish.
The wine rapidly starts to put on flesh, somewhat like my unfortunate female soul mates have tended to. In both cases, I am good with this.
After about 3 hours you have a lovely Bordeaux style that has a lot of Pauillac groove and power without losing its identity in putting on weight.
There is a delightful compote of red berries and darker fruits, a sinewy but not hard structure, tannin and acid keeping things fresh and with nice line. There is a little tobacco and some cedar and leaf. Frankly, it is a very complete drinking experience.
I was tempted to score this as 'Outstanding' and I think it could be justified, but I really only like to hand out that level a few times a year. Worth every dollar and I would happily do it again.
They say money doesn't bring happiness, but if that is so, then it does buy a rather splendid type of misery. I think that not spending money is what stops it bringing happiness. The vintners of the world seem to agree, bless them.
Double decanted off its sediment and poured with Flannery’s regular and dry-aged hangers 8 hours later. Dark youthful color. Aromas of black currant, green tobacco, cedar, Asian spice and black cherry. Medium-bodied. Black fruit, earth and spice flavors, with Bordeaux tannin and acidity.
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-- decanted approx. 15 min. prior to initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 hrs. --
NOSE: tight/reserved; red Twizzlers; strong wet stones mineral note; unfurling at the 30 min. mark; nice mineral-fruit balance; faint hint of cumin seed; had moments of awesome, but was mostly very good and a bit reserved.
BODY: garnet color of great depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: medium-fine tannin; flat out of the gates; light vanilla oak; medium+ acidity; suddenly awesome at the 45 min mark (could be that this is when I started pairing it with food (steak and wild rice)); with a little bit of air, this is in a beautiful-but-youthful spot right now; alc. not noticeable; elegant for a Pauillac; Drink or Hold but best to Hold.
My 60th (Abbot Street, Ngaio, Wellington, New Zealand): Dense black-purple. Extraordinarily tight at the moment. Incredibly rich and ripe, but also closed. The palate is massive, very ripe for Bordeaux, tightly wound and structured, but with a density and power that comes across as opaque at the moment. It’s difficult to imagine this becoming transparent and resolved any time soon, but the raw materials certainly suggest a very very long life ahead!
this was much improved after twenty four hours and really quite delicious even if still quite tannic - serious wine, I think this has a great future - I will leave it for at least two or even three years before opening another bottle
Fresh nose of flowers, green pepper, mint, pencil. Nice. Palate can't match the promising nose. Light weight, not very dense and the fruit is not very present. No signs of tertiary aromas. It's not a bad wine, but lacking the substance, pressure and volume now - I hope it will improve with further ageing. Will try the next one in a few years. Today 90 pts.
Decanted and left to aerate overnight and then drank during a wine tasting lunch. The nose was fairly closed and did not open up during the four hour lunch. This wine needs more time. it certainly wasn't bad paired with a Ruth's Chris ribeye, but the acidity and tannin had not yet become integrated. On the second day, the acidity was very pronounced. I assume this wine will develop over the next decade or so.
Similar to my last note, although this bottle seems less savory upon opening. The fruit is more pronounced on the nose this time around. Still the same energy and intensity but really a pleasure to enjoy now. That said, I hold by my opinion that this needs another 5 years to enter its prime and will drink well for decades beyond that.
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Double decanted 2 hours ahead although ideally 4 to 6 hours is recommended. Dark crimson in colour, quite muted initially on the nose and later opened up to show dark red fruit, cedar, graphite and with a touch of menthol. I think this bottle (first from a case) seemed a touch more backward than the loose bottle I tried about a year ago. At the moment verging on tertiary but needs a few years, preferably half a decade to get there. Still, was a lovely bottle of claret to share with my father on NYE. 13% ABV and from Mario Luca Giusti Twiga wine glass.
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This one took a while to open up. Someone else on CT did a CPC and Insignia comparison for Christmas, and it inspired me to do the same for NYE. Upon opening, this one was mostly sour fruit, and no good compared to the Insignia. But after a few hours of slow ox, then an hour or so of decanting, this turned into the perfectly balanced Bordeaux. My friend who is on the periphery of wine loved it and considered it the WOTN. I think it is really good and with a lot of air, shows really well. Which means it has a long runway in front of it.
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Christmas dinner: Drank alongside a 2008 Insignia. Each had its own distinct taste but we all felt they were very much on par with each other. Dinner was a rib roast with usual fixings.
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Decant 1 hour. ruby garnet bricking. strangely, zero sediment. Medium weight, nice left bank nose but lacking mid-palate strength and weight. tannins softening up nicely and drinking well. This paired nicely with the rib roast, but would have a tough time distinguishing itself without food. This is a food friendly wine. 87-89
Decanted for 3 hours prior tasting in a wide opening decanter (for magnum bottles) - on the nose, it's deep and powerful with primary notes of blackberries, ripe plum and notes of cedar, pencil and tobacco; medium body on the mouth, with medium fine tannins and a medium+ aftertaste.
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Bricking throughout. As others have noted, a nice wine that just comes up a bit short. Needs an hour in the decanter to open up, then a nicely balanced wine showing berries, tobacco, earthy elements, anise, a bit too much brightness, and a medium finish. Best served with food. Drink now - 2030.
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Nothing transcending. Classic notes of cassis and cigar box, with perhaps a little blackberry, then quite a full-bodied, thick mouthful of the same, lifted by some cooler blackcurrant midpalate, then a reasonably long finish. Certainly concentrated but for me it is lacking in grip and character. It does the job fine, but at this price level, I expected a lot more; hardcore fans of PC will probably like the jammy concentration more than I did.
Opened let sit for an hour then decanted to remove last bits of the cork which tore. Medium red; classic Bordeaux nose of spice and sandalwood with some graphite mixed in. Medium weight on the palate with fine tannins. May improve further with another 5 years in the cellar but the fruit is not dominant so could dry out. Nice wine though for drinking now.
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Rustic upon opening. Saddle leather, mushroom, and some dried red fruit. The fruit bursts on the attack with building tannin and moderate acid. Very wel balanced but intense. This wine is a baby still and will be better in 5-10 years. Hard to be patient but it will pay off.
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Wines after the Wines! (Bar Purlieu, Eugene, OR): No formal notes. Decanted for 2 hours, this was a nice classic left bank wine. My last one might have been better, but trying this after a monster tasting could have skewed things. Black fruit, pencil, earth and cedar is what I remember. Loads of time.
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PnP. Very aromatic on popping; dark fruits. Oak is integrated. Length was modest; tannins chewy. No improvement with 2 hours of air. Try again in 2027.
This was more in line with my first bottle. Opened for an hour before drinking. Dark purple in color. Rich aromas of dark fruit, loam, and herbs. Rich mouthfeel. I will try to let the next few lie down for a while.
Fantastic bouquet of ripe blackberries, spices, pipe tobacco, cedar, undergrowth. Palate is juicy with some sweetness, acidity, bitterness, nearly ripe berries, spices, soy sauce, leading to a finish of medium length. Very classic. Only really open on the second night. Typical 2008.
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Disjointed and acidic as pop and pour. Left open for a day and the wine started to sing. Deep dark ruby with a slightly developed rim. Nose is somewhat developed and complex with powerful cassis and currants, old cedarwood and pencil shavings, touch of smoked cigars. Absolutely fantastic nose. Palate is medium intensity with cassis, leather, nice tingling acidity, slightly tart red fruit. Finish is long, intense, complex and long. I think this is still going uphill and can be enjoyed for at least 10+ years. Amazing wine.
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Really disappointing; worst QPR of the year. Don’t understand how the others get to such high scores. Had this wine a number of times over the past 3 years and continues to underdeliver; no development whatsoever.
Acidity, tanins not yet developed, shy fruits. Wait until 2026. Strong buy. Until then, stick to the 2012. See luhar’s comment, he knows what he is drinking about :)
The nose was quite amazing, the moment Somm Justin Ho poured my Pontet-Canet 2008 into my glass at Cassis last night. The perfume of black fruits and flowers diffused into my senses, how beautiful it was! In fact, our other drinking buddies that evening including Mika got the same sensation too.
What I love most about this 2008 is how approachable it is, with light oak notes whilst giving a sense of power and sureness at the same time - This is a wonderful vintage, and as good as I remembered it back 3 months ago when we shared this with our boss.
There is an incredible dichotomy of softness and power at the same time, with luscious ripe cherries and plum, and a sophisticated layering of cassis, tobacco and earthy notes. I could just about feel and taste the Pontet-Canet terroir all bottled up in this 2008!
The tannic structure is firm but luscious, and gives a sense of precision as well as assurance that this is both a wine which can be enjoyed presently or in the next 15 years! Glad I still have 2 more bottles in the cellar, perhaps for 2029 and 2034?
The tannins are mouthwatering and seriously juicy, super lively and vibrant perhaps as a development and PC's evolution towards the creation of an "emotional" wine which was certainly achieved in the 2016 vintage.
Made from a blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot and 4% Cab Franc with a drop of 1% Petit Verdot.
In my research of the 2008 weather, it seems it was rather challenging - There were problems with mold and mildew, and the cool temperature and rains caused problems to all growers as flowering was uneven and delayed. This was due to a cool and wet May month.
Then, the summer months were not helped by a wet cool June, July and August too. In fact, this was the case till the beginning of Sept. Interestingly, there was still plenty of sun during these months which gave some reprieve to our 2008 wines!
During the harvest of Sept, days were relatively warm whilst nights were cool. This meant that the growing season was modestly average, the growing season was long as was the harvest time.
With some understanding of the above conditions, I realised just how good a job the Pontet-Canet team did, from the vineyards to the winemaking, painstakingly crafting this amazing vintage. Cheers!
Cassis (3 months old fine-dining restaurant), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 16 Aug 2022
I opened this after the ‘06 Pontet Canet 375ml bottle was flawed. The ‘08 too old was poured from a 375ml bottle. Upon opening, it was completely dead on the nose. Almost giving up nothing. Then… after a 2 hour decant, it started to open up. I love the structure and tightly wound up ball of energy. While still very young and youthful, it is a well made wine.
Silky, smooth, polished, black berries and currant, very easy to drink. Medium body, nice acidity, long but ethereal/faint finish. Very nice. I might've wanted a stronger finish to bump it up another notch.
Tasting this along with Troplong Mondot 2015 and Smith Haut Lafitte 2010. Pontet Canet is the smoothest and most polished, possibly because of the most aging. Troplong Mondot is the most tannic and a bit under developed...clearly needs more aging. But somewhat similar to the Smith Haut Lafitte. Smith Haut Lafitte is rustic, powerful aromas, and lots of tannins.
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Edit @ 4/21/2024: Tasting this next to a 2016 Calon Segur St Estephe. After much tastings of many bordeaux, I'm taking my ratings notch down quite a bit with my expanded palette and experience, from 97 to 94. Still definitely a very nice wine, but I am no longer as biased and guided by price and exclusivity.
Next to the Calon Segur, this has brighter acidity and sharper more pronounced tannins. I prefer the stronger personality, but some might actually prefer the softer, easier drinking Calon Segur.
This still has the smooth, finely silky cassis of bordeaux whereas the Calon has a milder mouthfeel but with somehow grippier less polished tannins if that makes sense.
This is a beautiful wine, but for about 1/2 or 2/3 the price and a lot of experience, you can find wines that are 95%+ of the way there.
Dark ruby some clearing at the rim. Lots of black fruit on the nose. Sour cherry, plum, graphite. Not a great vintage but expected a bit more still good though.
vegetal, ripe red fruits, classic; palate is structured and balanced, a bit lighted than expected but this helps the wine. good fruit on the palate and finish, this would reward another 5+ years in bottle
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Perfect closure. Strong ruby - no bricking up whatsoever but a definite clear rim. Nose is very muted - maybe blackberry and graphite. Palate is hugely Cabernet driven - lean cassis with a plush tannin finish. Nice salinity. Maybe not at its optimum right now - will try again in a couple of years.
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Purchased from Culver City Costco years ago, tonight decided to have Burgers N Bordeaux with this bottle. Decanted 1/2 hour before serving. Poured into glasses for myself and wife. Slight bricking at rim. Deep ruby color. Nose was enjoyable but muted a bit- not corked though. Wine was pleasant with burgers, just wanted a bit more punch for the price paid for this Pauillac. Might be OK for another year or so.
3 hour decant. Elegant frame. Classically styled. Returned to bottle and back in cellar. More assertive on day 2. Thirty second finish. A note of oxidation but not detracting. Excellent.
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A good to very good wine, but not a stunner. It was created before the full-blown California style. So this is half California and half Bordeaux. It is still quite backward, and a two-hour is minimum. 90 if drunk today, and 92+ potential in a few years when tertiary flavor develops. Drink-hold
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Decanted 2h before drinking, but should have been longer. This wine was very smooth, from beginning to end. It had very nice fruit structure, but personally, I had hoped for a little more character. A bit too smooth. No remaining tannins. Long finish with some remaining acidity. Drinking window 2024-2040.
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I liked this. It is not an epic P-C, but it is very good just the same. I decanted through an Ullo filter and put the decanter, covered with a piece of Saran Wrap, back in the wine fridge. We drank a couple of glasses on day one and finished on day three. Last glass was the best.
A little tart smokiness on the palate combined with stewed prunes and dried cherry. A small bit of graphite on the finish.
This is ready to drink and is, to my mind, best enjoyed with steak, grilled lamb, venison, or creamy cheeses. Not necessarily a wine to enjoy on its own. I confess I had the last glass with a bowl of Ruffles potato chips by the pool on a pleasantly warm afternoon, and I enjoyed that just fine.
Friday Night Brown Bagger (R&R's): Blind. Deep color. Currant and lavender to start; bright. Full-bodied, with fine, sweet tannin and flavors of currants and sweet-tart black fruit. Well-balanced. Develops rose petal, plum and herbal notes, with an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. I guessed Bordeaux but wasn’t certain that it was our Pontet.
This had been decanted for an hour or so before ending up in this flight roughly two & a half hours after the cork was pulled. My last note said check in during 2022, and since friends were recently gifted a bottle this seemed like a good time to check in. I’d give this some time yet…2025+, but three to four hours in decanter will work for those who prefer them younger with a bit more fruit (looking at you SK).
This time I drank this alone, and it was more interesting than my last recollection of drinking this. Its still underdevloped and rather rich in fruit, but it lacks complexity. If 2009 is an indication of where PC style was headed, this would explain what was going on in 08's new world aspirations. Deep red, lush, warm and spicy, slight notes of pencils and pen ink, and a sturdy backbone. I dont know what you can do with this, but I am not sad that this was my very last bottle. As enjoyable as a good 60+ dollar napa cab. Drink I guess....
* PS_IMO@ the cost of 130+ dollars, and a 2008 Bordeaux, you are definitely buying the label and not the wine. I prefer a 2009 classified growth for 1/2 the cost and a very similar expression.
Vin avec une certaine tension. On pourrait apprécier ce trait de jeunesse et faire valoir la patience nécéssaire, mais j'opte plutôt pour un déséquilibre relié à un milésime moyen. Poivron vert, herbe mouillée, basilic. Pas mauvais, mais pas au niveau des attentes reliées à un P-C
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Dark magenta w/ ruby edge. Intense perfume of blackberry, candied cherries, vanilla and tomato leaf. On the palate, blackberry explodes followed by cola, vanilla and spice. Firm, but integrated tannins felt on gums and cheeks lead into a medium-to-long finish of dark fruit and spice. On day two, the fruit was still present, but more tart (blackberry & raspberry) and tertiary flavors of tobacco were prominent. Bouquet was consistent. Drank this easily a decade or two early, but enjoyed it all the same.
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Chateau Pontet Canet 2008 On the nose, truffles and mushroom, banana, oak, aromatic and focused. On the palate, black fruits, truffles, oak, cedar, quite balanced and elegant. 93/100
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Super interesting wine here - neither young nor old. Young with some upfront fruit on the nose and the palate. Old with some savory on the nose and palate as well, bordering on tobacco (which I would consider too old). But palate full and flush, with vibrant acidity. So in some ways, seems like it needs more time to resolve. In others, seems like it wants to be drunk now. Clearly more exploration is needed.
Took a bit to open up. Decanted for about 2 hours before the fruit started to show. Solid wine. Drank at the kids birthday dinner at our house with Kyle, Britt, Mike and Lynne.
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This was unintentionally decanted just before serving (rather than several hours ahead) and initially came over as muted, extremely young, very fresh and showing red fruits and perhaps a little disappointing compared with the 2012 I've enjoyed recently. However As the evening progressed this wine found its feet, the nose transformed to show the intoxicating elixir of simply gorgoeus red fruits (think wild raspberries etc) but with deep concentration yet remaining fresh with fine tannins and well judged acidity. Most certainly not too soon to drink now and may well improve as not yet really into a tertiary stride. Despite being hard to pick out as a Pauillac this remained classical and very well balanced. My WOTN because of the lingering memory of the deeply concentrated delicious fruit.
Decanted around 30 minutes before started upon. Startlingly primary and at first somewhat backwards, and didn't show well next to two 2008 Pomerols, but it improved a lot with more air and was particularly good with dinner, due to its prominent acidity. Lots of brambly fruit on the nose. Fresh and grippy, lovely tangy red fruit, raspberry coulis, red apple. Turned out to be an impressive and charming wine, although again more time will help. I enjoyed this more than the 2005 I had last weekend, because it had the freshness and charm missing from the 'better' vintage.
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Don’t think much has changed in a year. Accidentally opened the wrong year. The nose of this bottle is not muted. Dark fruits with earthy undertones. Medium bodied with cherry and graphite. Medium finish. Enjoyable but not sure it will ultimately live up to expectations.
very little sediment, flash decant. saturated garnet very light on the nose. Comes across much like a generic haut medoc and just not very interesting and lacking tertiary qualities. Still lots of tannins here on a big spine with a moderately dry tart finish. I'm not buying into this "not ready to drink yet theme" Having had many PC's, I'm just not convinced 2008 was a great vintage for this producer- even though the wine press thought otherwise 10 years ago. This PC is by no means a mediocre wine, it's just not living up to its hype. 87-88+
Graphite. Dark fruit showing elegance rather than power. Still tightly wound, despite 3 hour decant. 30 second finish, but tannins not yet fully integrated. Too soon to drink and every indication that this will be a 93-95 when it is ready.
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Très beau nez sur le fruits, bleuets, mûres, framboise. Très expressif. En bouche, beaucoup de finesse, ampleur moyenne, tanins soyeux. Belle longueur. Très bon
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I opened this bottle last night gave it two hours to decant and the wine, just has a funky taste, no tannins, medium body, a very weak bottle of wine. I am not too sure if there’s an issue with the wine, the cork did break. I wish there was some kind of explanation!
The Gang Drinks Blind (Mesa Verde Country Club in the OC): Poured blind. I was in the minority of those who called this the wine of the flight, which was part of a bag of mixed red bottles. Even with the decanting that Viet did with the bottle, it was still tight over dinner. I wrote down the word iron, as it had a ferrous quality, powerful and rocky. I also jotted down olive and blue fruit, which may sound bizarre, more like syrah I suppose, but it's what I sensed. This was the tightest wine of the flight too but there is potential here.
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Is this in a dumb phase? Very muted on the nose with little on the nose after 1 to 3 hours of decant. Significant resolution of tannins but overall just less interesting than expected. Some cassis on the initial attack with muted coffee and red fruit and bitter caramel on the finish. Little to no tertiary notes.
Deep ruby with purplish hue. Pronounced nose, with grassy and herbal aromas, as well as some medium ripe blackberry, and cocoa. Strong bitey tannins, and a dark floral attack, and savoury mid-palate, with blackberry, and tar and a hint of smoke. Long complex finish
Dekantert. Åpner med noe spiss syre. Litt tynn er den også. Roer seg ned, syren kommer på plass, men likevel ikke all verden. Siste glass har noe spiss syre. Vent 1 år med neste.
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More mature and enjoyable than the bottle tasted in 2015, with much reduced tannins; however, a bit thin on the palate, so 93 points at this stage for this bottle.
2/12. Just over a year since our first bottle from this case. 2-3 hour decant before we drank with roast turkey. Fantastic on the nose both when opened and when we came to drink it, with lots of black fruits, mint and graphite. Quintessential Pauillac on the palate with an element of secondary character, not as powerful as say a 2005 but very well made and absolutely delicious, very classic. A super wine and excellent value.
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Perfect closure. Colour is very definite ruby - not even a hint of garnet yet although a clear rim perhaps gives a nod to the vintage. Nose was not hugely expressive - cassis for sure but no strong secondary character. Palate very much Cabernet led in terms of fruit. Tannins very fine and certainly not overbearing. Lovely racy salinity on the long refreshing finish.
Opened with strong perfumery nose, pretty spicy palate and tight tannin, long finish with spices lingering. Decanted 1.5hr bringing the wine to life completely. Strong, in your face with fabulous nose, layered finish. At this price points, probably wine of the 08 vintage.
Strong bouquet of grilled peppers, underwood, blackberries. Lush bouquet, creamy, sweet with quite some acidity, showing the vintage, and a medium finish that thins out, leaving a subtle spicy mark. Substantially better the second night. Still needs 2-3 years, but already great with a decant.
This 2008 Pontet Canet is a full body, inky purple hue, yet it offers freshness, balanced, a very long finish, tannins are perfectly balance yet concentration and a sophisticated bottle of wine!
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Opened, but did not decant, 1 hour before dinner. Dark red color (nearly black) with a slight change from rim to center. Great nose - cassis, blackberry, cedar, pipe tobacco, and plum. Palate relatively similar - fruit still very young as well on palate. Medium body, medium tannins, medium acidity and very long, layered finish. 94+/- Improved from my last tasting in 10/2016.
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Deep purple. Textbook left-banker Cassis blackberry with elegant bourbon vanilla cherry and sour drops full bodied with silky textured tannins and elegant vibrant finish
Way too forward by way of blackberry and plum, I got this on Covid New Years and thought I would take time to savour it. I ended up just crushing it. Reminded me of a Super Tuscan a dissed a while back. Only 3 times as expensive. I can almost see how some people might have got some peppermint and char and things like that a while ago, but really mine was just a flabby fruit bomb with an odd hit of barn here and there.
Popped and poured. Clear deep ruby. Nose: Blackcurrant, underbrush, cedar oak, licorice, talc / flowers, spice. Ample dark fruit. Palate: Medium+ acidity, full body, fairly strong flavour intensity of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar oak, spice. Medium+ grippy tannins, long finish. This needs more time. Stuffing is there. Good fruit weight, but less expressive on the palate. Try again in a few years' time.
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Thanks for another CT'er recommending.....it is in a pretty good place right now. Almost from the pnp, short barnyard burns off and it's ready to go. Initially soft red velour fruit sweet, but with a tart red cherry ending. Over an hour or two of decant the Sweet-tart quality leaves for the most part and it's just nice dark red cherry fruit. My only complaint and it's a hard one to make because this is a lesser vintage, is that the fruit while having decent weight to it, lacks a little as far as depth of layers. But this is a very nice wine for an off year. Borders on a 93 for me, but it was gone too quick so I didn't have time to let it evolve any further!
Clear deep ruby/garnet; clean medium nose of balsamic, dried cassis, vanilla, cocoa, leather and delicate floral; dry; high acidity; high tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of coffee; medium plus finish; drink now or wait until 10 years; not what we were expecting - blind tasted more like a super Tuscan than a Bordeaux; will be fascinating to see how it evolves; did not decant
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Bought 6 bottles long ago as a future. The first 4 bottles which were drunk much too early were not worth ranking. So I avoided this wine for many years. Today I opened the fifth bottle, and it was a classic. It hit all the great Bordeaux notes. I will note that since I am drinking mass quantities of different 2016 Bordeaux that this 2008 Potet-Canet tastes old fashioned. This is not a complaint, just a note that things are changing in Bordeaux.
How impressively Pontet has emerged from its decades-long secure place in the middle of Paulliac ranks. A serious and rich wine, mildly monolithic right now, with dense dense black/red color, a deep oak/cedar nose and a wealth of fruit that has yet to be resolved. After 2+ hours in the decanter and 45 minutes in the glass, still holding back much of the further depth and complexity. Lots of dark red/purple/ black fruit, healthy amounts of wood, a wild sense with just a hint of herbal flavor, and a nice finish all augur well for a terrific wine in 3-5 years.
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Toll ausgewogener Wein, voll da und harmonisch. In der Nase herb männlich, schwarze Johannisbeere, klassisch linkes Ufer, weitere dunkle Früchte, aber auch etwas Kokos. Am Gaumen schön frisch, angenehme Säure und mittlerer Abgang.
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Post CB Long Night @ CH & KC's: Not sure if its due to the sheer number of bottles that came before this. Felt like i literally hit a wall. This needs more time, at least 3 - 5 years. The foundations are there. 91-92
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Clean and lighter bodied than its cohort (Continuum). Dark fruit profile, graphite/mineral, bit of earth. Nicely balanced, medium finish. Drinking young and I'll speculate that 20 past vintage it may show even better.
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Dark berries, some graphite, firm acidity and tannin and bitterness in the long finish. Shows a little development, but will certainly improve with more ageing. Next bottle around 2024?
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Dark fruit on the nose, some greenness, tobacco, spices. On the palate fresh and bright, good depth, slightly drying tannins. Good fruit. Long. Drink or keep. 91-93
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Wrote 8 years ago that this will be a fanatic wine in 5 years It is. The wine has rounded off a bit and there is just a small tannin structure that accomplice the wine really well. Wine is packed with cream the cassis, red berries, grafite, stems, leather and some forest floor. It’s a fresh wine, still in its first mature window where Bordeaux like PC can be so darn good. I love this wine a lot now, will probably grow even more with more cellaring
Double-decanted for about 5 hours before drinking with sirloin and rib-eye. Sweet black fruit, menthol, mint and pencil shavings on the nose. Fresh and juicy on the palate with blackberry and black cherry flavours, and a touch of cedar. Tannins are fine. Medium finish. This is a nicely balanced wine, albeit still quite primary.
This was our first bottle from a 12-pack and I would say this wine is open for business. However, I won't rush to try the next bottle as I think it has a lot of time in front of it and that its development will be relatively pedestrian.
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Decanted and drank after 2 hrs on a Friday night with pasta and Italian sausage. This was the second of four bottles of the 2008. I opened the first in 2018 and it was completely closed.
Drank the second half of the bottle on the Saturday night with a tri tip and it was better. Black fruit, subtle tones of garrigue but the finish drops off.
I want this to be better but based on comments from the CT community I think I’m just going to have to wait longer. At 12 years it seems like it’s still not ready to drink (unless I use a vitamix :-)
I love Bordeaux wines and have had some awesome LB reds but I’m not sure I have the patience for a Pontet Canet or other Pauillac compared to the Margaux and St Julians on offer.
Fine bouquet of ripe blueberries, blackberries, wood, smoke, grilled bell peppers. Full palate of ripe berries with a good amount of well integrated acidity, high quality bitter chocolate. Long finish with fine tannins, sweet and fresh. A really refreshing, succulent wine, with quite some structure and emerging complexity. Freshness is a leading element I see in the 2008 vintage, whilst still being relatively full, a classic Bordeaux vintage, still a bit early in the development curve but really great to drink already.
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Incredible nose of red fruit, dried flowers, graphite. Full bodied wine with nice balance of tart red fruit, minerality, acidity and tannins. A bit savory on the long finish. Nice now but still young and could age nicely for next 10+ years.
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From a half bottle. Definitely preferred to the previous three half bottles I've had of this. This felt more inviting, some earthiness but a really extended mid-palate, lots of subtle notes. Will continue to evolve a bit more. 93+pts. I had the '07 at a tasting a while back and it was much better to be honest - more striking and decadent.
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DAMN WiNOS (Rye Restaurant, Eugene): My WOTN, this is a very pure left bank Bordeaux. Creme de cassis, black cherry, black plum, earth, graphite, mocha and cedar are deep and linger. Plenty of muscle still. Now-2030
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First bottle from a six bottle vertical in a wooden box.
45+ minute decant but needed more like 2 hours. Dark red color. Graphite, black cherry, and oak make up a powerful nose. Medium plus depth. More black cherry on the palate with some medicinal tones. Finish has some black licorice, which is odd, but overall fantastic wine with great texture. Finish is medium plus.
Quite typical and expressive nose with a deep smell of cassis and blackberries. Some meatiness as well as pencil shavings. Really liked this nose.
Deep red garnet color with slight haze.
Tannins are dense and present, but round which gives a softer exit on the palate. Rich dark fruits as well as good acidity which gives a nice freshness on the finish.
The wine is structured which would allow this to age nicely. I would keep this another year or so before opening another bottle, but this is just starting to enter its drinking window now at approx 12 years. 92 points now, with upside potential.
https://www.instagram.com/wine_quaffer/
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The bottle opened for NYE last night started out strong with a good bouquet and dark red color. I'll concur with most of the tasting notes below, but our bottle after an hour got a little thin in the palate and more acidic. It went well with food, but it showed not as well against other wines; sorry.
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Vagabond Victoria. Little to add to below TNs, this is the real deal. Leathery wet saddle and cassis nose. Lovely round red berry palate and Bordeaux-austere but warming spices on the finish. Lovey claret. Probably outstanding in 10 years.
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This PC 2008 is juicy with ripe plum, cherry and other red fruits intermixed together, with a hint of coffee like flavour. Smooth and very balanced. WOTN.
Deep ruby purple color, ruby rim, clear and bright. Nose is plum and cassis, tobacco leaf, hint of chalk, roasted notes. Palate offers ripe plum and blackberry, wet stone and leather, all with a healthy amount of grip. Prominent Cabernet essence, rich and solid, offering promise of more nuance to come with more age.
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My feeling is that this wine is finally starting to open up. Emerging bouquet of developed fruit and pencil shavings (graphite). On the palate, developed fruit brings a juicy taste, kept in check by balanced acidity. Tannins are still edgy and mouth-drying which makes it interesting but not easy to drink. Long quality finish. Overall, very good but not the elegance and depth I would expect from PC. I am planning to wait as this bottle was more open en enjoyable than the one I tasted at the beginning of the year from the same case. Hoping and expecting that the next one will be better.
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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.
The fruits are ripe, ruby. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries & strawberries. Dark rich soils, dark spice, crushed dry rocks, black licorice, tobacco, soft leather, graphite, Great balance fruit and earth. The body is velvety and statin. The structure, length, tension and balance are just coming around. The texture is gorgeous. The acidity is round and excellent. The finish delicious and persists nicely.
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On the nose, I got some soy sauce, funk, and banana, and after a while some licorice and spice. On the palate, dominated by black fruit namely black currant and cassis, with some soy sauce And later on a hunt of mint, herbaceous quality, licorice and cola. Well integrated with a rounded finish.
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My sense is this wine went into a dumb phase 3-4 years ago but is now re-emerging and starting to show development. I would still leave bottles a few more years to develop more nuance. At this point this still feels on the modern winemaking side and would appeal to drinkers who appreciate more fruit in their Cab blends. I dont think for me it will ever reach RP’s original lofty rating.
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Nicely balanced but still under-developed and young. I just don't think this is a Bordeaux drinkers Bordeaux...Its quite dry, intellectual, and sexy, but far from substantial or developed. Hints of graphite tell you this is a Pauillac and maybe the modern style will point to Pontet Canet or a Lynch Bages for that matter...drink or hold
Full bodied, this royal purple color delight with fresh and spring like forest floor infusing black currant, blueberries, and blackberries. Rich in the mouth with smooth tannins, the acidity is nigh on perfect. Perfect concentration, mid palate and a sensational finish.
Wine four of nine, all 2008 Bordeaux varieties (also tasted the following evening):
One of two standouts, noteworthy for its mesmeric profile and serene purity. While compact and decidedly feminine in style, especially for Pauillac, the wine packs seemingly countless layers of scents and flavors. Charming to its core, yet is does not lack for power. The wine tantalizes with inflection-changing nuance. Moreover, the apogee of great Bordeaux for this palate, crème de cassis, spills over from the glass in torrents!
It improved by the second day, offering greater range, depth, and finesse. On this day, it paired exquisitely with high-heat-seared, charcoal-grilled, bone-in Ribeye. Indeed, the pairing will remain with me for many moons to come.
Entering its earliest drinking window, likely to reach full stride by 2028-2030, and it should last through 2038-2040. Insanely good! 96...97?
Two-hour decant at this point. Very pretty red color and 13% alc. In its current state, it is fairly light bodied. Although the RP review upon release projects a more massive, long-lived wine. The tannins are round, so it may continue to develop for years to come. The oak is well integrated here. Plum, dark cherry, and cedar aromas. Tart cherry and cranberry on the palate along with good acidity. Given the amount of tart cherry flavors, it seems like there is a large amount of Cab Franc. While I like this a lot, for the price, I wanted to fall in love with this. But, no such luck this time. I think that further cellaring will be very kind to this wine, as the long finish portends. I'll probably wait another 5 years before opening another bottle, and do so when my wife is not around, just in case I do fall in love with this wine. This wine is probably only 91-92 right now, but could be more like 93-95 in 5-10 years.
Clear, mauve-burgundy colour with orange-pink rim and few slow-moving tears. Clean, med intensity, with aromas of plethora of red and black fruit, and ageing cedar. Dry, med+ body, med+ tannins, med alcohol, med- acidity, with further tastes of mixed cherries, vanilla, light black pepper and liquorice. This wine has a luxurious feel to it but a med- finish.
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Tasted blind. Got this completely wrong. I was disappointed to find out it was Pontet Canet (normally I really enjoy this).
On the nose: an emerging bouquet (redcurrant and some cassis) but not quite there yet. Still quite tight. On the palate: fruit is there but so is the acidity and the tannins are still a bit edgy Overall: good wine but still quite firm. Not at its best.
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Cassis, floral, relaxing bouquet. Wine is still young with fresh currants; tannins are balanced and rounded. Slight white pepper and spice, graphite. Typical Bordeaux. Not complex though, especially when tasted alongside the Cos D 2006 tonight. Enjoyable now but can wait 3 - 5 years. Good value
[2nd try on 20 Mar 19: same notes]
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2000-2011 Pontet-Canet. Third wine in the third flight. Total stunner this 2008! Also very much liked the 2008 Palmer recently, so I will be probably stocking up on '08 BDX!
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I can’t believe I bought this for $86! Really tight upon opening. Not much going on. Double decanted and let sit in the bottle for 5 hours. Deep black fruit, earth, asphalt &spice. Great entry, mid palate and finish. Tannin is still there but very smooth. Great acid backbone to keep freshness. Great wine. Needs more time.
Rich but not overpowering, black and red fruit, lots of stuffing but not a crazy amount of complexity yet. I feel like I am mirroring a lot of other tasting notes but this is drinking great now but very obviously will drink even better with time.
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From a half bottle, this felt a bit muddled and muted. Had ‘08 Haut Bailly from a half bottle a couple of nights earlier and that was much better. Also, recently had ‘07 Pontet Canet and it was stunning compared to this, despite the perceived weaker vintage.
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Showing great Bordeaux typicity, and like most '08s I've had from the region, very approachable. Full-bodied, fresh and energetic, with black fruit, cedar and graphite notes. A great depth of flavors. A touch of smokiness on the finish. What it lacks in complexity is more than made up for in sheer quality.
Starting to really open up now. Wonderful nose of black fruit, black currant and cherries on the palate, tannins more integrated though still prominent (decanted 2 hrs). Long finish and great balance.
The property has had only three owners since its inception. The governer of the Aquatine gave his name to the estate? Hence the Pontet. And they stayed for 150 years. And then the Cruise family bought it. And then after many years ALfred's father decided to buy it.
Touch of green and celery to it, in a good way, some mineral salts, great freshness, absolutely lovely on the nose.
This is a wine that Alfred really likes. WHen they have mildew they don't loose quality, they loose quality. And their farming is extremely sensetive to it. If they didn't have mildew in 2007 they would have had it in 2008. But because of their experience in 2007 they were able to pre-empt the issue in 2008.
2008 is also the horse vintage - they started with horses. And they had lost the know-how because there had been no horses in bordeaux since for 50 years. In '08 Alfred bought three horses, one being old because he thought that horse would teach them how to do it. And he bought old equipment as well. And he bought very pretty equipment and it lasted three days. And so they had to learn anew. And they built all the material themselves for the horses. And now they have 10 horses and they are working towards 20 horses but it takes a while to train us and them Alfred notes. The idea is one day Pontet Canet will be 100% horses.
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Medium+ ruby color. Blackberry, cherry, black raspberry give a lovely fruit component while thyme and 5-spice give a lovely spice/ herb component and lead pencil, leather, cocoa powder and volcanic rock(dusty) give lovely old world charm. Silky on the mouth with firm but supple tannins and good acid. On the palate the black fruit shines fading into savory spice notes with a long finish of cocoa and volcanic rock framed by lead pencil. This wine is just starting to hit its stride and will be enjoyable for quite some time. Excellent wine!
Rich, full-bodied, deep, intense and loaded to the brim with crème de cassis, tobacco, smoke, wet forest floor and cherry pipe tobacco elements, the wine is mouth-filling, tannic, long, deep and complex. Everything about this is just great. But patience is going to be needed, as this will probably not hit its peak for at least another 5-8 years.
Judgement of Singapore (Home (Singapore)): Cream, vanilla, smoke, dark plum, blackcurrant, sweet aromas. Silky smooth feel, typical creamy Pontet Canet texture but quite dry in the attack and mid-palate. Still tight with tannins prominent. Feels like it needs more time but I'm not sure this is going anywhere.
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So much better than last time I tried this wine. Now offering serious luxurious, finely tuned tannin like a composed guitar string, creamy black metallic caviar.
Drank after 1 hr decant. Was completely closed. Flat, no fruit nothing, nada. Tried after 2 hrs and not much improvement. Very disappointed. Bought 4 bottles at auction. Will need to wait at least a year to see if the 2nd is any better
94. 2 hour decant. Deep dark purple to the rim. Nose of wet stone, and black currant, minimal oak. Expressive rustic palate, big dark fruits and tannins. Burly wine without being over extracted or out of balance . Built for the long haul but thoroughly enjoyed it at the 10 year mark. Drink and hold.
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Fairly mind-blowing nose. Baked apple, smoky BBQ, cassis, warm earth, cedarwood, more Burgundian that Bordeaux? Palate rich, fairly full, but just lacks a little definition, structure and bite. Would have liked more depth, but still wonderful in classic claret way. On the edge between brilliant and very good. Drinking beautifully now.
During a Magnum dinner. Lots of alcoholic heat here as well, more like a CabSav from Chile. Nice and drinkable but a shadow of a wine vs a Pontet Canet at its best.
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Checking in: Oops, this is surprisingly evolved, some beef stock, still crazy tannins, cherries, black berries, feels a bit disjointed. Needs a lot of time... but risky...
Maybe I was a bit optimistic at arrivage? Let‘s hope... This could still turn around...
Very dark healthy purple with a hint of age. Warm nose of ripe dark fruit and coffee grounds. On the palate however this is disappointing. Solid and bone dry, it's hard work. Yes there is fruit there but it feels dilute - as if a great wine has been watered down. Not much of a finish either. It just kind of stops. I have to admit I was expecting more given the address and the reviews. Maybe a dumb phase? I hope so as this is the first of a six pack.
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This was drunk over two days. On the first day, this showed currants and raspberry, but a bitter tobacco/cocoa note and noticeable tannins detracted from the finish; on the second day, the tobacco and tannins had fully integrated, and this was smooth and tasty. This needs three to five years, or some hours of decanting.
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Dark fruit, spices, smoke, minerality on the nose. On the palate quite firm and grippy, good fruit, great acidity, slightly coarse finish. Very long. 92-93+
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Beautiful showing.Lovely nose,clean with rich ripe blackcurrant fruit,liquorice,lead pencil and some floral notes.The palate is full-bodied with excellent depth and balance,with robust tannins and solid underlying structure.Very enjoyable now although still a baby.I think this will merit a few more points with another 4-5 years of bottle aging. (94+)
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Regular dinner group (By EM @ Bottles): In the bouquet red and dark berries as well as (green) herbs and spices. On the palate juicy dark berries and in fact some elegance. There is smoke, oak and also some green bell pepper. Firm acidity and tannin. The wine will improve with more ageing. Try around 2022 or a few years later. 92++ for today.
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Still Had some strong tannins and was extremely tight. Decanted for 2 hours and didn't develop much over that time. I would hold this for another 5+ years before I popped again.
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This wine has entered its schizophrenic phase. My last bottle, as well as other recent notes, was all about it being closed and a bit unbalanced. But this bottle was fruit forward, big, and pretty balanced. It is not yet back to the terrific level it was at back in 2012, but I no longer worry that it is not going to get back there, and beyond.
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Robert Parker stated that this was "the candidate for wine of the vintage". Ok, let's not get over-excited. It really is good, but after a mini-vertical of three vintages, this one got the 'lowest' score. Quite closed on the nose with notes of raspberry, fig, vanilla and milk chocolate. Decant for at least 3 hours (especially if you're in a restaurant). Silky texture, showing grand finesse, but still very untamed in structure. Doesn't calm down even with food. Could use a stronger aftertaste, but this is simply the reflection of the '08 - more on a cooler old school approach than on lucious powerhouse style of younger vintages.
Still holding much of what this has to offer in reserve, the wine is tight at the moment. With air and effort, the concentrated waves of ripe, fresh, juicy, blackberry, tobacco and earth make their way to the surface. This is quite nice, with ripe, soft tannins, but it is still primary. Another 7-10 years will add a lot to the wine, and it could deserve a higher score. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
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Mini verticale de Pontet Canet, au restaurant, avec Justine Tesseron. Première année de culture raisonnée, avec 1 cheval. Non carafé. Grenat foncé avec traces orangées. Nez sur des arômes de café, de fruits noirs. En bouche, le vin est suave, légèrement dilué mais puissant, long. Servi en compagnie du 2011
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2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): Quite unforgiving at this point, the 2008 iteration of Pontet-Canet will require a great deal of patience. An opaque ruby blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, it does exude freshness and a rich core of cassis, fig, plum and spice, but is dominated by coarse, mouth-puckering tannins. The astringency persists throughout the dense mid-palate and lengthy finish. Anything other than cellaring is not an option with this wine. Give it at least five more years before re-assessment. Drink 2022-2040.
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Surely once of the densest Left Banks reds of the vintage, and definitely has the stuffing to go the distance as it is drinking quite youthfully at the moment. It got better over the course of the evening, and was quite special on Day 2. Still not sure if it was the greatest buy at $99, but was very enjoyable.
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Tasted bilnd w Motz (of course..and I do Thank him). Couldn't wrap my head around it at first. Had some Old School Napa markers that threw me a tad. After swirling, tasting and contemplating, my dormant Bordeaux wine nerve came out. St.Estephe or Pauillac? Seriously though, if I could taste one wine like this a week ( or a month) I wouldn't yell at the neighbors kids so much.
Tasted over three days; the wine retained an evocative, indeed tantalizing, austerity over all three days, suggesting extreme youth and exceptional quality. Initial impressions upon pulling the cork and lingering over a couple of ounces in the glass include: very clean (strikingly so vis-a-vis the comparatively backward 2006 vintage tasted last year), leaning to the modern style though backed by mind-bending Old World depth, less potent (not Pontet, pun intended), if you will, than other vintages, yet of equal quality, compellingly feminine (or quite sophisticated, particularly for Pauillac). Overall, the bouquet, while impressive, showed more like St. Estephe, or even Margaux, than Pauillac.
Firm, piercing, and lifted palate, particularly for Pauillac. Showing little, if any, sign of its nine years. The wine features substantive weight, depth, and cut, riveting acids, copious dusty tannins, beautiful balance, and a finish that does not quit. It also imparted diamond cutting hard raspberry and blackberry elements, backed by restrained, yet massive mineral depth. The wine took a step back toward austerity on the second day, remaining taut, with underlying suppleness on the third.
Overall, possibly the most compact, restrained, and sophisticated 2008 Left Bank Bordeaux I have tasted, retaining its reserve over three days, and thus reaffirming the notion of high quality. Worthy of, perhaps begging for, no less than seven years' cellar time from today, and likely to last through 2040 and beyond. Recommend holding through 2030. If scoring for right now, 94 points, but a score of 95 points when fully integrated seems certain, 96 points quite possible, and who knows, maybe even 97. Enigmatically seductive. Drink from 2024 - 2045. 94-97.
Drinking very well - classic Bordeaux nose with dark fruit, lead pencil and this time just a little bit of funk that blew off. Tannins integrated and medium weighted.
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black currant, black licorice, black cherry notes having excellent balance with mineral notes -superb tannic structure, mouth feel, long-lasting finish. -an excellent companion to a fatty meal. -good value for a pricy bottle
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24 hour slow ox decant. Red color with a black core. Very clear. Floral notes, cassis, tobacco, and cherries. Very smooth mouthfeel, subtle tannins, and long, long finish.
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All the pieces of a magnificent super wine are present in individual parts: dark fruit, wood, forest floor and earth, mushroom, slight floral note, green pepper, long finish, medium body, fine but very present tannin. However, currently very disjointed even after decant. Individual parts Theoretically spot on, just not dancing together, not showing emotion yet, typical of its region/origin at only 9 years. Will hold for 5-10+ years and should be an incredible wine. 90 points on its actual drinking today, 92+ for its potential once better integrated.
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Red with very dark core and clear, with no violet or orange hues. Cassis, plum, green bell pepper, dried violets, and tobacco on the nose and palate. Lean and agile on the mid-palate. More medium-bodied than I was expecting but still silky and smooth with well-balanced structure. Tart cherries, mint, and tobacco finish. 93-94.
This bottle was much more mature than I was expecting, which is consistent with other tasters' comments.
Beautiful mature Bdx (at only 9 yrs old....). Drink or Hold.
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Decanted 2 hours. Strong red and black fruit. Feels like eating fresh blackberries and cherries. The wine is,however, thin and acidic. There is also a slight lingering taste of dust. I don't think it will improve with age due to the high acidity and low tannins. This is not quite what I expected from a Pauillac. But it is enjoyable.
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PNP: Nose was quite expressive but the fruit and floral scents were not well-focused; on the palate, strong acid masked the dark berry compote flavours I experienced earlier, with vegetal herby woodsy notes also at the fore. After spending a night in the fridge, the tartness had subsided and the veggie herby fruit flavours shone through. Its a fine bottle but I actually preferred it when it was young at 3~4 years in bottle. The fruit expression was pure and intense. Maybe it could change again after some time.
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They like you to hold these wines until they are at least 10 years old.
BY 2012 they were using the concrete eggs. 2008 is the start of horses in the vineyards and 2010 is biodynamic. 2010 is also the start of concrete vats for the Merlot.
Here in this vintage 100% in barrel, 70% new. 65% Cabernet here, and then 30% merlot and then franc and PV split equally from there (I believe). Floral and violet and plummy ripe on the nose. Still tart and tangy on the palate with vibrant acidity. The acidity to me is a hall mark of Pontet Canet - runs through the others that I have had. Very fresh and vibrant. Here not sure the smell matches the acidity.
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Certainly ready to drink and in its prime. Decanted for an hour. I don't get the impression that it will improve with age as it seems fully developed now. Dark purple, an interesting nose, the first thing I sensed was lavender along with some cedar. Good, nicely knit soft tannins, ripe fruit, well developed, a little dusty, I don't know how else to describe it. A good, medium-long finish to it. I'd drink this by 2020 at the latest.
Deep ruby color, ruby rim, less opaque than a year ago when I last tasted this wine. The nose is varietal cab at first. Almost new world in its character, it gains complexity and nuance as it airs, and moves back into a more traditional claret space. There is lavender, lead pencil, ripe fruit, and subtle notes of both vanilla and chocolate in the nose. On the palate, those ripe notes are present, bit there is also some astringency, hints of mint, dark berry fruit, perhaps clove. Finish is long and fruity, but still tight; tannins are softening but still have a lot of grip. Young and tasty, more on the masculine side of Bordeaux. I would give it a 90-93 range
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4 hr decant - Medium-Deep Ruby, obviously young, vibrant red fruit, not earthy, but faint sense of place, needs more time to balance fruit & acid, agree with community tannin is not overpowering even at this young age. Give air or age...
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Unlike the last bottle, this was decanted 6h - and it really needed it. Thin and acidic even after 1h, but gained weight and complexity so when we set to work properly it was gorgeous! Some secondary notes but still very young of course. It pays to wait a year or two still I believe.
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Decanted for 1-2 hours. No formal notes but this was fantastic! Showed amazing dark fruit with some earth and dense but smooth tannins. It makes me feel great that I have another bottle of it and some of the '09 and '14.
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Le vin est encore très jeune avec du cèdre (qui s'estompe avec l'aeration), fruits (mûres et cerises), un petit côté chocolat noir. Le vin est bien balancé, les tannins sont discrets et bien intégrés, mais il manque un petit quelque chose pour justifier le prix et la grandeur du vin à mon goût purement personnel. Seul le temps nous diras!
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Belle bouteille bien agréable à boire. Le vin a un bel équilibre, encore tout jeune, sur le fruit (cassis, mûres et cerises), les tannins sont souples et bien fondus dans la petite touche de bois. Je suis en questionnement pour savoir si le prix des millésimes récents valent la peine.
3,5/5
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Almost a year to the date since my last bottle. This time a 3 hour decant. Slow consumption in the glass and continued to improve. Still a baby. Bit of truffle with sappy black fruit on the nose. Tannins have softened some, but has a long way to go. A guest who brought over a 2009 Rochioli and 2007 Jarvis was very impressed with this wine.
Decanted for 3 hours and paired with grilled Filet Mignon.
Black in the glass. On nose, coffee grinds, black currants, charcoal & black cherry. On palate, relatively similar flavor profile to nose. Medium+ acidity, very tannic (great with steaks), nice balance and medium + body. Very long finish. 93+
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Pnp, in glass for 20minutes. Unlike 3 years ago, while still young, this is now open for business. The nose is now intense and pure fruit (red and black), not really any cedar or cigar box etc. Tannins not yet fully resolved, but very smooth nonetheless with really quite superb intensity and length of finish. Once this gets some secondary notes this wine will be truly superb I think but 93 for now with 95+ potential.
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Drank at 67 Developing nicely but still needs a bit more time. Pencil shavings and dark brooding fruit on the nose. Clean mineral driven palate. This will get better.
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Immediately on the nose hit with lead pencil followed by some very dark fruit (black currant, plum) with hints of cigar box and tar. Palate was moderate in weight. Initially tannins were big but with time in glass they faded into a nice structural element revealing nice complexity. Moderate finish
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I waited a year since last try but wanted to check in and see where this was. Two-hour Vinturi decant may have been too brief knowing this is an absolute youngster. Beautiful floral nose on decant but dusty tannins still a bit firm. I've been a tiny bit disappointed, as I felt this might be one of the sleepers of this difficult vintage, but more time is required to assess... An earlier post nailed it: I hope the fruit outlasts the tannins. Wait or air aggressively.
Tasted at the Chateau, no formal note. This had an over-ripe raisiny nose, though was better on the palate with rich, ripe fruit offset by attractive fresh acidity. A little odd though.
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Decanted for three hours. Blackberry, green tobacco, espresso, flower shop, coconut oil and chocotale covered cherries. Polished and evident tannins, with an exhilarating rush of fruit; the long finish shows distinct freshness. Quite youthful and really a mere toddler, I see this sailing into a wonderfully long journey. Quite statuesque. Drink 2020 -.
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Dinner at friend's house. Of the four wines we had, liked this one the least because of the acidity. Compared to other Bordeaux blends from Italy, Napa, and Chile, this was the most different because if its tartness.
Opened a bottle Christmas eve to see how things are evolving. Very tight after a 1 hour decant, but man did this beauty open up after 4 hours. Still wasn't fully integrated, but still delightful. The nose was stunning. So happy I have a bunch left...this will be something special in 5 years.
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Pontet-Canet & Tesseron Vintner's Dinner at Noble House, Kuala Lumpur May 27, 2014. Hosted by Melanie Tesseron
2008 Color: dark red Nose: lovely crushed rocks, cassis, black fruits has a slight green streak after 1 hr in glass Palate: as usual silky tannins, delicious, still young but drinking well,
2003 Color:dark red Nose: similar to 08 but bit more evolved Palate: drinking well, super smooth,
2000 Color:still dark Nose: understated pauillac elegance Palate: the most ready of the 3 so far, oh so lovely this is a classy wine, long life but sexy n voluptuous right now , for me WOTN
2010 Color: black Nose: tight Palate: wow superb, a big bold wine, but way too young, this will be one heck of a pontet in say 10-20 years time
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This is not the best time to be popping a cork on this future beauty. It's tight and hard to a lot of pleasure from at the moment. Yet, with that in mind, it's easy to see the high quality of ripe fruit, soft tannins, concentration and intensity. I'd give this at least 6 to 10 years from today before popping a cork.
I keep Pontet-Canet for all my children's birth years. Last night my wife and I opened one of our '08s in honor of one of my sons birthday so we can watch this evolve.
This is still drinking quite young but the nose tells the story of what's to come in my opinion. Presents deep ruby in the glass, the nose opens with cedar, graphite, blackberry, stone, cassis and just shouts balance at you. The youth is reflected in the slightly tight, bright palate with a hint of forest floor. But the fruit is beautiful, tannins are amazingly integrated and smooth, and the finish lingers softly for 30-60 seconds.
This needs 5 years to grow up and enter prime time but it definitely has the chops for the long haul.
If you drink this today I suggest a 1 hour decant.
Aromas of black fruit, herbs and incense with a rustic earthy undertone. Firm, chalky tannins with toasty oak, black fruit and plum qualities. Tannic and austere. I was fairly certain this was our young Bordeaux. Most other guesses centered on young CA Cabernet.
I only had time to give this a brief 30-minute decant prior to leaving for the tasting, and I intended this to be in the last flight somewhere with the bigger wines to give it the benefit of a little more air, but somehow it got mixed in with the first flight and it suffered for all of it. This really needs a long decant if drinking now, but would be better to leave in the cellar for seven to ten years. This was the first of a case, and my curiosity satisfied, I'll leave them alone until 2022+.
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Vertical tasting of Pontet Canet 2003-2012. Lovely nose - lots of ripe, generous dark fruit. Graphite, smoke, creamy oak. Very polished on the palate, tannins are very much present but seem round and a bit more in the background. Spicy, harmonious, with juicy fruit, nice acidity, good length. Surprisingly approachable. 92-93+
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Rich, full body with blackberry, cedar and graphite. Med-full tannins are rounded and well integrated but still have some grip. Powerful wine that's built for the long haul.
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Four-hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant with 30 minutes slow-ox at table. Nearly a year since last try, and no real change. Deep, reddish-purple hue opens to reveal red fruit, graphite, tobacco and distant campfire. Medium body with a palate centering on black currant and slightly-sour berries. Final sips were developing a nice mineral/floral presence. Dusty tannins still prominent; bottle rest should tame this just fine and improve the medium+ finish. Air this out aggressively or wait a little longer.
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Color: Inky bright purple, sticky long legs. Aroma: Herbal, juicy blackberry, licorice, incense, strawberry, thyme, eucalyptus, violet and hint of oak. Taste: At entry, smoky, gamy and juicy grape juice. Mid-palate, tannic, obvious oak. With air, smooth, sweet and soft tannin. Finish: High acid, white pepper, blackberry and banana, good length. Very big, juicy and powerful wine, with obvious licorice and oak notes but sweet tannin.
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With an intense nose that hinted at both the sweet and savory, the ’08 Pontet-Canet showed notes of red and blueberry, sweet spice, rich reduction sauce, and hints of moist soil tones. On the palate, I found silky textures with a medium-weight frame and a veil of ripe red and black berry fruit, which seemed to nearly mask its youthful tannins, while notes of spice, graphite and a hint of citrus saturated the senses. This lasted long throughout the finish, as its fruit slowly faded into fine tannin. This is a dark beast of wine, yet elegant and in need of time in the cellar. This should be amazing in 5-10 years’ time.
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Note from a neophyte: Great wine. Sharp, metallic dark colour, captivating nose and elegant notes coating the entire tongue. Lucky me, I have another bottle to enjoy later.
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Very dark ruby. Nose of creme de cassis, forest floor, graphite, cedar. Full-bodied, almost port-like palate of plum, blackberry, cassis, graphite, and (the exotic note, as always) tangerine (not banana like with the 2001). Tannins are structured heavily alongside a very vibrant and lively acidity, which gives the wine balance. Not my favourite style of PC, but no doubt impressive and worth following.
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From a 375ml. Drank after a brief decant. Young with dark fruits(blackberry) on the nose, but more so on the palate. Elegant - give this 3-5 more years.
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Needed hours and hours of breathing in the open bottle prior to serving; loads of dark fruits and purple flowers plus some fresh pine wood in the perfumed nose; quite complex, creamy, and concentrated yet rather tannic and tight on the palate, with lots of dark fruits and mild spices; extremely long finish with more young tannins; overall, 93-94 points at this stage; still in its infancy.
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From a coravin sample. Medium to full color, not as deep as the '05 and definitely much younger. Bouquet dominated by lactic notes, red fruits, and wood spices almost botyrized. Palate has ripe blackberries, some botrytis, vanilla new oak, thick tannins. Finish is medium with solid fruit and wood spices. Strong offering but lacking some Pauillac typicity for my taste.
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A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 30% Merlot. Showing a bit awkward at the moment but I wouldn't hesitate to try it. Not a blockbuster wine but very classic with an appealing elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with pure blackberry/blueberry fruit and cassis. This has excellent acidity that gives the wine precision and vibrancy.
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Quite shy on the nose, fine fruit, oak, spices, smoky. Impeccable structure, good grip with firm but round tannins, fresh. No hard edges at all. Very long, a lovely wine with good potential. 93-94+
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Young, still primary, but delicious, the tannins are polished, the fruit is concentrated, the wine is complex, deep and fresh. This is probably still quite well priced and is worth taking a look at.
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Two years since last try; five-hour double Vinturi decant followed by one hour slow-ox. Deep, reddish-purple hue offered very little bouquet initially, later opening a bit to reveal red fruit, graphite, tobacco and distant campfire. Medium body with a palate centering on black currant and slightly-sour berries. Final sips were developing a nice mineral/floral presence. Dusty tannins still make you pucker; bottle rest should tame this just fine and improve the medium+ finish. Air this out aggressively or wait.
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Lunch with Alfred at the Chateau. Tobacco, dark fruit and some oak on the nose. Lovely balance and texture on the palate. Classic, very well made Pauillac.
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Suave, polished tobacco tones. Delicate and powerful at the same time. Attractive, alluring and appealing but this really needs another decade of bottle age; wildly acidic right now, which bodes well for the long haul but nothing to write home about now. Give it eight more years+. 92+pts.
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Lighter, brighter style, but still unmistakable Pontet Canet characteristics: Pencil lead/graphite nose which carry's onto the palate, with soft, smooth, polished, dry tannins, fruit is vibrant, pure, and restrained. Impeccable balance and structure as usual from this property. Finish is clean, polished, and pure.
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Pontet Canet vertical 2000-2010: Medium-dark ruby. Alcoholic nose of wood, licorice with a bit of cassis, not very aromatic and not very expressive but then again this is 08 style and it will surely improve a notch. On the palate medium bodied with quite some acidity and heat. Not very balanced at the moment. This will need some time and then will be decent but never great. 89-91
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Chateau Pontet Canet Vertical Tasting Wine Dinner with Melanie Tesseron (Nicolas Le Restaurant): Compare side by side with 07 and both showed dark opaque core, but 08 is more vivid and vibrant. Still tight on the nose, showing good amounts of dark fruits along with cassis and smoky oak. Good medium+ bodied and rich mouth-feel, good mix of black currant, tobacco and black licorice on palate. Firm grippy tannins with long lingering aftertaste. Very good indeed for such an under-rated vintage.
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I was curious as how this is evolving. At the age of six, perhaps the worst time to open. Pop and pour, it has shed the baby fat and now the fruit expression is decidedly red. Medium nose, plum, cedar, a hint of ash, lactic coming from oak and strong presence of lead pencil. Initially very noticeable but sweet tannins. 24 hours later, the nose is a bit softer, jammier and fruitier. Soft silky palate, medium concentration, good acidity and nicely integrated tannins. Despite the red fruits and strong presence of lead pencil, the overall impression is modern with lactic notes and soft palate. IMO, this is developing nicely and will require another ten years to reach the peak. If you look for freshness, this may not be the right Bordeaux for you.
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OK. This was the last bottle of spoof that I ever bought. I was caught up by the score and hadn't yet realized where my palate was heading. With that said, this is archetypical modern homogenized red Bordeaux type wine that can be had on five continents, and gets really high scores from numerous myriad "professional" wine critics. My wife asked for a red wine tonight, something like a 2008 Jordan would have been perfect. Well I was boxing these for the barter holler and took a chance and thought Julie would like it. Her description:
-a little red wine -a little cigar ash tray -a little saltwater -a little flour/roux to hold it together
I told her she has made the perfect description for my mind's eye Modern spoofy wine.
Pontet Canet Tasting with Alfred Tesseron and Jack's Birthday Dinner (Palm Beach Gardens, FL): This wine was the most closed one of the tasting with the same one hour double decanting. It displayed medium body and acidity with mostly currant fruit that refused to open much on this night. The tannins are tight and young, but fairly mild compared to the other wines. The most noticeable difference was the lack of concentration on the finish which makes me wonder how much upside it has, though at a difficult place to evaluate right now. I would not open these now unless using some of the lengthy decanting others here have. Mssr. Tesseron suggested drinking now or waiting 10 years, though the wine I tasted already seemed closed.
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Nose of tobacco box and dirt along with asian spice and raspberry. Red fruit with a little bit of forest floor. Soft tannins and medium finish. Quite complex. Decanted 2 hours and still evolving.
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This wine is shutting down now. Slow-oxed for 10h, then double decanted, then slow-oxed again for 14h, trying a thimble at each stage. Straight out of the bottle this is now quite harsh and almost disjointed, after the first 10h it is still quite tough and I would likely still not recognize it for what it is, had I tasted blind. At the end of my 24h treatment it is, however, quite delicious. Well balanced although the fruit has noticeably receded as compared to the last bottle, leaving a more tannic, acidic and astringent impression. Intensity and length are very impressive though. No doubt the scores we will see on CT for the next few years will be lower than what we have had until now. As for myself I will not touch another bottle for 5 years, but I think at that point this will again be superb.
Some sweet fruit here. Good balance. A bit sour on the finish. Very Bordeaux typicity. Certainly in a better place than the bottle I drank 9 months ago.
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Would not suggest drinking this now as expected. Must aerate for at least 3-4 hours in order to see some of the better qualities of this wine. Awesome red ruby color with an incredible shine. Nose evolves but shows fruit, smoke, dark chocolate and floral notes. Quality fruit on the palate and solid finish. Being an '08 Bordeaux, this wine just doesn't have the concentration of higher quality years. Give this at least 5-10 years.
Double decanted and THEN slow-oxed for 12h. This one needs a lot of air and for a long time, but it is worth it! Lovely integrated nose; red currants, cranberries and pepper. Very, very powerful in the mouth. Balanced and quite intense. Fruit forward, round and velvety, followed by minerals and acidity that carries the mid-palate into a long intense finish. This is really terrific! I ordinarily like my Bordeaux much older, but this works very well. Extremely good value now for being a PC. 94-96.
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Verticale Pontet Canet le 19.10.2013 @ Genève en présence de M. Tesseron, propriétaire du Château.
Dégusté après décantation de 2h. Beaucoup de fruits noirs et rouges au nez pour ce 2008. Un beau millésime qui présente un bon potentiel de vieillissement. Se boira probablement plus vite que les 2000 et 2005.
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Very dark colour. Classy nose of oak, cassis and black fruits. very rich and concentrated on palate but still rather unyielding. After about 6 hours of air it developed to show some graphite in addition to red and black fruit. The finish was very long and I have no doubt this will improve tremendously in time - particularly in terms of shedding what is a little bit of new world largesse at this point. 93+
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I read all the cellar tracker reviews beforehand and was careful to open and decant the wine well before drinking (4 hours). That probably was not enough, she wine came out a little bit closed still. Once in the glass, and after letting it rest a further 15minutes, it started to open up and felt wonderfully velvety to the palate. Still it was almost impossible to get a proper "read" on the wine. Clearly too young, I would agree with my fellow reviewers. Forget it for another 3 to 5 years.
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Quite primary. Mostly cassis fruit with some graphite balanced with firm structure and tannin. Not showing a whole lot at this nascent stage. Way outclassed by the 96 Gruaud.
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If this is a precursor to how the 2012 Pontet Canet is going to develop, perhaps 2012 is a vintage worth looking at, as this big, concentrated, full bodied, cassis, blackberry, earth, truffle, smoke and tobacco filled wine is fresh, polished, balanced, rich, long and still quite young.
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nose was red fruits, wood and licorice. tasted disappointing as tight and very closed and tannic... after 2 days still only harsh graphite - wouldn't open up. i'm sure it'll be v good / great in 5 yrs but forget it for now.
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Had to try another bottle without the owner present (to make me want to like it). This really is an amazing wine. Incredibly complex but approachable even now with enough time in the decanter. Load up boys and be happy, I can't wait to be sitting in 10 years time drinking the trio of '08/'09/'10 together. This Chateau is on the up and up.
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I had this about a year ago when it was drinking great. It has definately shut down. I decanted for 7 hours and it was not giving up much at all. I will wait another 5 years to try again.
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This is a bit awkward. The fruit has shut down and there is a bit of astringency that permeates the mouth and lingers. Not surprising and typical I think. I need to give this some time. Probably about 5 years.
very young, on night one it had a nice nose with some fruit and plenty of oak, color was dark as can be, palate was no so good -- very extracted, edgy acidity and no discernible fruit... by night three things had come into balance a bit... some fruit appears, still pencil lead and pontet canet graphite, acid had settled and some tannins were present in a good way, over all this wine feels a bit extracted for my liking... i sense modern style so i wonder what this will look like in 15-20 years... probably won't buy more... rather just reload on the 2003
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Pop open n first smell was just delicious, smell very candi like.. Open for 6 hour before first taste.. In a decanter. Taste pretty good n not that much heat n complex. It will only get better with time.. I am going to stock up. I got a cs already
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Waited a year since last try; dusty minerals and still reticent dark red fruit being held back by just-beginning-to-round-out tannins. It's getting better; rating up a point, but still needs more rest to reach its potential. Feels a bit New Worldish for a Pauillac, but a very wonderful bottle of wine.
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2000-2009 vertical of Chateau Pontet-Canet, with Alfred Tesseron (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): On the wine, Nice nose of black fruits, light red fruit, biscuit/toasty notes. On the palate there is quite a bit of ripe(not overdone though) fruit , wit good density. Very fruit forward with silky round yet vibrant tannins. Delicious now and with a lot of life ahead of it. 93/94 and such a nice surprise.
We asked Alfred Tesseron if he changed anything on the wine making for the 2008 (and 2009) as it (so was the 2009) felt a lot more supple and fruit fwd than any of the others we had on this vertical. He credited Biodynamic and organic farming as well as the rest of the improvements on the vineyards but to us it wasn’t convincing to be honest.
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Pontet Canet Dinner (Texture London): Slightly closed nose but a more rounder mouth due to more Merlot in the mix. Lots of complexity and depth in the mouth. This baby is going to be amazing in future years.
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Still deep in color, with an explosion of black and blue fruit, cassis, cedar, coffee, stone, earth, smoke and cigar box aromatics. Powerful, rich, tannic and structured to age, from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this luscious and lusty Pauillac demands at least another decade in the cellar.
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Way too young and in the tunnel. Much suppressed aroma with some berry and stone fruit, just a hint of minerals, dark fruit and tobacco. Relatively dense palate with a very long finish and notes of cassis. After leaving it in the decanter for four days it had opened up somewhat. A little more dark berry notes, dark butterscotch, coffee, minerals and some green elements. Still restrained but showing great depth. Loads of potential here. I would leave this be until 2020.
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Lighter styled but impressive and shows a nod to the 2009 if a little closed today; Cooler entry but lovely flavour and offers a similar peacocks tail of flavour. An excellent 2008.
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Attractive nose of plums, roses and graphite with blackberry undertones. Extremely classy use of oak. Palate has great structure and brilliant length. Young but with obvious potential.
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WOTN among 3 left banks and 3 right banks, all 2008. Clearly the best nose and most complex palate. Very multidimensional. Manages to combine the sheer weight and opulence of fruit with an elegant lift and refreshing acidity. 2008 is just a great year if you are not into the jam business!
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It started noticeable ash/burnt character with bright red fruits. With 30 minutes or air, the fruit expression decidedly change to ripe blue, blueberries, blackberries, crème de cassis, lead pencil, cedar and scorched earth. The oak component is not fully integrated. It is interesting that there is a hint of vegetal Cabernet fruits that quickly dissipates to display extremely ripe blue fruits. It is a bit confusing to me. The palate displays excellent concentration, bright acidity, surprisingly soft mouthfeel and very well integrated tannins. There is a hint of prune which I find bothersome. 24 hours later, very similar to first night with a bit more black fruits, licorice showing and still a hint of ash and oak. The palate is a bit more silkier but similar weight. I kept about 1/8th of bottle to observe when noticeable oxidation take place. Overall, this is a very modern ripe Pauillac with a hint of ripe Napa fruits.
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Sample at LCBO. Stunning opulence on the nose. Creme de cassis woven with a mixture of red fruit. Creamy with a little lift. Quite backward in the mouth but showing huge potential. A little leaner than I expected but this will flesh out I'm sure. Don't open for 2-3 years minimum. 91++
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Drank on the infamous Lame-O New Years 2012. Fairly closed on the nose - tasted fresh berries and alcohol. On the pallet currents and cherries came through. Bright cherry or cherry liquor continued to come out over the next several hours. To be fair I had a cold while trying this so I was unable to judge the finish and probably missed some notes in it. I would love to try this again. I did get the feeling that this was a nice wine and will do well in the long haul but I cannot do it injustice by rating it.
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Drank for NYE 2012 w/Mark S. Youthful cherry rim. Upon opening, the nose gave nothing save for some shy berry fruit, alcohol and a hint of cherry liquer. I have had several 2008s now and most were open and fruity, somewhat hollow in the mid palate, but this is reminiscent of young Barolo to me - very tannic, firm and unyielding. Even after pouring through the Vinturi (Christmas gift, had to try it) the wine softened a little bit but remained difficult to read. Regardless, I have placed my bets on the experience and forsight of the critics and bought a case of this as an anniversary wine. I won't waste another bottle just to try until my 10th (2018), and I think this will be a very long lived wine, especially when compared to other 2008s. If forced to rate this wine for what it is now, and not what it will or should be, I would say no more than 88.
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I have a case of this stashed away, but found this bottle in a store and thought it was worth an early look. Very young and difficult to rate. I decanted for 3 hours but the bouquet opened up immediately. Dark ruby red and viscous this is full bodied wine that lasts for 30-45 seconds. On the palate it has the makings of a really nice wine....just think it will take some time. I'll wait until it hits 10 before I try it again.
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Lots of Bordeaux with Dan G for Public TV; 11/6/2011-11/7/2011 (WVIZ World Series of Wine Seminar): Very tight. It took a lot of air and coaxing to get something out of this. Slightly dusty nose with cassis and leather. Great texture. Firm tannins. Lots of tight cassis. Long finish. I don't know how you can love this today. I base my score on past performance, texture and finish. Even after the seminar, with lots of air, a glass of this just did not show much.
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Surprisingly drinkable at this young age, only had a small glass so cannot tell how much it will improve with time but suffice to say that a well made wine with potential.
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Le meilleur potentiel du lot selon moi, avec le Las Cases. Notes d’élevages évidentes mais moins dérangeantes que sur le Cos D’Estournel. Assez austère et tannique, il est tout d’un bloc mais long et d’une densité qui le classe d’emblée comme grand vin. Énorme potentiel.
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2008 Bordeaux tasting (Beltramos tasting bar): Deep, dark, rich, lush, almost voluptuous; only moderate tannic structure, even a bit soft, walks a tight-rope between Bordeaux and California. Very enjoyable, but certainly not "classic" particularly in this 08 vintage.
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Tried at Glengarrys Bordeaux tasting. Balanced, elegant, hard to differientiate from the Leoville Barton in terms of balance and overall elegance. Palate, big, long but very, very, balanced.
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Tremendous wine - not quite the depth of the 05 but a delicious wine. Great fruit and balance. Will age nicely. Not a wine for the long haul. My guess is it drinks best from 2015 to 2025. Very nice now but obviously very primary.
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Not quite at the level of 2005 but and impressive effort. For those who have disdain for Bords that are too modern this is an example of a refined wine that isn't light in the pants. Burgophiles will like this.
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Hard to know how to rate this as it's so not ready to drink. Opening this wine now is really a waste now. I've tried a couple of other '08s and have really enjoyed them as they are drinking surprisingly well now (For example, Haut Bailly and Haut Bergey), but this thing is still completely unevolved and incomplete at this stage of its development.
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Day 1: 2 hour aeration in the decanter, then back to the bottle for 2 hours, 1/2 the bottle tasted over 2 hours. Purple, muted nose, giving up some leather and faint cassis notes. Minimal red fruit, green notes, medium-minus acidity, huge drying tannin. Tough to see what is hidden back there. This wine, like the '05-'07, lacks the traditional Pauillac characteristics that frankly I am a big fan of.
Day 2: The nose has opened up, revealing red fruit, french oak, and little if any graphite. The tannin has released its lock, but I don't believe the vintage was good enough to merit cellaring this for the 10+ years that it needs.
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wow, this wine is toooooo young. Tannins are brutal and the nose still muted, even after a day in the decanter. This wine will age for 50 or more years and will be a great 95+ points wine when I drink it at my retirement celebration. This will be a 2008 legend and beautifully it will be affordable, given that it will forever be in the shadow of 2009 and 2010. Good stuff!
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Intense nose showing nail varnish and extracted dark berry fruit. The palate seemed a little closed, but I did find full body, plenty of fruit and tonnes of tannic structure. One for the long haul. (2008 Bordeaux Tasting)
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Tasted at the WS Grand Tour in Boston. This Chateau rivals the premier cru's, and this wine in particular is probably the best of the vintage in Bordeaux. As you can tell I am a big fan. Well done.
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WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: violet, lilacs, blueberry, blackberry, cassis and fruit tart notes. Palate: Very nice layered and elegant. Lots black fruit layers that create a sense of depth. Finish: very long with muscular presence. Can't wait to see how this evolves. Room to improve here.
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Tight now, but this will be a tremendous wine! Very tasty now, so over time, the improvement should make for an exquisite Pauillac. - WS Grand Tour 2011
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Very different from other vintages of P-C I have tasted. Big, impressive, spicy nose. Very good on the palate. Fruity. Surprisingly approachable at this young age. Potential for greatness.
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Ripe black fruit, sweet spices, earl-grey tea and liquorice on the aromatic nose. Lots of tasty black and red fruit on the palate, intermingled with sweet, spicy tannins, exotic spices, tea, chocolate and liquorice. Primary, but lots of material and great length. Will probably need a lot of time to fully develop. Might merit a higher score.
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Powerfull nose of graphite, cassis jam, tobacco... mouth of black fruit, loads of ripe tannins, cigar box, very very long aftertaste... great wine with a very long potential (93+/100)
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Farr Christmas Tasting 2010: After 2009 Cos & Pontet, I fully expected the 2008 to be a disappointment, but no. Round, full, complex & delicious. £800/cs (Sal 91 pts, same as 2009)
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2008 Pontet Canet is another winner from Alfred Tesseron, who has been making better wine every year since the 1994 vintage. Black fruit paired with spice, licorice, earth and toasty oak introduce your senses to the wine. This powerful, full bodied, cassis and blackberry jam filled wine is fresh, fat and concentrated, ending in a wave in chocolate covered, dark berries. 95 Pts
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08 Château Pontet Canet is deep, dark ruby. The nose expresses sweet black fruit, cassis, and fresh earthy notes. “Wow” is the first descriptor I used to describe what the wine feels like on your palate. This wine is incredibly concentrated with dense, ripe, rich, almost flamboyant fruit. The texture is fresh, fat, rich, juicy and opulent. Everything is in balance in this packed and stacked wine which finishes with intense purity. 94-97 Pts
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Bordeaux 2008 Primeur (The National Opera, Oslo): Sweet dark berries. Surprisingly little oak, eucalyptus (?). Extracted style, and a bit unfocussed, and verging on being over extracted. A tad too sweet at the present, but I guess the sweetness will integrated better as the years go by.
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Bordeaux 2008 (Bordeaux): : Very fine, fresh nose of black cassis fruit, with good floral lift. The palate is rich yet brooding, showing much strength and underlying power. This seems to be quite special. One has to applaud Alfred Tesseron's steady output here since the mid 90s, although the prices have headed far North in later vintages. 92-94+
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4/3/2024 - Amberissey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Some visual evolution. Still opaque in the middle but fading to garnet at the edge. Cedar, mint, blueberry, raspberry, and graphite are all present on the beautiful nose. On the palette, more blue and red fruit, more cedar, and more graphite. Plenty tannin. Epic length. Like the other high end 2008s I’ve had (Pavie Macquin and Duhart Milon) it’s great now, but with significant upside.
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3/29/2024 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
A big, dark, inky bastard this one is! Deep berry fruit, hints of cinnamon, and a whiff of green pepper. The tannins are still primary, somewhat remarkable considering the age. I will let this rest another 2-3 years and then revisit.
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3/20/2024 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
A good 12 years since we had this last ( Papies 93) . The first of the Michel Rolland Pontet Canets and we remember back in the day how different it was vs the others albeit age 4 at the time. With age this has become graceful and ever so classic , old school left bank beauty. We even felt there was no need to decant it. Effortless and albeit not the best PC out there still a very elegant and beautiful one 92-93 and we regret selling our EP allocation some years back.
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3/6/2024 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dekantert lenge. Kommet til seg selv, balanse, alt på plass, herlig!
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2/12/2024 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Slow oxed for 7 hours, beautiful Bordeaux, stellar nose & palate, surprisingly quite ready
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2/11/2024 - Rafa01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Previous 2 bottles didn’t show very well but this one now at 16 years old was really good.
Pure cassis and blue cool fruit, fresh finish , good acidity and lengh.
Dark in colour and fairly primary still. Give 5-10 years and it will be excellent and develop into secondary aromas.
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2/10/2024 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dinner at Peter's: A sense of cool tightness plays against depth and richness of cassis, cedar, mint. The oak influence is still quite fresh and with big tannins and a sense of hardness on the palate this feels like it has decades in the tank to soften and unfurl.
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2/10/2024 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours before sampling (at 5.5 hours now). Cassis, licorice, vanilla, black cherry, cherry pits, plums (and some minty notes earlier). Really a refreshing drink, due to the acidity. Still lots of tannins, but after the long decant, it is smoothing out nicely. It's been 5 years since the first bottle, and I think that the wine has improved markedly. This might still be on an upward trajectory, but probably won't drop off anytime soon. Drank in remembrance of Mike, who passed way too young.
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1/27/2024 - eric@cwm wrote: 95 Points
A beautiful, classic Pauillac. Should have another 8-10 years of prime drinking.
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1/27/2024 - DrBad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with Steak au Poivre dinner along with a 2012 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Christine and I and several guests preferred the Gigondas. Gave it about an hour decant, nice aromas of tobacco and cedar. Medium plus body with good acidity to go along with the meal.
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1/27/2024 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bouquet of grilled peppers, dark berries, jam, a bit of funk at times. Drinks well, with a good mix of fruit, some sweetness, freshness and a bit saltiness. Still feels a bit young, but already great to drink.
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12/26/2023 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.
Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.
This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.
I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.
Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
13% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125.
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12/25/2023 - s******n Likes this wine: 91 Points
Direkt nach dem Öffnen probiert.
- Farbe: Hohe Farbintensität. Dunkles Rubinrot.
- Geruch: Typisch Cabernet. Rote Frucht. Feuchtes Leder.
- Geschmack: Voller intensiver CS. Könnte auch Napa Valley sein. In der Geschmacksrichtung großartig und auch schon gut zu trinken. Sicherlich toll zum Steak
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12/22/2023 - SMagowan wrote:
Mildly concerned. This was not as good as previous bottles. No taint; just flat and dull. Dumb phase?
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12/12/2023 - itsnotbob Likes this wine: 95 Points
I brought to a blind Bordeaux tasting, where nearly everyone thought it was a new world wine. Very fruit forward, still plenty of cellar life left.
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11/26/2023 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black.
Very ripe concentrated cassis, crushed herbs, ink and plums.
Chalky tannins, good length. Cassis fruit is intense, oak is now integrated but strong.
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11/6/2023 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Superior to the 2007 in every way. More depth in color, much more body and complexity and flavor. More tannin and acid, and could easily go another 5+ years whereas the 2007 is all it's ever going to be now.
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10/25/2023 - HerrMelin wrote: 94 Points
Begynnande mognad i doften med lite höstlöv, svarta vinbär, blåbär och fat.
Runda tanniner, bra tryck i frukten och balanserad syra, riktigt fin.
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10/19/2023 - azscot wrote: 92 Points
Slowly but surely improving with age. Was closed when I opened the first bottle 4 years ago. Better last year and the 3rd seems to be coming into its drinking window. More fruit forward - but still a 3-4 hr decant - with medium tannins and a med to long finish. Dark red fruit on the nose with black cherry, brambles and a touch of spice on the palate. More of the rustic notes came out in this one which gives it a hint of herbs, more akin to rosemary or eucalyptus.
Good effort getting better.
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9/14/2023 - kelvinkyng Likes this wine: 93 Points
The key is to decant this 08 PC at least 5 to 6 hours for it to start opening up.
The wine looks ruby colored. It smells like blackberry and oak. Elegant.
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9/8/2023 - EyeDoc wrote: 95 Points
Losing a bit of the primary notes with less bright fruit and still a lot of tannin. Still some upside here. Against 08 Cos, Ducru, LLC, PLL, Montrose, Haut-Bailly it won WOTN in a blinded tasting (6 tasters). It looks like I was wrong in 2011 when I claimed this wine would be an early drinker. On the contrary, this wine has some legs and will last a couple of more decades (granted this has been stored at 55 degrees for most of its life)
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8/26/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decided to check in to see how this is evolving. While still at the front end of its maturity, it is drinkable and enjoyable with a proper 2 hour decant. Signature Pauillac notes in the glass and on the palate. Still restrained and holding back all that is packed into this bottle. For my palate, the ideal drinking window is probably between 2028 - 2035.
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7/23/2023 - JChan wrote: 92 Points
Stable performance, a decent claret.
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7/1/2023 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 90 Points
What a special opportunity to have this very same vintage, from what is probably my most prolific tasting of any Bordeauxs, this was my 2nd Pontet-Canet 2008 in under 2 weeks!
This blend of 65% Cab, 30% Merlot, 4% CF with 1% PV is still in a very closed state now. In the previous tasting, we did a rushed decanting of 2 hours, and it was closed.
For this tasting at Krabi, Thailand, I personally decanted the bottle for nearly 7 hours, and it remained tight. Hints of dark cherries and cassis, with very nuanced graphite aromatics on the nose.
This opaque black-purple wine has a palte of blackberries, barbecue smoke and a hints of forest floor with a lot of richness and freshness, but lacked the layered complexities we would expect of a fully mature Pontet-Canet.
Alfred Tesseron is legendary of being one of the most attentive winemakers in all of Bordeaux, working with very low yields, as well as a very late harvest. This along with its draconian selection means this is a big wine of incredible quality and potential.
I would not recommend trying this again until 2026 and beyond, and I plan to pop my last bottle in the cellar, say 2029.
Oldham Hall reunion, 9th of 9 wines TC, Jack and me contributed to our gathering in our island getaway.
1 Jul 2023
Krabi, Thailand
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6/30/2023 - fussyeater Likes this wine:
Cassis and hint of tobacco on the nose. Fine tannins, slightly resolved red fruits on the palate with spice (presumably from the oak) and perhaps a little spiky. Seems noticeably youthful Checking in later on, it had settled down nicely.
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6/24/2023 - Juliansi wrote: 92 Points
Was in a rush to get to the restaurant and only opened this at Champignon for Ls belated birthday celebration..
And that was a real mistake. This PC 2008 needs a lot of coaxing to come out of its shell, and even after 2 hours in the Decanter, it barely came out of its shell.
My 4th time having this vintage and by far the most blocked experience!
This vintage is a blend of 65% Cab, 30% Merlot, 4% CF with 1% PV.
Very dark opaque black-purple colour, and palate of very ripe black currant and blueberries with hints of forest floor and smoke.
Alas it was overly full-bodied and lacking in complexity or elegance at this stage. Texture and mouthfeel showed how much quality was in this bottle, and I would give it more cellaring time.
Dinner with LMC, new buddy WF, SKT and LMK, WMK and Hue as well as Eng and A. Thanks for sharing the evening of 9 wines.
24 Jun 2023
Ara Damansara, Malaysia
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6/15/2023 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have wanted to try a Pontet-Canet with some age for many moons and was delighted to pick up a bottle from a good year at auction recently.
I opened this mid-week to celebrate the fact that I am one of the planet's great toss-pots. I decanted it and drank like a demon over about 8 hours. It was very hard to stop because it was such a joy.
The colour is quite dense and still not showing much sign of bricking. It speaks of richness and power to come and it does not disappoint.
At first, the wine is medium bodied, surprisingly elegant and it takes me back to what I regard as the classic pre-Parker style of Bordeaux. However, there is great intensity and a very long finish.
The wine rapidly starts to put on flesh, somewhat like my unfortunate female soul mates have tended to. In both cases, I am good with this.
After about 3 hours you have a lovely Bordeaux style that has a lot of Pauillac groove and power without losing its identity in putting on weight.
There is a delightful compote of red berries and darker fruits, a sinewy but not hard structure, tannin and acid keeping things fresh and with nice line. There is a little tobacco and some cedar and leaf. Frankly, it is a very complete drinking experience.
I was tempted to score this as 'Outstanding' and I think it could be justified, but I really only like to hand out that level a few times a year. Worth every dollar and I would happily do it again.
They say money doesn't bring happiness, but if that is so, then it does buy a rather splendid type of misery. I think that not spending money is what stops it bringing happiness. The vintners of the world seem to agree, bless them.
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5/19/2023 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted off its sediment and poured with Flannery’s regular and dry-aged hangers 8 hours later. Dark youthful color. Aromas of black currant, green tobacco, cedar, Asian spice and black cherry. Medium-bodied. Black fruit, earth and spice flavors, with Bordeaux tannin and acidity.
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5/11/2023 - grafstrb wrote: 93 Points
-- decanted approx. 15 min. prior to initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 hrs. --
NOSE: tight/reserved; red Twizzlers; strong wet stones mineral note; unfurling at the 30 min. mark; nice mineral-fruit balance; faint hint of cumin seed; had moments of awesome, but was mostly very good and a bit reserved.
BODY: garnet color of great depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: medium-fine tannin; flat out of the gates; light vanilla oak; medium+ acidity; suddenly awesome at the 45 min mark (could be that this is when I started pairing it with food (steak and wild rice)); with a little bit of air, this is in a beautiful-but-youthful spot right now; alc. not noticeable; elegant for a Pauillac; Drink or Hold but best to Hold.
50, 5, 13, 17, 8 = 93+
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4/30/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Another beautiful showing. Should probably keep my hands off them so I can share with my son of the same vintage, but having a hard time waiting!
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3/27/2023 - Marc wrote: 93 Points
My 60th (Abbot Street, Ngaio, Wellington, New Zealand): Dense black-purple. Extraordinarily tight at the moment. Incredibly rich and ripe, but also closed. The palate is massive, very ripe for Bordeaux, tightly wound and structured, but with a density and power that comes across as opaque at the moment. It’s difficult to imagine this becoming transparent and resolved any time soon, but the raw materials certainly suggest a very very long life ahead!
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2/17/2023 - paris_pub Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hasn't fully opened even after 1.5 hours of decanting. Might be still a bit too young.
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2/17/2023 - hargy Likes this wine: 91 Points
this was much improved after twenty four hours and really quite delicious even if still quite tannic - serious wine, I think this has a great future - I will leave it for at least two or even three years before opening another bottle
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2/12/2023 - cadamson Likes this wine:
Good, but nothing stands out to make it more than of passing interest.
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2/8/2023 - Chrysostomus wrote: 90 Points
Fresh nose of flowers, green pepper, mint, pencil. Nice. Palate can't match the promising nose. Light weight, not very dense and the fruit is not very present. No signs of tertiary aromas. It's not a bad wine, but lacking the substance, pressure and volume now - I hope it will improve with further ageing. Will try the next one in a few years. Today 90 pts.
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2/4/2023 - wetlandwino wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and left to aerate overnight and then drank during a wine tasting lunch. The nose was fairly closed and did not open up during the four hour lunch. This wine needs more time. it certainly wasn't bad paired with a Ruth's Chris ribeye, but the acidity and tannin had not yet become integrated. On the second day, the acidity was very pronounced. I assume this wine will develop over the next decade or so.
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1/29/2023 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Consistency at high level at PC year in year out, well crafted, lovely juice
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1/20/2023 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Similar to my last note, although this bottle seems less savory upon opening. The fruit is more pronounced on the nose this time around. Still the same energy and intensity but really a pleasure to enjoy now. That said, I hold by my opinion that this needs another 5 years to enter its prime and will drink well for decades beyond that.
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12/31/2022 - fussyeater Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted 2 hours ahead although ideally 4 to 6 hours is recommended. Dark crimson in colour, quite muted initially on the nose and later opened up to show dark red fruit, cedar, graphite and with a touch of menthol. I think this bottle (first from a case) seemed a touch more backward than the loose bottle I tried about a year ago. At the moment verging on tertiary but needs a few years, preferably half a decade to get there. Still, was a lovely bottle of claret to share with my father on NYE. 13% ABV and from Mario Luca Giusti Twiga wine glass.
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12/31/2022 - Gregmonroe wrote:
This one took a while to open up. Someone else on CT did a CPC and Insignia comparison for Christmas, and it inspired me to do the same for NYE. Upon opening, this one was mostly sour fruit, and no good compared to the Insignia. But after a few hours of slow ox, then an hour or so of decanting, this turned into the perfectly balanced Bordeaux. My friend who is on the periphery of wine loved it and considered it the WOTN. I think it is really good and with a lot of air, shows really well. Which means it has a long runway in front of it.
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12/28/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Christmas dinner: Drank alongside a 2008 Insignia. Each had its own distinct taste but we all felt they were very much on par with each other. Dinner was a rib roast with usual fixings.
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12/23/2022 - cbuhlman wrote:
Decant 1 hour. ruby garnet bricking. strangely, zero sediment.
Medium weight, nice left bank nose but lacking mid-palate strength and weight. tannins softening up nicely and drinking well. This paired nicely with the rib roast, but would have a tough time distinguishing itself without food.
This is a food friendly wine.
87-89
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12/17/2022 - Legian Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours prior tasting in a wide opening decanter (for magnum bottles)
-
on the nose, it's deep and powerful with primary notes of blackberries, ripe plum and notes of cedar, pencil and tobacco; medium body on the mouth, with medium fine tannins and a medium+ aftertaste.
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12/10/2022 - Lipsman wrote: 90 Points
Bricking throughout. As others have noted, a nice wine that just comes up a bit short. Needs an hour in the decanter to open up, then a nicely balanced wine showing berries, tobacco, earthy elements, anise, a bit too much brightness, and a medium finish. Best served with food. Drink now - 2030.
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12/7/2022 - Julian Marshall wrote: 90 Points
Nothing transcending. Classic notes of cassis and cigar box, with perhaps a little blackberry, then quite a full-bodied, thick mouthful of the same, lifted by some cooler blackcurrant midpalate, then a reasonably long finish. Certainly concentrated but for me it is lacking in grip and character. It does the job fine, but at this price level, I expected a lot more; hardcore fans of PC will probably like the jammy concentration more than I did.
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11/30/2022 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
Opened let sit for an hour then decanted to remove last bits of the cork which tore. Medium red; classic Bordeaux nose of spice and sandalwood with some graphite mixed in. Medium weight on the palate with fine tannins. May improve further with another 5 years in the cellar but the fruit is not dominant so could dry out. Nice wine though for drinking now.
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11/26/2022 - Slics wrote: 92 Points
Needs at least an he decant. Then dark fruits and we’ll balanced acidity and tannin . Shy on secondary so can certainly handle more time.
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11/6/2022 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Rustic upon opening. Saddle leather, mushroom, and some dried red fruit.
The fruit bursts on the attack with building tannin and moderate acid. Very wel balanced but intense.
This wine is a baby still and will be better in 5-10 years. Hard to be patient but it will pay off.
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11/5/2022 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
Wines after the Wines! (Bar Purlieu, Eugene, OR): No formal notes. Decanted for 2 hours, this was a nice classic left bank wine. My last one might have been better, but trying this after a monster tasting could have skewed things. Black fruit, pencil, earth and cedar is what I remember. Loads of time.
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11/3/2022 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Very aromatic on popping; dark fruits. Oak is integrated. Length was modest; tannins chewy. No improvement with 2 hours of air. Try again in 2027.
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10/18/2022 - MS86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a cool, rainy vintage this ‘08 shows huge potential. Clear, medium+ ruby in the glass.
Nose is elegant, complex and young with perfumed cedar, cigar box, herbs and spicy oak.
Palate is young and yet harmonious. Chalky tannins. Flavours of dusty black fruit, cedar, forest floor and graphite.
This wine has the potential for perfection.
Try again in 10 years.
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10/18/2022 - guido23 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for five hours.. Seemed pretty closed and muted.
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10/9/2022 - Kepos Likes this wine: 92 Points
blackberry, cassis, pretty dark, still very young with massive potential, day 3 was the highlight....
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10/7/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was more in line with my first bottle. Opened for an hour before drinking. Dark purple in color. Rich aromas of dark fruit, loam, and herbs. Rich mouthfeel. I will try to let the next few lie down for a while.
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10/1/2022 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic bouquet of ripe blackberries, spices, pipe tobacco, cedar, undergrowth. Palate is juicy with some sweetness, acidity, bitterness, nearly ripe berries, spices, soy sauce, leading to a finish of medium length. Very classic. Only really open on the second night. Typical 2008.
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9/29/2022 - dera Likes this wine: 96 Points
Disjointed and acidic as pop and pour. Left open for a day and the wine started to sing. Deep dark ruby with a slightly developed rim. Nose is somewhat developed and complex with powerful cassis and currants, old cedarwood and pencil shavings, touch of smoked cigars. Absolutely fantastic nose. Palate is medium intensity with cassis, leather, nice tingling acidity, slightly tart red fruit. Finish is long, intense, complex and long. I think this is still going uphill and can be enjoyed for at least 10+ years. Amazing wine.
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9/25/2022 - woutervdstee Does not like this wine: 81 Points
Really disappointing; worst QPR of the year. Don’t understand how the others get to such high scores. Had this wine a number of times over the past 3 years and continues to underdeliver; no development whatsoever.
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9/8/2022 - DFBW Likes this wine: 94 Points
Raised a glass to HRH - appropriate and delicious.
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9/7/2022 - tluk wrote: 93 Points
Acidity, tanins not yet developed, shy fruits.
Wait until 2026. Strong buy. Until then, stick to the 2012. See luhar’s comment, he knows what he is drinking about :)
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8/26/2022 - NotAWineGuy wrote: 96 Points
outstanding wine, drinking beautifully.
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8/16/2022 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was quite amazing, the moment Somm Justin Ho poured my Pontet-Canet 2008 into my glass at Cassis last night. The perfume of black fruits and flowers diffused into my senses, how beautiful it was! In fact, our other drinking buddies that evening including Mika got the same sensation too.
What I love most about this 2008 is how approachable it is, with light oak notes whilst giving a sense of power and sureness at the same time - This is a wonderful vintage, and as good as I remembered it back 3 months ago when we shared this with our boss.
There is an incredible dichotomy of softness and power at the same time, with luscious ripe cherries and plum, and a sophisticated layering of cassis, tobacco and earthy notes. I could just about feel and taste the Pontet-Canet terroir all bottled up in this 2008!
The tannic structure is firm but luscious, and gives a sense of precision as well as assurance that this is both a wine which can be enjoyed presently or in the next 15 years! Glad I still have 2 more bottles in the cellar, perhaps for 2029 and 2034?
The tannins are mouthwatering and seriously juicy, super lively and vibrant perhaps as a development and PC's evolution towards the creation of an "emotional" wine which was certainly achieved in the 2016 vintage.
Made from a blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot and 4% Cab Franc with a drop of 1% Petit Verdot.
In my research of the 2008 weather, it seems it was rather challenging - There were problems with mold and mildew, and the cool temperature and rains caused problems to all growers as flowering was uneven and delayed. This was due to a cool and wet May month.
Then, the summer months were not helped by a wet cool June, July and August too. In fact, this was the case till the beginning of Sept. Interestingly, there was still plenty of sun during these months which gave some reprieve to our 2008 wines!
During the harvest of Sept, days were relatively warm whilst nights were cool. This meant that the growing season was modestly average, the growing season was long as was the harvest time.
With some understanding of the above conditions, I realised just how good a job the Pontet-Canet team did, from the vineyards to the winemaking, painstakingly crafting this amazing vintage. Cheers!
Cassis (3 months old fine-dining restaurant), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 16 Aug 2022
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8/7/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I opened this after the ‘06 Pontet Canet 375ml bottle was flawed. The ‘08 too old was poured from a 375ml bottle. Upon opening, it was completely dead on the nose. Almost giving up nothing. Then… after a 2 hour decant, it started to open up. I love the structure and tightly wound up ball of energy. While still very young and youthful, it is a well made wine.
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8/5/2022 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Interesting and enjoyable with a ribeye. Ah, but the QPR. 13%
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7/29/2022 - chrisk525 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Silky, smooth, polished, black berries and currant, very easy to drink. Medium body, nice acidity, long but ethereal/faint finish. Very nice. I might've wanted a stronger finish to bump it up another notch.
Tasting this along with Troplong Mondot 2015 and Smith Haut Lafitte 2010. Pontet Canet is the smoothest and most polished, possibly because of the most aging. Troplong Mondot is the most tannic and a bit under developed...clearly needs more aging. But somewhat similar to the Smith Haut Lafitte. Smith Haut Lafitte is rustic, powerful aromas, and lots of tannins.
=============
Edit @ 4/21/2024: Tasting this next to a 2016 Calon Segur St Estephe. After much tastings of many bordeaux, I'm taking my ratings notch down quite a bit with my expanded palette and experience, from 97 to 94. Still definitely a very nice wine, but I am no longer as biased and guided by price and exclusivity.
Next to the Calon Segur, this has brighter acidity and sharper more pronounced tannins. I prefer the stronger personality, but some might actually prefer the softer, easier drinking Calon Segur.
This still has the smooth, finely silky cassis of bordeaux whereas the Calon has a milder mouthfeel but with somehow grippier less polished tannins if that makes sense.
This is a beautiful wine, but for about 1/2 or 2/3 the price and a lot of experience, you can find wines that are 95%+ of the way there.
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7/27/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with my prior note from February, and this bottle was a little less ready to drink and needed more air.
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7/24/2022 - Bbrown82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby some clearing at the rim. Lots of black fruit on the nose. Sour cherry, plum, graphite. Not a great vintage but expected a bit more still good though.
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7/4/2022 - AWBryce wrote:
vegetal, ripe red fruits, classic; palate is structured and balanced, a bit lighted than expected but this helps the wine. good fruit on the palate and finish, this would reward another 5+ years in bottle
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7/2/2022 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect closure. Strong ruby - no bricking up whatsoever but a definite clear rim. Nose is very muted - maybe blackberry and graphite. Palate is hugely Cabernet driven - lean cassis with a plush tannin finish. Nice salinity. Maybe not at its optimum right now - will try again in a couple of years.
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5/30/2022 - gsomers Likes this wine: 94 Points
90 minute decant. Drank over two hours. Lovely nose of pencil shavings and forest floor with a long lasting finish. I'll be ordering a few of these.
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5/27/2022 - SCM Fan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purchased from Culver City Costco years ago, tonight decided to have Burgers N Bordeaux with this bottle. Decanted 1/2 hour before serving. Poured into glasses for myself and wife. Slight bricking at rim. Deep ruby color. Nose was enjoyable but muted a bit- not corked though. Wine was pleasant with burgers, just wanted a bit more punch for the price paid for this Pauillac. Might be OK for another year or so.
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5/23/2022 - MatLot Likes this wine: 95 Points
amazing wine very nice bottle
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5/22/2022 - Wadham Cellar wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant. Elegant frame. Classically styled. Returned to bottle and back in cellar. More assertive on day 2. Thirty second finish. A note of oxidation but not detracting. Excellent.
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5/17/2022 - Song103 Likes this wine:
A good to very good wine, but not a stunner. It was created before the full-blown California style. So this is half California and half Bordeaux. It is still quite backward, and a two-hour is minimum. 90 if drunk today, and 92+ potential in a few years when tertiary flavor develops. Drink-hold
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4/18/2022 - floribo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2h before drinking, but should have been longer. This wine was very smooth, from beginning to end. It had very nice fruit structure, but personally, I had hoped for a little more character. A bit too smooth. No remaining tannins. Long finish with some remaining acidity. Drinking window 2024-2040.
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3/26/2022 - Seb Frefranc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stunner. Starting to get approachable. A true success for the vintage. Decent Pauillac. Needs lots of air. Will forget the next bottles for years.
94+
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3/19/2022 - acheng wrote: 89 Points
Can't say it has improved much. Lacking in development still for a 08. Backward fruit with food friendly acidity.
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2/21/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 92 Points
I liked this. It is not an epic P-C, but it is very good just the same. I decanted through an Ullo filter and put the decanter, covered with a piece of Saran Wrap, back in the wine fridge. We drank a couple of glasses on day one and finished on day three. Last glass was the best.
A little tart smokiness on the palate combined with stewed prunes and dried cherry. A small bit of graphite on the finish.
This is ready to drink and is, to my mind, best enjoyed with steak, grilled lamb, venison, or creamy cheeses. Not necessarily a wine to enjoy on its own. I confess I had the last glass with a bowl of Ruffles potato chips by the pool on a pleasantly warm afternoon, and I enjoyed that just fine.
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2/11/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Really gorgeous perfume off the cork pull. An amazing mixed of sweet spice and savory fruits. Utterly seamless on the palate. Great wine here.
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1/28/2022 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Friday Night Brown Bagger (R&R's): Blind. Deep color. Currant and lavender to start; bright. Full-bodied, with fine, sweet tannin and flavors of currants and sweet-tart black fruit. Well-balanced. Develops rose petal, plum and herbal notes, with an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. I guessed Bordeaux but wasn’t certain that it was our Pontet.
This had been decanted for an hour or so before ending up in this flight roughly two & a half hours after the cork was pulled. My last note said check in during 2022, and since friends were recently gifted a bottle this seemed like a good time to check in. I’d give this some time yet…2025+, but three to four hours in decanter will work for those who prefer them younger with a bit more fruit (looking at you SK).
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1/23/2022 - Ggyy007 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Proper Bordeaux. Thin tannin now with tobacco. Well structured.
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1/15/2022 - Purple Tooth wrote: 93 Points
This time I drank this alone, and it was more interesting than my last recollection of drinking this. Its still underdevloped and rather rich in fruit, but it lacks complexity. If 2009 is an indication of where PC style was headed, this would explain what was going on in 08's new world aspirations. Deep red, lush, warm and spicy, slight notes of pencils and pen ink, and a sturdy backbone. I dont know what you can do with this, but I am not sad that this was my very last bottle. As enjoyable as a good 60+ dollar napa cab. Drink I guess....
* PS_IMO@ the cost of 130+ dollars, and a 2008 Bordeaux, you are definitely buying the label and not the wine. I prefer a 2009 classified growth for 1/2 the cost and a very similar expression.
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1/12/2022 - FrancoisD Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vin avec une certaine tension. On pourrait apprécier ce trait de jeunesse et faire valoir la patience nécéssaire, mais j'opte plutôt pour un déséquilibre relié à un milésime moyen.
Poivron vert, herbe mouillée, basilic. Pas mauvais, mais pas au niveau des attentes reliées à un P-C
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1/8/2022 - TCT50 wrote:
Still young. Powerful. Drink maybe 2027
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1/2/2022 - caesar77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark magenta w/ ruby edge. Intense perfume of blackberry, candied cherries, vanilla and tomato leaf. On the palate, blackberry explodes followed by cola, vanilla and spice. Firm, but integrated tannins felt on gums and cheeks lead into a medium-to-long finish of dark fruit and spice. On day two, the fruit was still present, but more tart (blackberry & raspberry) and tertiary flavors of tobacco were prominent. Bouquet was consistent. Drank this easily a decade or two early, but enjoyed it all the same.
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1/1/2022 - ceadsearc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chateau Pontet Canet 2008
On the nose, truffles and mushroom, banana, oak, aromatic and focused. On the palate, black fruits, truffles, oak, cedar, quite balanced and elegant. 93/100
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12/2/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Super interesting wine here - neither young nor old. Young with some upfront fruit on the nose and the palate. Old with some savory on the nose and palate as well, bordering on tobacco (which I would consider too old). But palate full and flush, with vibrant acidity. So in some ways, seems like it needs more time to resolve. In others, seems like it wants to be drunk now. Clearly more exploration is needed.
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11/24/2021 - vinko84 wrote: 94 Points
Ready to go. Great wine.
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11/12/2021 - hhyder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking very nicely after a 90 minutes decant. Always love this Pauillac!
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10/30/2021 - La Bodega Baru Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ready to enjoy now but will definitely hold for some more years
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10/29/2021 - soyhead wrote:
Notes from memory, I liked this ; it had both a nice fruit and savory quality reminiscent of tomatoes.
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10/27/2021 - hprphf wrote: 92 Points
Heat, ripe fruit, nice acidity. Soemwhat flat. 92
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10/11/2021 - nallen432@outlook.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took a bit to open up. Decanted for about 2 hours before the fruit started to show. Solid wine. Drank at the kids birthday dinner at our house with Kyle, Britt, Mike and Lynne.
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9/22/2021 - fussyeater Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was unintentionally decanted just before serving (rather than several hours ahead) and initially came over as muted, extremely young, very fresh and showing red fruits and perhaps a little disappointing compared with the 2012 I've enjoyed recently. However As the evening progressed this wine found its feet, the nose transformed to show the intoxicating elixir of simply gorgoeus red fruits (think wild raspberries etc) but with deep concentration yet remaining fresh with fine tannins and well judged acidity. Most certainly not too soon to drink now and may well improve as not yet really into a tertiary stride. Despite being hard to pick out as a Pauillac this remained classical and very well balanced. My WOTN because of the lingering memory of the deeply concentrated delicious fruit.
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9/22/2021 - NickA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted around 30 minutes before started upon. Startlingly primary and at first somewhat backwards, and didn't show well next to two 2008 Pomerols, but it improved a lot with more air and was particularly good with dinner, due to its prominent acidity. Lots of brambly fruit on the nose. Fresh and grippy, lovely tangy red fruit, raspberry coulis, red apple. Turned out to be an impressive and charming wine, although again more time will help. I enjoyed this more than the 2005 I had last weekend, because it had the freshness and charm missing from the 'better' vintage.
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8/9/2021 - la turque wrote: 89 Points
Oh fruit, oh fruit, wherefore art thou, oh fruit? After a full day of slow-ox, you still didn't show!
Not sure what to make of this. An outlier for sure. Comments appreciated.
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7/22/2021 - Shugs_Claret wrote:
Don’t think much has changed in a year. Accidentally opened the wrong year. The nose of this bottle is not muted. Dark fruits with earthy undertones. Medium bodied with cherry and graphite. Medium finish. Enjoyable but not sure it will ultimately live up to expectations.
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6/21/2021 - cbuhlman wrote:
very little sediment, flash decant.
saturated garnet
very light on the nose. Comes across much like a generic haut medoc and just not very interesting and lacking tertiary qualities. Still lots of tannins here on a big spine with a moderately dry tart finish. I'm not buying into this "not ready to drink yet theme" Having had many PC's, I'm just not convinced 2008 was a great vintage for this producer- even though the wine press thought otherwise 10 years ago.
This PC is by no means a mediocre wine, it's just not living up to its hype.
87-88+
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6/20/2021 - Wadham Cellar wrote: 90 Points
Graphite. Dark fruit showing elegance rather than power. Still tightly wound, despite 3 hour decant. 30 second finish, but tannins not yet fully integrated. Too soon to drink and every indication that this will be a 93-95 when it is ready.
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6/12/2021 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Special occasion with close friends from the 1980's (@ My place): Dark berries in the bouquet, graphite and the first signs of some development. On the palate dark berries, bell pepper, firm acidity, sticky tannin, a good length and complexity.
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5/28/2021 - Renevin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Très beau nez sur le fruits, bleuets, mûres, framboise. Très expressif. En bouche, beaucoup de finesse, ampleur moyenne, tanins soyeux. Belle longueur. Très bon
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5/28/2021 - wizlb wrote: flawed
I opened this bottle last night gave it two hours to decant and the wine, just has a funky taste, no tannins, medium body, a very weak bottle of wine.
I am not too sure if there’s an issue with the wine, the cork did break.
I wish there was some kind of explanation!
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5/8/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
The Gang Drinks Blind (Mesa Verde Country Club in the OC): Poured blind. I was in the minority of those who called this the wine of the flight, which was part of a bag of mixed red bottles. Even with the decanting that Viet did with the bottle, it was still tight over dinner. I wrote down the word iron, as it had a ferrous quality, powerful and rocky. I also jotted down olive and blue fruit, which may sound bizarre, more like syrah I suppose, but it's what I sensed. This was the tightest wine of the flight too but there is potential here.
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5/7/2021 - andreask888 wrote: 88 Points
Is this in a dumb phase? Very muted on the nose with little on the nose after 1 to 3 hours of decant. Significant resolution of tannins but overall just less interesting than expected. Some cassis on the initial attack with muted coffee and red fruit and bitter caramel on the finish. Little to no tertiary notes.
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5/1/2021 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby with purplish hue. Pronounced nose, with grassy and herbal aromas, as well as some medium ripe blackberry, and cocoa. Strong bitey tannins, and a dark floral attack, and savoury mid-palate, with blackberry, and tar and a hint of smoke. Long complex finish
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4/23/2021 - popopdrops wrote: 90 Points
Dekantert. Åpner med noe spiss syre. Litt tynn er den også. Roer seg ned, syren kommer på plass, men likevel ikke all verden. Siste glass har noe spiss syre. Vent 1 år med neste.
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4/17/2021 - CWang wrote: 93 Points
More mature and enjoyable than the bottle tasted in 2015, with much reduced tannins; however, a bit thin on the palate, so 93 points at this stage for this bottle.
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4/4/2021 - mtarrant003 Likes this wine: 93 Points
2/12. Just over a year since our first bottle from this case. 2-3 hour decant before we drank with roast turkey. Fantastic on the nose both when opened and when we came to drink it, with lots of black fruits, mint and graphite. Quintessential Pauillac on the palate with an element of secondary character, not as powerful as say a 2005 but very well made and absolutely delicious, very classic. A super wine and excellent value.
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4/2/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect closure. Colour is very definite ruby - not even a hint of garnet yet although a clear rim perhaps gives a nod to the vintage. Nose was not hugely expressive - cassis for sure but no strong secondary character. Palate very much Cabernet led in terms of fruit. Tannins very fine and certainly not overbearing. Lovely racy salinity on the long refreshing finish.
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3/30/2021 - skyblue80 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened with strong perfumery nose, pretty spicy palate and tight tannin, long finish with spices lingering. Decanted 1.5hr bringing the wine to life completely. Strong, in your face with fabulous nose, layered finish. At this price points, probably wine of the 08 vintage.
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3/27/2021 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Strong bouquet of grilled peppers, underwood, blackberries. Lush bouquet, creamy, sweet with quite some acidity, showing the vintage, and a medium finish that thins out, leaving a subtle spicy mark. Substantially better the second night. Still needs 2-3 years, but already great with a decant.
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3/26/2021 - HOS wrote:
Decanted and drank over an hour. Closed down. Way too young.
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3/24/2021 - wizlb Likes this wine: 97 Points
This 2008 Pontet Canet is a full body, inky purple hue, yet it offers freshness, balanced, a very long finish, tannins are perfectly balance yet concentration and a sophisticated bottle of wine!
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3/14/2021 - CWilliam wrote: 94 Points
Opened, but did not decant, 1 hour before dinner. Dark red color (nearly black) with a slight change from rim to center. Great nose - cassis, blackberry, cedar, pipe tobacco, and plum. Palate relatively similar - fruit still very young as well on palate. Medium body, medium tannins, medium acidity and very long, layered finish. 94+/- Improved from my last tasting in 10/2016.
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3/10/2021 - glassofhans Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not the strongest vintage for Pontet, but it never disappoints. Cigar box complexity, layers of fruit, excellence in a bottle.
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2/20/2021 - beau11 wrote: 87 Points
Hopefully a bad bottle. No nose or fruit. Just bland. Balanced but giving nothing
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1/31/2021 - The_Cat Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep purple. Textbook left-banker Cassis blackberry with elegant bourbon vanilla cherry and sour drops full bodied with silky textured tannins and elegant vibrant finish
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1/2/2021 - winoman1 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Way too forward by way of blackberry and plum, I got this on Covid New Years and thought I would take time to savour it. I ended up just crushing it. Reminded me of a Super Tuscan a dissed a while back. Only 3 times as expensive. I can almost see how some people might have got some peppermint and char and things like that a while ago, but really mine was just a flabby fruit bomb with an odd hit of barn here and there.
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12/29/2020 - darren81 Likes this wine:
8/10 - Tannins aren't particularly heavy any more, but isn't opening up just yet. Nice drinking, but not great.
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12/19/2020 - pleigh wrote: 93 Points
The good stuff is there. Just needs more time. Will revisit in a couple years.
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12/2/2020 - MLevin wrote:
Never really opened up. Day 2 was worse than 1
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11/8/2020 - azzah Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classy wine. Beautiful structure. Classic cassis, anise, herbal flavours. Oak well integrated. Will continue to improve but very enjoyable now.
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11/7/2020 - TIPSY2 Likes this wine: 96 Points
First class. Decanted for hour. Does not get much better than this.
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10/31/2020 - ozyloy wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured.
Clear deep ruby.
Nose: Blackcurrant, underbrush, cedar oak, licorice, talc / flowers, spice. Ample dark fruit.
Palate: Medium+ acidity, full body, fairly strong flavour intensity of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar oak, spice. Medium+ grippy tannins, long finish.
This needs more time. Stuffing is there. Good fruit weight, but less expressive on the palate. Try again in a few years' time.
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10/31/2020 - jonphillips wrote: 90 Points
Needs another 5 years
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9/30/2020 - Plabella Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a delicious wine, fully body, integrated tannins, long finish great mouth feel with dark fruit.
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9/25/2020 - Philipp Biermann wrote: 92 Points
Ziegelrot ins Bräunliche, helle Ränder. Herbe männliche Nase; schwarze Johannisbeere, Leder, Zigarrenkiste, Graphit, Pilze. Mittlerer sanfter Abgang. Toller Wein.
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9/13/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thanks for another CT'er recommending.....it is in a pretty good place right now. Almost from the pnp, short barnyard burns off and it's ready to go. Initially soft red velour fruit sweet, but with a tart red cherry ending. Over an hour or two of decant the Sweet-tart quality leaves for the most part and it's just nice dark red cherry fruit. My only complaint and it's a hard one to make because this is a lesser vintage, is that the fruit while having decent weight to it, lacks a little as far as depth of layers. But this is a very nice wine for an off year. Borders on a 93 for me, but it was gone too quick so I didn't have time to let it evolve any further!
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9/12/2020 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear deep ruby/garnet; clean medium nose of balsamic, dried cassis, vanilla, cocoa, leather and delicate floral; dry; high acidity; high tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of coffee; medium plus finish; drink now or wait until 10 years; not what we were expecting - blind tasted more like a super Tuscan than a Bordeaux; will be fascinating to see how it evolves; did not decant
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9/12/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very similar to my previous note on this bottle/vintage.
Followed my advice and decanted longer. Lots of oak and very fruit forward with black cherry. More Napa than Bordeaux. Still loved it!
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9/11/2020 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red, p&p, lovely juice, so accessible, elegant, rich, mouth coating, bloody delicious now
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8/16/2020 - PSanDiego Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought 6 bottles long ago as a future. The first 4 bottles which were drunk much too early were not worth ranking. So I avoided this wine for many years. Today I opened the fifth bottle, and it was a classic. It hit all the great Bordeaux notes. I will note that since I am drinking mass quantities of different 2016 Bordeaux that this 2008 Potet-Canet tastes old fashioned. This is not a complaint, just a note that things are changing in Bordeaux.
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7/21/2020 - Sotto325 wrote: 91 Points
How impressively Pontet has emerged from its decades-long secure place in the middle of Paulliac ranks. A serious and rich wine, mildly monolithic right now, with dense dense black/red color, a deep oak/cedar nose and a wealth of fruit that has yet to be resolved. After 2+ hours in the decanter and 45 minutes in the glass, still holding back much of the further depth and complexity. Lots of dark red/purple/ black fruit, healthy amounts of wood, a wild sense with just a hint of herbal flavor, and a nice finish all augur well for a terrific wine in 3-5 years.
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7/11/2020 - Shugs_Claret Likes this wine: 96 Points
A little less far a long compared to other 2008s; huge upside here in 5 years or so but delicious now.
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7/9/2020 - Philipp Biermann Likes this wine: 92 Points
Toll ausgewogener Wein, voll da und harmonisch. In der Nase herb männlich, schwarze Johannisbeere, klassisch linkes Ufer, weitere dunkle Früchte, aber auch etwas Kokos. Am Gaumen schön frisch, angenehme Säure und mittlerer Abgang.
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7/3/2020 - dnnk88 wrote: 91 Points
Post CB Long Night @ CH & KC's: Not sure if its due to the sheer number of bottles that came before this. Felt like i literally hit a wall. This needs more time, at least 3 - 5 years. The foundations are there. 91-92
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7/1/2020 - FrancoisD Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bel équilibre et structure.
Mûres, graphite, tabac.
Cela dit, bien fait mais sans l’envoûtement caractéristique habituel. Millésime moyen?
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5/23/2020 - Empirate wrote:
Clean and lighter bodied than its cohort (Continuum). Dark fruit profile, graphite/mineral, bit of earth. Nicely balanced, medium finish. Drinking young and I'll speculate that 20 past vintage it may show even better.
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5/1/2020 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Dark berries, some graphite, firm acidity and tannin and bitterness in the long finish. Shows a little development, but will certainly improve with more ageing. Next bottle around 2024?
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4/20/2020 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit on the nose, some greenness, tobacco, spices. On the palate fresh and bright, good depth, slightly drying tannins. Good fruit. Long. Drink or keep. 91-93
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4/11/2020 - Kepos Likes this wine: 92 Points
very Pauillac, dark berries, good softened tannins, very long
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4/9/2020 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fabulous wine. Rich red and dark red fruits. Beautiful nose. Great purity and mouthfeel. Longish aftertaste. Decanted and let rest before consuming.
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4/7/2020 - MWiking wrote: 96 Points
Wrote 8 years ago that this will be a fanatic wine in 5 years
It is. The wine has rounded off a bit and there is just a small tannin structure that accomplice the wine really well.
Wine is packed with cream the cassis, red berries, grafite, stems, leather and some forest floor.
It’s a fresh wine, still in its first mature window where Bordeaux like PC can be so darn good. I love this wine a lot now, will probably grow even more with more cellaring
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3/15/2020 - mtarrant003 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double-decanted for about 5 hours before drinking with sirloin and rib-eye. Sweet black fruit, menthol, mint and pencil shavings on the nose. Fresh and juicy on the palate with blackberry and black cherry flavours, and a touch of cedar. Tannins are fine. Medium finish. This is a nicely balanced wine, albeit still quite primary.
This was our first bottle from a 12-pack and I would say this wine is open for business. However, I won't rush to try the next bottle as I think it has a lot of time in front of it and that its development will be relatively pedestrian.
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3/14/2020 - azscot wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and drank after 2 hrs on a Friday night with pasta and Italian sausage. This was the second of four bottles of the 2008. I opened the first in 2018 and it was completely closed.
Drank the second half of the bottle on the Saturday night with a tri tip and it was better. Black fruit, subtle tones of garrigue but the finish drops off.
I want this to be better but based on comments from the CT community I think I’m just going to have to wait longer. At 12 years it seems like it’s still not ready to drink (unless I use a vitamix :-)
I love Bordeaux wines and have had some awesome LB reds but I’m not sure I have the patience for a Pontet Canet or other Pauillac compared to the Margaux and St Julians on offer.
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3/14/2020 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fine bouquet of ripe blueberries, blackberries, wood, smoke, grilled bell peppers. Full palate of ripe berries with a good amount of well integrated acidity, high quality bitter chocolate. Long finish with fine tannins, sweet and fresh. A really refreshing, succulent wine, with quite some structure and emerging complexity. Freshness is a leading element I see in the 2008 vintage, whilst still being relatively full, a classic Bordeaux vintage, still a bit early in the development curve but really great to drink already.
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3/1/2020 - Saadissimo Likes this wine: 98 Points
This wine is proof that zen-like happiness can be attained through a glass. Outstanding Pauillac from an outstanding vintage.
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2/28/2020 - VinNoobie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Incredible nose of red fruit, dried flowers, graphite. Full bodied wine with nice balance of tart red fruit, minerality, acidity and tannins. A bit savory on the long finish. Nice now but still young and could age nicely for next 10+ years.
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1/19/2020 - Jozefs wrote: 95 Points
Not yet at peak but very approachable with some air.
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1/12/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
From a half bottle. Definitely preferred to the previous three half bottles I've had of this. This felt more inviting, some earthiness but a really extended mid-palate, lots of subtle notes. Will continue to evolve a bit more. 93+pts. I had the '07 at a tasting a while back and it was much better to be honest - more striking and decadent.
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1/11/2020 - Grinner wrote: 95 Points
DAMN WiNOS (Rye Restaurant, Eugene): My WOTN, this is a very pure left bank Bordeaux. Creme de cassis, black cherry, black plum, earth, graphite, mocha and cedar are deep and linger. Plenty of muscle still. Now-2030
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1/11/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
First bottle from a six bottle vertical in a wooden box.
45+ minute decant but needed more like 2 hours. Dark red color. Graphite, black cherry, and oak make up a powerful nose. Medium plus depth. More black cherry on the palate with some medicinal tones. Finish has some black licorice, which is odd, but overall fantastic wine with great texture. Finish is medium plus.
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1/4/2020 - evold89 wrote: 92 Points
Quite typical and expressive nose with a deep smell of cassis and blackberries. Some meatiness as well as pencil shavings. Really liked this nose.
Deep red garnet color with slight haze.
Tannins are dense and present, but round which gives a softer exit on the palate. Rich dark fruits as well as good acidity which gives a nice freshness on the finish.
The wine is structured which would allow this to age nicely. I would keep this another year or so before opening another bottle, but this is just starting to enter its drinking window now at approx 12 years.
92 points now, with upside potential.
https://www.instagram.com/wine_quaffer/
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1/1/2020 - aerosol Likes this wine: 89 Points
The bottle opened for NYE last night started out strong with a good bouquet and dark red color. I'll concur with most of the tasting notes below, but our bottle after an hour got a little thin in the palate and more acidic. It went well with food, but it showed not as well against other wines; sorry.
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12/28/2019 - Weinberg Falls wrote: 91 Points
Vagabond Victoria. Little to add to below TNs, this is the real deal. Leathery wet saddle and cassis nose. Lovely round red berry palate and Bordeaux-austere but warming spices on the finish. Lovey claret. Probably outstanding in 10 years.
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11/29/2019 - JChan wrote: 94 Points
You will not be disappointed.
Drank on my daughter 100 days.
This PC 2008 is juicy with ripe plum, cherry and other red fruits intermixed together, with a hint of coffee like flavour. Smooth and very balanced. WOTN.
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11/10/2019 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby purple color, ruby rim, clear and bright. Nose is plum and cassis, tobacco leaf, hint of chalk, roasted notes. Palate offers ripe plum and blackberry, wet stone and leather, all with a healthy amount of grip. Prominent Cabernet essence, rich and solid, offering promise of more nuance to come with more age.
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11/3/2019 - tmagsmaken wrote: 91 Points
My feeling is that this wine is finally starting to open up. Emerging bouquet of developed fruit and pencil shavings (graphite).
On the palate, developed fruit brings a juicy taste, kept in check by balanced acidity. Tannins are still edgy and mouth-drying which makes it interesting but not easy to drink. Long quality finish.
Overall, very good but not the elegance and depth I would expect from PC. I am planning to wait as this bottle was more open en enjoyable than the one I tasted at the beginning of the year from the same case. Hoping and expecting that the next one will be better.
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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: 93 Points
Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.
The fruits are ripe, ruby. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries & strawberries. Dark rich soils, dark spice, crushed dry rocks, black licorice, tobacco, soft leather, graphite, Great balance fruit and earth. The body is velvety and statin. The structure, length, tension and balance are just coming around. The texture is gorgeous. The acidity is round and excellent. The finish delicious and persists nicely.
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8/28/2019 - ceadsearc Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose, I got some soy sauce, funk, and banana, and after a while some licorice and spice.
On the palate, dominated by black fruit namely black currant and cassis, with some soy sauce And later on a hunt of mint, herbaceous quality, licorice and cola. Well integrated with a rounded finish.
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8/22/2019 - jens.thogersen Likes this wine: 91 Points
kan mogna mer. Massor av frukt och strävhet ännu 91 just nu.
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8/12/2019 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
My sense is this wine went into a dumb phase 3-4 years ago but is now re-emerging and starting to show development. I would still leave bottles a few more years to develop more nuance. At this point this still feels on the modern winemaking side and would appeal to drinkers who appreciate more fruit in their Cab blends. I dont think for me it will ever reach RP’s original lofty rating.
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8/11/2019 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
Nicely balanced but still under-developed and young. I just don't think this is a Bordeaux drinkers Bordeaux...Its quite dry, intellectual, and sexy, but far from substantial or developed. Hints of graphite tell you this is a Pauillac and maybe the modern style will point to Pontet Canet or a Lynch Bages for that matter...drink or hold
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8/6/2019 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 96 Points
Full bodied, this royal purple color delight with fresh and spring like forest floor infusing black currant, blueberries, and blackberries. Rich in the mouth with smooth tannins, the acidity is nigh on perfect. Perfect concentration, mid palate and a sensational finish.
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4/30/2019 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
No notes, but I recall it took a long time to open up and bloom into its glory. This is a significant wine that will require a bit of patients now.
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4/24/2019 - bajayngo wrote:
Quick note from a 2008 bdx varietal tasting -This was all power and structure so much going on but completely young even 11 years after vintage day.
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4/24/2019 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
Wine four of nine, all 2008 Bordeaux varieties (also tasted the following evening):
One of two standouts, noteworthy for its mesmeric profile and serene purity. While compact and decidedly feminine in style, especially for Pauillac, the wine packs seemingly countless layers of scents and flavors. Charming to its core, yet is does not lack for power. The wine tantalizes with inflection-changing nuance. Moreover, the apogee of great Bordeaux for this palate, crème de cassis, spills over from the glass in torrents!
It improved by the second day, offering greater range, depth, and finesse. On this day, it paired exquisitely with high-heat-seared, charcoal-grilled, bone-in Ribeye. Indeed, the pairing will remain with me for many moons to come.
Entering its earliest drinking window, likely to reach full stride by 2028-2030, and it should last through 2038-2040. Insanely good! 96...97?
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3/23/2019 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two-hour decant at this point. Very pretty red color and 13% alc. In its current state, it is fairly light bodied. Although the RP review upon release projects a more massive, long-lived wine. The tannins are round, so it may continue to develop for years to come. The oak is well integrated here. Plum, dark cherry, and cedar aromas. Tart cherry and cranberry on the palate along with good acidity. Given the amount of tart cherry flavors, it seems like there is a large amount of Cab Franc. While I like this a lot, for the price, I wanted to fall in love with this. But, no such luck this time. I think that further cellaring will be very kind to this wine, as the long finish portends. I'll probably wait another 5 years before opening another bottle, and do so when my wife is not around, just in case I do fall in love with this wine. This wine is probably only 91-92 right now, but could be more like 93-95 in 5-10 years.
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3/10/2019 - n2wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
I took a bit of time to open up. I suggest a two hour decant. Once it opened up it was fantastic.
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3/6/2019 - Rowchan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear, mauve-burgundy colour with orange-pink rim and few slow-moving tears.
Clean, med intensity, with aromas of plethora of red and black fruit, and ageing cedar.
Dry, med+ body, med+ tannins, med alcohol, med- acidity, with further tastes of mixed cherries, vanilla, light black pepper and liquorice. This wine has a luxurious feel to it but a med- finish.
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2/13/2019 - tmagsmaken wrote: 89 Points
Tasted blind.
Got this completely wrong. I was disappointed to find out it was Pontet Canet (normally I really enjoy this).
On the nose: an emerging bouquet (redcurrant and some cassis) but not quite there yet. Still quite tight.
On the palate: fruit is there but so is the acidity and the tannins are still a bit edgy
Overall: good wine but still quite firm. Not at its best.
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2/8/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cassis, floral, relaxing bouquet. Wine is still young with fresh currants; tannins are balanced and rounded. Slight white pepper and spice, graphite. Typical Bordeaux. Not complex though, especially when tasted alongside the Cos D 2006 tonight. Enjoyable now but can wait 3 - 5 years. Good value
[2nd try on 20 Mar 19: same notes]
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2/2/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Clos des Réas / Pontet-Canet tasting-cum-lunch (Restaurant Bak, Amsterdam, NL): Closed, fresh, spicy, more about energy than about depth, elegant style, very good length.
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2/2/2019 - hhyder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking amazingly well after a 1 hour decant. Beautiful, perfumed nose with excellent balance.
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2/2/2019 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 94 Points
2000-2011 Pontet-Canet. Third wine in the third flight. Total stunner this 2008! Also very much liked the 2008 Palmer recently, so I will be probably stocking up on '08 BDX!
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1/17/2019 - gbbwino wrote: 94 Points
I can’t believe I bought this for $86! Really tight upon opening. Not much going on. Double decanted and let sit in the bottle for 5 hours. Deep black fruit, earth, asphalt &spice. Great entry, mid palate and finish. Tannin is still there but very smooth. Great acid backbone to keep freshness. Great wine. Needs more time.
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12/30/2018 - WineAcrobat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich but not overpowering, black and red fruit, lots of stuffing but not a crazy amount of complexity yet. I feel like I am mirroring a lot of other tasting notes but this is drinking great now but very obviously will drink even better with time.
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12/24/2018 - Mad Dane wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful! Decanted for an hour, balanced and sweet.
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11/17/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
From a half bottle, this felt a bit muddled and muted. Had ‘08 Haut Bailly from a half bottle a couple of nights earlier and that was much better. Also, recently had ‘07 Pontet Canet and it was stunning compared to this, despite the perceived weaker vintage.
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11/7/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing great Bordeaux typicity, and like most '08s I've had from the region, very approachable. Full-bodied, fresh and energetic, with black fruit, cedar and graphite notes. A great depth of flavors. A touch of smokiness on the finish. What it lacks in complexity is more than made up for in sheer quality.
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10/21/2018 - Peter Z. wrote: flawed
corked
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10/21/2018 - Zweder wrote: flawed
Corked unfortunately
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10/6/2018 - DSR wrote: 95 Points
Starting to really open up now. Wonderful nose of black fruit, black currant and cherries on the palate, tannins more integrated though still prominent (decanted 2 hrs). Long finish and great balance.
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9/30/2018 - aquaman Likes this wine: 94 Points
I still like this wine.. Decant for 1 hour. Power and strong flavor wine
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9/20/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
The property has had only three owners since its inception. The governer of the Aquatine gave his name to the estate? Hence the Pontet. And they stayed for 150 years. And then the Cruise family bought it. And then after many years ALfred's father decided to buy it.
Touch of green and celery to it, in a good way, some mineral salts, great freshness, absolutely lovely on the nose.
This is a wine that Alfred really likes. WHen they have mildew they don't loose quality, they loose quality. And their farming is extremely sensetive to it. If they didn't have mildew in 2007 they would have had it in 2008. But because of their experience in 2007 they were able to pre-empt the issue in 2008.
2008 is also the horse vintage - they started with horses. And they had lost the know-how because there had been no horses in bordeaux since for 50 years. In '08 Alfred bought three horses, one being old because he thought that horse would teach them how to do it. And he bought old equipment as well. And he bought very pretty equipment and it lasted three days. And so they had to learn anew. And they built all the material themselves for the horses. And now they have 10 horses and they are working towards 20 horses but it takes a while to train us and them Alfred notes. The idea is one day Pontet Canet will be 100% horses.
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9/20/2018 - SommJourney05 wrote: 95 Points
Medium+ ruby color. Blackberry, cherry, black raspberry give a lovely fruit component while thyme and 5-spice give a lovely spice/ herb component and lead pencil, leather, cocoa powder and volcanic rock(dusty) give lovely old world charm. Silky on the mouth with firm but supple tannins and good acid. On the palate the black fruit shines fading into savory spice notes with a long finish of cocoa and volcanic rock framed by lead pencil. This wine is just starting to hit its stride and will be enjoyable for quite some time. Excellent wine!
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9/17/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Rich, full-bodied, deep, intense and loaded to the brim with crème de cassis, tobacco, smoke, wet forest floor and cherry pipe tobacco elements, the wine is mouth-filling, tannic, long, deep and complex. Everything about this is just great. But patience is going to be needed, as this will probably not hit its peak for at least another 5-8 years.
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9/8/2018 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 89 Points
Judgement of Singapore (Home (Singapore)): Cream, vanilla, smoke, dark plum, blackcurrant, sweet aromas. Silky smooth feel, typical creamy Pontet Canet texture but quite dry in the attack and mid-palate. Still tight with tannins prominent. Feels like it needs more time but I'm not sure this is going anywhere.
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9/6/2018 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 92 Points
So much better than last time I tried this wine. Now offering serious luxurious, finely tuned tannin like a composed guitar string, creamy black metallic caviar.
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8/25/2018 - azscot wrote:
Drank after 1 hr decant. Was completely closed. Flat, no fruit nothing, nada. Tried after 2 hrs and not much improvement. Very disappointed. Bought 4 bottles at auction. Will need to wait at least a year to see if the 2nd is any better
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7/14/2018 - Arcturus wrote: 94 Points
94. 2 hour decant. Deep dark purple to the rim. Nose of wet stone, and black currant, minimal oak. Expressive rustic palate, big dark fruits and tannins. Burly wine without being over extracted or out of balance . Built for the long haul but thoroughly enjoyed it at the 10 year mark. Drink and hold.
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7/13/2018 - Oddbod Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fairly mind-blowing nose. Baked apple, smoky BBQ, cassis, warm earth, cedarwood, more Burgundian that Bordeaux? Palate rich, fairly full, but just lacks a little definition, structure and bite. Would have liked more depth, but still wonderful in classic claret way. On the edge between brilliant and very good. Drinking beautifully now.
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6/10/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 91 Points
During a Magnum dinner. Lots of alcoholic heat here as well, more like a CabSav from Chile. Nice and drinkable but a shadow of a wine vs a Pontet Canet at its best.
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6/6/2018 - G_H wrote:
Checking in: Oops, this is surprisingly evolved, some beef stock, still crazy tannins, cherries, black berries, feels a bit disjointed. Needs a lot of time... but risky...
Maybe I was a bit optimistic at arrivage? Let‘s hope... This could still turn around...
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5/28/2018 - SlimShaney Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Good colour of dark cherry medicine. Described the nose too with just a dollop of cola infused barnyard hay.
Supple mid palate completely let down by a hostile sour finish.
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5/24/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank at Bistro Jeanty. Wonderful showing with nice freshness and long finish. Just the perfect foil for steak au poivre.
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3/8/2018 - gouldcampbell77 wrote: 88 Points
Very dark healthy purple with a hint of age. Warm nose of ripe dark fruit and coffee grounds. On the palate however this is disappointing. Solid and bone dry, it's hard work. Yes there is fruit there but it feels dilute - as if a great wine has been watered down. Not much of a finish either. It just kind of stops. I have to admit I was expecting more given the address and the reviews. Maybe a dumb phase? I hope so as this is the first of a six pack.
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3/2/2018 - Wine G Likes this wine: 92 Points
Juicy wine and in the window, not as compelling as some other Bordeaux’s I’ve had , but it was good.
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2/25/2018 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
This was drunk over two days. On the first day, this showed currants and raspberry, but a bitter tobacco/cocoa note and noticeable tannins detracted from the finish; on the second day, the tobacco and tannins had fully integrated, and this was smooth and tasty. This needs three to five years, or some hours of decanting.
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1/29/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit, spices, smoke, minerality on the nose. On the palate quite firm and grippy, good fruit, great acidity, slightly coarse finish. Very long. 92-93+
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1/28/2018 - valedeniro wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful showing.Lovely nose,clean with rich ripe blackcurrant fruit,liquorice,lead pencil and some floral notes.The palate is full-bodied with excellent depth and balance,with robust tannins and solid underlying structure.Very enjoyable now although still a baby.I think this will merit a few more points with another 4-5 years of bottle aging. (94+)
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1/13/2018 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Regular dinner group (By EM @ Bottles): In the bouquet red and dark berries as well as (green) herbs and spices. On the palate juicy dark berries and in fact some elegance. There is smoke, oak and also some green bell pepper. Firm acidity and tannin. The wine will improve with more ageing. Try around 2022 or a few years later. 92++ for today.
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12/25/2017 - WestUAg wrote: 92 Points
Still Had some strong tannins and was extremely tight. Decanted for 2 hours and didn't develop much over that time. I would hold this for another 5+ years before I popped again.
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12/20/2017 - broadband013 wrote: 90 Points
Bon mais pas un vin épanoui...
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12/12/2017 - MrBrege wrote: 93 Points
This wine has entered its schizophrenic phase. My last bottle, as well as other recent notes, was all about it being closed and a bit unbalanced. But this bottle was fruit forward, big, and pretty balanced. It is not yet back to the terrific level it was at back in 2012, but I no longer worry that it is not going to get back there, and beyond.
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11/23/2017 - grapenomad wrote: 93 Points
Robert Parker stated that this was "the candidate for wine of the vintage". Ok, let's not get over-excited. It really is good, but after a mini-vertical of three vintages, this one got the 'lowest' score. Quite closed on the nose with notes of raspberry, fig, vanilla and milk chocolate. Decant for at least 3 hours (especially if you're in a restaurant). Silky texture, showing grand finesse, but still very untamed in structure. Doesn't calm down even with food. Could use a stronger aftertaste, but this is simply the reflection of the '08 - more on a cooler old school approach than on lucious powerhouse style of younger vintages.
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11/14/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Still holding much of what this has to offer in reserve, the wine is tight at the moment. With air and effort, the concentrated waves of ripe, fresh, juicy, blackberry, tobacco and earth make their way to the surface. This is quite nice, with ripe, soft tannins, but it is still primary. Another 7-10 years will add a lot to the wine, and it could deserve a higher score. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
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11/11/2017 - sung251 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very rich and powerful with fine tannins.
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10/24/2017 - Ericsson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mini verticale de Pontet Canet, au restaurant, avec Justine Tesseron.
Première année de culture raisonnée, avec 1 cheval.
Non carafé. Grenat foncé avec traces orangées. Nez sur des arômes de café, de fruits noirs. En bouche, le vin est suave, légèrement dilué mais puissant, long.
Servi en compagnie du 2011
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10/19/2017 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): Quite unforgiving at this point, the 2008 iteration of Pontet-Canet will require a great deal of patience. An opaque ruby blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, it does exude freshness and a rich core of cassis, fig, plum and spice, but is dominated by coarse, mouth-puckering tannins. The astringency persists throughout the dense mid-palate and lengthy finish. Anything other than cellaring is not an option with this wine. Give it at least five more years before re-assessment. Drink 2022-2040.
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10/12/2017 - flah00 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cassis, baking spices
Fine tannins
Tobacco and earth
So very smooth
Decanted for 1hr, drank over 3 hours
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9/7/2017 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surely once of the densest Left Banks reds of the vintage, and definitely has the stuffing to go the distance as it is drinking quite youthfully at the moment. It got better over the course of the evening, and was quite special on Day 2. Still not sure if it was the greatest buy at $99, but was very enjoyable.
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8/21/2017 - olddominion Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted bilnd w Motz (of course..and I do Thank him). Couldn't wrap my head around it at first. Had some Old School Napa markers that threw me a tad. After swirling, tasting and contemplating, my dormant Bordeaux wine nerve came out. St.Estephe or Pauillac? Seriously though, if I could taste one wine like this a week ( or a month) I wouldn't yell at the neighbors kids so much.
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8/16/2017 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
Tasted over three days; the wine retained an evocative, indeed tantalizing, austerity over all three days, suggesting extreme youth and exceptional quality. Initial impressions upon pulling the cork and lingering over a couple of ounces in the glass include: very clean (strikingly so vis-a-vis the comparatively backward 2006 vintage tasted last year), leaning to the modern style though backed by mind-bending Old World depth, less potent (not Pontet, pun intended), if you will, than other vintages, yet of equal quality, compellingly feminine (or quite sophisticated, particularly for Pauillac). Overall, the bouquet, while impressive, showed more like St. Estephe, or even Margaux, than Pauillac.
Firm, piercing, and lifted palate, particularly for Pauillac. Showing little, if any, sign of its nine years. The wine features substantive weight, depth, and cut, riveting acids, copious dusty tannins, beautiful balance, and a finish that does not quit. It also imparted diamond cutting hard raspberry and blackberry elements, backed by restrained, yet massive mineral depth. The wine took a step back toward austerity on the second day, remaining taut, with underlying suppleness on the third.
Overall, possibly the most compact, restrained, and sophisticated 2008 Left Bank Bordeaux I have tasted, retaining its reserve over three days, and thus reaffirming the notion of high quality. Worthy of, perhaps begging for, no less than seven years' cellar time from today, and likely to last through 2040 and beyond. Recommend holding through 2030. If scoring for right now, 94 points, but a score of 95 points when fully integrated seems certain, 96 points quite possible, and who knows, maybe even 97. Enigmatically seductive. Drink from 2024 - 2045. 94-97.
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7/23/2017 - CCSchlaepfer Likes this wine: 91 Points
This 2008 is drinking perfectly now. Well balanced with harmonious blend of fruit, dark chocolate and earthy tones.
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7/22/2017 - J-Sho Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well - classic Bordeaux nose with dark fruit, lead pencil and this time just a little bit of funk that blew off. Tannins integrated and medium weighted.
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7/18/2017 - AlbertaOenologist Likes this wine: 94 Points
black currant, black licorice, black cherry notes having excellent balance with mineral notes -superb tannic structure, mouth feel, long-lasting finish.
-an excellent companion to a fatty meal.
-good value for a pricy bottle
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7/12/2017 - Fire Bill wrote: 93 Points
24 hour slow ox decant. Red color with a black core. Very clear. Floral notes, cassis, tobacco, and cherries. Very smooth mouthfeel, subtle tannins, and long, long finish.
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7/8/2017 - Wineist05 Likes this wine: 92 Points
All the pieces of a magnificent super wine are present in individual parts: dark fruit, wood, forest floor and earth, mushroom, slight floral note, green pepper, long finish, medium body, fine but very present tannin. However, currently very disjointed even after decant. Individual parts Theoretically spot on, just not dancing together, not showing emotion yet, typical of its region/origin at only 9 years. Will hold for 5-10+ years and should be an incredible wine. 90 points on its actual drinking today, 92+ for its potential once better integrated.
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6/24/2017 - texanoblues Likes this wine: 94 Points
Red with very dark core and clear, with no violet or orange hues. Cassis, plum, green bell pepper, dried violets, and tobacco on the nose and palate. Lean and agile on the mid-palate. More medium-bodied than I was expecting but still silky and smooth with well-balanced structure. Tart cherries, mint, and tobacco finish. 93-94.
This bottle was much more mature than I was expecting, which is consistent with other tasters' comments.
Beautiful mature Bdx (at only 9 yrs old....). Drink or Hold.
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6/7/2017 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine, starting with charcoal, graphite and oak, with. A burst of cherry, acid and mineral as it hits the mid-palate. Medium finish.
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6/6/2017 - akbash wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Strong red and black fruit. Feels like eating fresh blackberries and cherries. The wine is,however, thin and acidic. There is also a slight lingering taste of dust. I don't think it will improve with age due to the high acidity and low tannins. This is not quite what I expected from a Pauillac. But it is enjoyable.
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5/21/2017 - PCVT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nez qui commence à évoluer avec du graphite, du café et de la truffe
Bouche délicate et très souple. Un joli Pontet Canet classique
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5/3/2017 - Burgundio wrote: 91 Points
PNP: Nose was quite expressive but the fruit and floral scents were not well-focused; on the palate, strong acid masked the dark berry compote flavours I experienced earlier, with vegetal herby woodsy notes also at the fore. After spending a night in the fridge, the tartness had subsided and the veggie herby fruit flavours shone through. Its a fine bottle but I actually preferred it when it was young at 3~4 years in bottle. The fruit expression was pure and intense. Maybe it could change again after some time.
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4/27/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
They like you to hold these wines until they are at least 10 years old.
BY 2012 they were using the concrete eggs. 2008 is the start of horses in the vineyards and 2010 is biodynamic. 2010 is also the start of concrete vats for the Merlot.
Here in this vintage 100% in barrel, 70% new. 65% Cabernet here, and then 30% merlot and then franc and PV split equally from there (I believe). Floral and violet and plummy ripe on the nose. Still tart and tangy on the palate with vibrant acidity. The acidity to me is a hall mark of Pontet Canet - runs through the others that I have had. Very fresh and vibrant. Here not sure the smell matches the acidity.
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4/9/2017 - ctc wrote: 91 Points
Certainly ready to drink and in its prime. Decanted for an hour. I don't get the impression that it will improve with age as it seems fully developed now. Dark purple, an interesting nose, the first thing I sensed was lavender along with some cedar. Good, nicely knit soft tannins, ripe fruit, well developed, a little dusty, I don't know how else to describe it. A good, medium-long finish to it. I'd drink this by 2020 at the latest.
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4/1/2017 - aegerter wrote: 90 Points
Quite flat and unexciting. Didn't deliver on expectations.
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3/22/2017 - JOsgood wrote:
Visit to the Chateau, drinking nice now. Good balance and grip. Tasted far better than the Lafite.
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3/5/2017 - ctjared wrote:
not as great as other vintages
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2/26/2017 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby color, ruby rim, less opaque than a year ago when I last tasted this wine. The nose is varietal cab at first. Almost new world in its character, it gains complexity and nuance as it airs, and moves back into a more traditional claret space. There is lavender, lead pencil, ripe fruit, and subtle notes of both vanilla and chocolate in the nose. On the palate, those ripe notes are present, bit there is also some astringency, hints of mint, dark berry fruit, perhaps clove. Finish is long and fruity, but still tight; tannins are softening but still have a lot of grip. Young and tasty, more on the masculine side of Bordeaux. I would give it a 90-93 range
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2/12/2017 - tb76 wrote:
4 hr decant - Medium-Deep Ruby, obviously young, vibrant red fruit, not earthy, but faint sense of place, needs more time to balance fruit & acid, agree with community tannin is not overpowering even at this young age. Give air or age...
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2/3/2017 - MrBrege wrote: 93 Points
Unlike the last bottle, this was decanted 6h - and it really needed it. Thin and acidic even after 1h, but gained weight and complexity so when we set to work properly it was gorgeous! Some secondary notes but still very young of course. It pays to wait a year or two still I believe.
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1/23/2017 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 1-2 hours. No formal notes but this was fantastic! Showed amazing dark fruit with some earth and dense but smooth tannins. It makes me feel great that I have another bottle of it and some of the '09 and '14.
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1/14/2017 - nmichaud1 wrote:
Le vin est encore très jeune avec du cèdre (qui s'estompe avec l'aeration), fruits (mûres et cerises), un petit côté chocolat noir. Le vin est bien balancé, les tannins sont discrets et bien intégrés, mais il manque un petit quelque chose pour justifier le prix et la grandeur du vin à mon goût purement personnel. Seul le temps nous diras!
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1/13/2017 - Jean-Philippe M Likes this wine:
Belle bouteille bien agréable à boire. Le vin a un bel équilibre, encore tout jeune, sur le fruit (cassis, mûres et cerises), les tannins sont souples et bien fondus dans la petite touche de bois. Je suis en questionnement pour savoir si le prix des millésimes récents valent la peine.
3,5/5
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12/31/2016 - Fatman in the Bathtub Likes this wine: 93 Points
Almost a year to the date since my last bottle. This time a 3 hour decant. Slow consumption in the glass and continued to improve. Still a baby. Bit of truffle with sappy black fruit on the nose. Tannins have softened some, but has a long way to go. A guest who brought over a 2009 Rochioli and 2007 Jarvis was very impressed with this wine.
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10/31/2016 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and paired with grilled Filet Mignon.
Black in the glass. On nose, coffee grinds, black currants, charcoal & black cherry. On palate, relatively similar flavor profile to nose. Medium+ acidity, very tannic (great with steaks), nice balance and medium + body. Very long finish. 93+
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10/11/2016 - MrBrege wrote: 94 Points
Pnp, in glass for 20minutes. Unlike 3 years ago, while still young, this is now open for business. The nose is now intense and pure fruit (red and black), not really any cedar or cigar box etc. Tannins not yet fully resolved, but very smooth nonetheless with really quite superb intensity and length of finish. Once this gets some secondary notes this wine will be truly superb I think but 93 for now with 95+ potential.
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9/11/2016 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at 67
Developing nicely but still needs a bit more time. Pencil shavings and dark brooding fruit on the nose. Clean mineral driven palate. This will get better.
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9/10/2016 - J-Sho Likes this wine: 92 Points
Immediately on the nose hit with lead pencil followed by some very dark fruit (black currant, plum) with hints of cigar box and tar. Palate was moderate in weight. Initially tannins were big but with time in glass they faded into a nice structural element revealing nice complexity. Moderate finish
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6/15/2016 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
I waited a year since last try but wanted to check in and see where this was. Two-hour Vinturi decant may have been too brief knowing this is an absolute youngster. Beautiful floral nose on decant but dusty tannins still a bit firm. I've been a tiny bit disappointed, as I felt this might be one of the sleepers of this difficult vintage, but more time is required to assess... An earlier post nailed it: I hope the fruit outlasts the tannins. Wait or air aggressively.
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5/4/2016 - Paul D Does not like this wine:
Tasted at the Chateau, no formal note. This had an over-ripe raisiny nose, though was better on the palate with rich, ripe fruit offset by attractive fresh acidity. A little odd though.
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3/5/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for three hours. Blackberry, green tobacco, espresso, flower shop, coconut oil and chocotale covered cherries. Polished and evident tannins, with an exhilarating rush of fruit; the long finish shows distinct freshness. Quite youthful and really a mere toddler, I see this sailing into a wonderfully long journey. Quite statuesque. Drink 2020 -.
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1/2/2016 - MelroseCellars Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dinner at friend's house. Of the four wines we had, liked this one the least because of the acidity. Compared to other Bordeaux blends from Italy, Napa, and Chile, this was the most different because if its tartness.
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1/1/2016 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Definite barnyard
Lacking delicacy and finesse, as I have seen in other Pontet"s
A decent Pontet, but I've had much better.
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12/29/2015 - Fatman in the Bathtub wrote: 94 Points
Opened a bottle Christmas eve to see how things are evolving. Very tight after a 1 hour decant, but man did this beauty open up after 4 hours. Still wasn't fully integrated, but still delightful. The nose was stunning. So happy I have a bunch left...this will be something special in 5 years.
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12/3/2015 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pontet-Canet & Tesseron Vintner's Dinner at Noble House, Kuala Lumpur May 27, 2014. Hosted by Melanie Tesseron
2008
Color: dark red
Nose: lovely crushed rocks, cassis, black fruits has a slight green streak after 1 hr in glass
Palate: as usual silky tannins, delicious, still young but drinking well,
2003
Color:dark red
Nose: similar to 08 but bit more evolved
Palate: drinking well, super smooth,
2000
Color:still dark
Nose: understated pauillac elegance
Palate: the most ready of the 3 so far, oh so lovely this is a classy wine, long life but sexy n voluptuous right now , for me WOTN
2010
Color: black
Nose: tight
Palate: wow superb, a big bold wine, but way too young, this will be one heck of a pontet in say 10-20 years time
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11/21/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
This is not the best time to be popping a cork on this future beauty. It's tight and hard to a lot of pleasure from at the moment. Yet, with that in mind, it's easy to see the high quality of ripe fruit, soft tannins, concentration and intensity. I'd give this at least 6 to 10 years from today before popping a cork.
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11/15/2015 - mikeharris Likes this wine: 93 Points
I keep Pontet-Canet for all my children's birth years. Last night my wife and I opened one of our '08s in honor of one of my sons birthday so we can watch this evolve.
This is still drinking quite young but the nose tells the story of what's to come in my opinion. Presents deep ruby in the glass, the nose opens with cedar, graphite, blackberry, stone, cassis and just shouts balance at you. The youth is reflected in the slightly tight, bright palate with a hint of forest floor. But the fruit is beautiful, tannins are amazingly integrated and smooth, and the finish lingers softly for 30-60 seconds.
This needs 5 years to grow up and enter prime time but it definitely has the chops for the long haul.
If you drink this today I suggest a 1 hour decant.
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11/13/2015 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of black fruit, herbs and incense with a rustic earthy undertone. Firm, chalky tannins with toasty oak, black fruit and plum qualities. Tannic and austere. I was fairly certain this was our young Bordeaux. Most other guesses centered on young CA Cabernet.
I only had time to give this a brief 30-minute decant prior to leaving for the tasting, and I intended this to be in the last flight somewhere with the bigger wines to give it the benefit of a little more air, but somehow it got mixed in with the first flight and it suffered for all of it. This really needs a long decant if drinking now, but would be better to leave in the cellar for seven to ten years. This was the first of a case, and my curiosity satisfied, I'll leave them alone until 2022+.
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11/7/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Vertical tasting of Pontet Canet 2003-2012. Lovely nose - lots of ripe, generous dark fruit. Graphite, smoke, creamy oak. Very polished on the palate, tannins are very much present but seem round and a bit more in the background. Spicy, harmonious, with juicy fruit, nice acidity, good length. Surprisingly approachable. 92-93+
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10/19/2015 - mayoiv Likes this wine: 95 Points
From a 3L. Decanted 1 hour and was still tight. Finally opened up about 3 hours in and was great.
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10/16/2015 - Surfdoc wrote: 92 Points
Rich, full body with blackberry, cedar and graphite. Med-full tannins are rounded and well integrated but still have some grip. Powerful wine that's built for the long haul.
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8/7/2015 - Norm52 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very powerful
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8/6/2015 - mreinhard74@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
A bit young. Tannins still grip. 2008 Clinet is drinking better but this may ultimately win the race in the long haul. Has the structure to develop.
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7/12/2015 - Meneley wrote:
Red fruit is still fresh and lively on the nose. Tannins are still a bit tight. Needs time. LO
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6/21/2015 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Four-hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant with 30 minutes slow-ox at table. Nearly a year since last try, and no real change. Deep, reddish-purple hue opens to reveal red fruit, graphite, tobacco and distant campfire. Medium body with a palate centering on black currant and slightly-sour berries. Final sips were developing a nice mineral/floral presence. Dusty tannins still prominent; bottle rest should tame this just fine and improve the medium+ finish. Air this out aggressively or wait a little longer.
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5/29/2015 - wihong wrote: 90 Points
Color: Inky bright purple, sticky long legs. Aroma: Herbal, juicy blackberry, licorice, incense, strawberry, thyme, eucalyptus, violet and hint of oak. Taste: At entry, smoky, gamy and juicy grape juice. Mid-palate, tannic, obvious oak. With air, smooth, sweet and soft tannin. Finish: High acid, white pepper, blackberry and banana, good length. Very big, juicy and powerful wine, with obvious licorice and oak notes but sweet tannin.
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5/14/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
With an intense nose that hinted at both the sweet and savory, the ’08 Pontet-Canet showed notes of red and blueberry, sweet spice, rich reduction sauce, and hints of moist soil tones. On the palate, I found silky textures with a medium-weight frame and a veil of ripe red and black berry fruit, which seemed to nearly mask its youthful tannins, while notes of spice, graphite and a hint of citrus saturated the senses. This lasted long throughout the finish, as its fruit slowly faded into fine tannin. This is a dark beast of wine, yet elegant and in need of time in the cellar. This should be amazing in 5-10 years’ time.
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5/1/2015 - Jozefs Likes this wine: 95 Points
Starting to drink well. See my note from 2011.
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4/8/2015 - Burgundio wrote: 94 Points
Note from a neophyte: Great wine. Sharp, metallic dark colour, captivating nose and elegant notes coating the entire tongue. Lucky me, I have another bottle to enjoy later.
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4/1/2015 - ProfByron wrote: 87 Points
Brooding deep wine, medium weight. Offers little sensual pleasure at the moment. Really a complete waste to open.
Leave for 5-10 years.
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3/22/2015 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 92 Points
Jammy nose, ripe fruit, nose was opulent. Still showing its youth, extremely tannic. Revisit this one in 10+ years.
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2/20/2015 - slaughterer wrote: 94 Points
Very dark ruby. Nose of creme de cassis, forest floor, graphite, cedar. Full-bodied, almost port-like palate of plum, blackberry, cassis, graphite, and (the exotic note, as always) tangerine (not banana like with the 2001). Tannins are structured heavily alongside a very vibrant and lively acidity, which gives the wine balance. Not my favourite style of PC, but no doubt impressive and worth following.
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2/13/2015 - georgenmil wrote: 78 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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2/6/2015 - AAJR Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a 375ml. Drank after a brief decant. Young with dark fruits(blackberry) on the nose, but more so on the palate. Elegant - give this 3-5 more years.
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1/23/2015 - CWang wrote: 94 Points
Needed hours and hours of breathing in the open bottle prior to serving; loads of dark fruits and purple flowers plus some fresh pine wood in the perfumed nose; quite complex, creamy, and concentrated yet rather tannic and tight on the palate, with lots of dark fruits and mild spices; extremely long finish with more young tannins; overall, 93-94 points at this stage; still in its infancy.
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1/21/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding. True story: decanted 6 hours and by hour 4 you could honestly smell this from 10-12 feet away.
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1/7/2015 - farinas wrote: 92 Points
From a coravin sample. Medium to full color, not as deep as the '05 and definitely much younger. Bouquet dominated by lactic notes, red fruits, and wood spices almost botyrized. Palate has ripe blackberries, some botrytis, vanilla new oak, thick tannins. Finish is medium with solid fruit and wood spices. Strong offering but lacking some Pauillac typicity for my taste.
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12/22/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double Blind $80 - $100 (Bin 75): Dark dense core with thin garnet rim; maple syrup, dark ripe fruit, licorice, medicinal, eucalyptus; juicy, good density, rich, savory, polished, sweet currant, raspberry, compact fruit, coats every corner of the palate; delicious, 92+.
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11/20/2014 - Drankard wrote: 94 Points
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 30% Merlot. Showing a bit awkward at the moment but I wouldn't hesitate to try it. Not a blockbuster wine but very classic with an appealing elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with pure blackberry/blueberry fruit and cassis. This has excellent acidity that gives the wine precision and vibrancy.
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11/15/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Quite shy on the nose, fine fruit, oak, spices, smoky. Impeccable structure, good grip with firm but round tannins, fresh. No hard edges at all. Very long, a lovely wine with good potential. 93-94+
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10/5/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Young, still primary, but delicious, the tannins are polished, the fruit is concentrated, the wine is complex, deep and fresh. This is probably still quite well priced and is worth taking a look at.
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9/20/2014 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Two years since last try; five-hour double Vinturi decant followed by one hour slow-ox. Deep, reddish-purple hue offered very little bouquet initially, later opening a bit to reveal red fruit, graphite, tobacco and distant campfire. Medium body with a palate centering on black currant and slightly-sour berries. Final sips were developing a nice mineral/floral presence. Dusty tannins still make you pucker; bottle rest should tame this just fine and improve the medium+ finish. Air this out aggressively or wait.
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7/13/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Lunch with Alfred at the Chateau. Tobacco, dark fruit and some oak on the nose. Lovely balance and texture on the palate. Classic, very well made Pauillac.
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7/8/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Suave, polished tobacco tones. Delicate and powerful at the same time. Attractive, alluring and appealing but this really needs another decade of bottle age; wildly acidic right now, which bodes well for the long haul but nothing to write home about now. Give it eight more years+. 92+pts.
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6/12/2014 - wineotim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lighter, brighter style, but still unmistakable Pontet Canet characteristics: Pencil lead/graphite nose which carry's onto the palate, with soft, smooth, polished, dry tannins, fruit is vibrant, pure, and restrained. Impeccable balance and structure as usual from this property. Finish is clean, polished, and pure.
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5/28/2014 - Collector1855 wrote: 90 Points
Pontet Canet vertical 2000-2010: Medium-dark ruby. Alcoholic nose of wood, licorice with a bit of cassis, not very aromatic and not very expressive but then again this is 08 style and it will surely improve a notch. On the palate medium bodied with quite some acidity and heat. Not very balanced at the moment. This will need some time and then will be decent but never great. 89-91
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5/10/2014 - Swajln Likes this wine: 92 Points
Young. We double decanted and let sit for two hours. It was great.
Nose was simple fruit, silky and a little salinic, good balance. Long finish.
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4/20/2014 - dase13 wrote: 88 Points
Color of dark red. Scents of red berries prominently. Tastes same as scents. Could probably have used decanting or longer cellaring.
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3/23/2014 - rsternth Likes this wine: 88 Points
Agree with last tasting note. This wine is still pretty tight.
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3/8/2014 - hkm520240 wrote: 94 Points
Chateau Pontet Canet Vertical Tasting Wine Dinner with Melanie Tesseron (Nicolas Le Restaurant): Compare side by side with 07 and both showed dark opaque core, but 08 is more vivid and vibrant. Still tight on the nose, showing good amounts of dark fruits along with cassis and smoky oak.
Good medium+ bodied and rich mouth-feel, good mix of black currant, tobacco and black licorice on palate. Firm grippy tannins with long lingering aftertaste. Very good indeed for such an under-rated vintage.
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3/4/2014 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
I was curious as how this is evolving. At the age of six, perhaps the worst time to open. Pop and pour, it has shed the baby fat and now the fruit expression is decidedly red. Medium nose, plum, cedar, a hint of ash, lactic coming from oak and strong presence of lead pencil. Initially very noticeable but sweet tannins. 24 hours later, the nose is a bit softer, jammier and fruitier. Soft silky palate, medium concentration, good acidity and nicely integrated tannins. Despite the red fruits and strong presence of lead pencil, the overall impression is modern with lactic notes and soft palate. IMO, this is developing nicely and will require another ten years to reach the peak. If you look for freshness, this may not be the right Bordeaux for you.
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12/4/2013 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine: 78 Points
OK. This was the last bottle of spoof that I ever bought. I was caught up by the score and hadn't yet realized where my palate was heading. With that said, this is archetypical modern homogenized red Bordeaux type wine that can be had on five continents, and gets really high scores from numerous myriad "professional" wine critics. My wife asked for a red wine tonight, something like a 2008 Jordan would have been perfect. Well I was boxing these for the barter holler and took a chance and thought Julie would like it. Her description:
-a little red wine
-a little cigar ash tray
-a little saltwater
-a little flour/roux to hold it together
I told her she has made the perfect description for my mind's eye Modern spoofy wine.
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11/22/2013 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Pontet Canet Tasting with Alfred Tesseron and Jack's Birthday Dinner (Palm Beach Gardens, FL): This wine was the most closed one of the tasting with the same one hour double decanting. It displayed medium body and acidity with mostly currant fruit that refused to open much on this night. The tannins are tight and young, but fairly mild compared to the other wines. The most noticeable difference was the lack of concentration on the finish which makes me wonder how much upside it has, though at a difficult place to evaluate right now. I would not open these now unless using some of the lengthy decanting others here have. Mssr. Tesseron suggested drinking now or waiting 10 years, though the wine I tasted already seemed closed.
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11/16/2013 - lewisrise wrote: 93 Points
Nose of tobacco box and dirt along with asian spice and raspberry. Red fruit with a little bit of forest floor. Soft tannins and medium finish. Quite complex. Decanted 2 hours and still evolving.
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10/31/2013 - MrBrege wrote: 93 Points
This wine is shutting down now. Slow-oxed for 10h, then double decanted, then slow-oxed again for 14h, trying a thimble at each stage. Straight out of the bottle this is now quite harsh and almost disjointed, after the first 10h it is still quite tough and I would likely still not recognize it for what it is, had I tasted blind. At the end of my 24h treatment it is, however, quite delicious. Well balanced although the fruit has noticeably receded as compared to the last bottle, leaving a more tannic, acidic and astringent impression. Intensity and length are very impressive though. No doubt the scores we will see on CT for the next few years will be lower than what we have had until now. As for myself I will not touch another bottle for 5 years, but I think at that point this will again be superb.
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10/20/2013 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
Some sweet fruit here. Good balance. A bit sour on the finish. Very Bordeaux typicity. Certainly in a better place than the bottle I drank 9 months ago.
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10/4/2013 - Mrp2008 wrote: 92 Points
Would not suggest drinking this now as expected. Must aerate for at least 3-4 hours in order to see some of the better qualities of this wine. Awesome red ruby color with an incredible shine. Nose evolves but shows fruit, smoke, dark chocolate and floral notes. Quality fruit on the palate and solid finish. Being an '08 Bordeaux, this wine just doesn't have the concentration of higher quality years. Give this at least 5-10 years.
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9/27/2013 - MrBrege wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted and THEN slow-oxed for 12h. This one needs a lot of air and for a long time, but it is worth it! Lovely integrated nose; red currants, cranberries and pepper. Very, very powerful in the mouth. Balanced and quite intense. Fruit forward, round and velvety, followed by minerals and acidity that carries the mid-palate into a long intense finish. This is really terrific! I ordinarily like my Bordeaux much older, but this works very well. Extremely good value now for being a PC. 94-96.
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9/23/2013 - Fran's Wines wrote: 94 Points
Verticale Pontet Canet le 19.10.2013 @ Genève en présence de M. Tesseron, propriétaire du Château.
Dégusté après décantation de 2h.
Beaucoup de fruits noirs et rouges au nez pour ce 2008. Un beau millésime qui présente un bon potentiel de vieillissement. Se boira probablement plus vite que les 2000 et 2005.
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8/30/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at Steph's
See other notes - Yum
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7/28/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at Home
See other notes. I just can't stop reaching for bottles of this as it is drinking so well at the moment.
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7/28/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at Home
See previous notes
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7/7/2013 - il_diavolo wrote: 93 Points
Very dark colour. Classy nose of oak, cassis and black fruits. very rich and concentrated on palate but still rather unyielding. After about 6 hours of air it developed to show some graphite in addition to red and black fruit. The finish was very long and I have no doubt this will improve tremendously in time - particularly in terms of shedding what is a little bit of new world largesse at this point. 93+
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7/6/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank in Ireland
See previous notes
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6/2/2013 - Franz M wrote: 92 Points
I read all the cellar tracker reviews beforehand and was careful to open and decant the wine well before drinking (4 hours). That probably was not enough, she wine came out a little bit closed still. Once in the glass, and after letting it rest a further 15minutes, it started to open up and felt wonderfully velvety to the palate. Still it was almost impossible to get a proper "read" on the wine. Clearly too young, I would agree with my fellow reviewers. Forget it for another 3 to 5 years.
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5/23/2013 - acheng wrote: 88 Points
Quite primary. Mostly cassis fruit with some graphite balanced with firm structure and tannin. Not showing a whole lot at this nascent stage. Way outclassed by the 96 Gruaud.
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5/19/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
If this is a precursor to how the 2012 Pontet Canet is going to develop, perhaps 2012 is a vintage worth looking at, as this big, concentrated, full bodied, cassis, blackberry, earth, truffle, smoke and tobacco filled wine is fresh, polished, balanced, rich, long and still quite young.
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3/30/2013 - jmoon wrote: 89 Points
nose was red fruits, wood and licorice. tasted disappointing as tight and very closed and tannic... after 2 days still only harsh graphite - wouldn't open up. i'm sure it'll be v good / great in 5 yrs but forget it for now.
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1/20/2013 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Backward in mouth. Some char and peppermint with mineral and tobacco evident. A bit austere at the moment.
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1/17/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Had to try another bottle without the owner present (to make me want to like it). This really is an amazing wine. Incredibly complex but approachable even now with enough time in the decanter. Load up boys and be happy, I can't wait to be sitting in 10 years time drinking the trio of '08/'09/'10 together. This Chateau is on the up and up.
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1/5/2013 - MarkMich wrote: 90 Points
I had this about a year ago when it was drinking great. It has definately shut down. I decanted for 7 hours and it was not giving up much at all. I will wait another 5 years to try again.
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1/5/2013 - EyeDoc Likes this wine:
This is a bit awkward. The fruit has shut down and there is a bit of astringency that permeates the mouth and lingers. Not surprising and typical I think. I need to give this some time. Probably about 5 years.
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11/30/2012 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 90 Points
very young, on night one it had a nice nose with some fruit and plenty of oak, color was dark as can be, palate was no so good -- very extracted, edgy acidity and no discernible fruit... by night three things had come into balance a bit... some fruit appears, still pencil lead and pontet canet graphite, acid had settled and some tannins were present in a good way, over all this wine feels a bit extracted for my liking... i sense modern style so i wonder what this will look like in 15-20 years... probably won't buy more... rather just reload on the 2003
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11/22/2012 - aquaman wrote: 95 Points
Pop open n first smell was just delicious, smell very candi like..
Open for 6 hour before first taste.. In a decanter. Taste pretty good n not that much heat n complex. It will only get better with time.. I am going to stock up. I got a cs already
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10/16/2012 - MikeZ wrote:
Seems to be shutting down some and could not coax much out of it even with 6+ hours of air. Good weight and structure but needs time.
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10/12/2012 - robertdtwo wrote: 93 Points
Waited a year since last try; dusty minerals and still reticent dark red fruit being held back by just-beginning-to-round-out tannins. It's getting better; rating up a point, but still needs more rest to reach its potential. Feels a bit New Worldish for a Pauillac, but a very wonderful bottle of wine.
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9/19/2012 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
2000-2009 vertical of Chateau Pontet-Canet, with Alfred Tesseron (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): On the wine, Nice nose of black fruits, light red fruit, biscuit/toasty notes. On the palate there is quite a bit of ripe(not overdone though) fruit , wit good density. Very fruit forward with silky round yet vibrant tannins. Delicious now and with a lot of life ahead of it. 93/94 and such a nice surprise.
We asked Alfred Tesseron if he changed anything on the wine making for the 2008 (and 2009) as it (so was the 2009) felt a lot more supple and fruit fwd than any of the others we had on this vertical. He credited Biodynamic and organic farming as well as the rest of the improvements on the vineyards but to us it wasn’t convincing to be honest.
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9/18/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pontet Canet Dinner (Texture London): Slightly closed nose but a more rounder mouth due to more Merlot in the mix. Lots of complexity and depth in the mouth. This baby is going to be amazing in future years.
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6/29/2012 - MWiking wrote: 94 Points
Young but great. Will be fantastic in 5 years or more
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5/7/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Still deep in color, with an explosion of black and blue fruit, cassis, cedar, coffee, stone, earth, smoke and cigar box aromatics. Powerful, rich, tannic and structured to age, from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this luscious and lusty Pauillac demands at least another decade in the cellar.
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5/4/2012 - HenrikJ wrote: 93 Points
Way too young and in the tunnel. Much suppressed aroma with some berry and stone fruit, just a hint of minerals, dark fruit and tobacco. Relatively dense palate with a very long finish and notes of cassis. After leaving it in the decanter for four days it had opened up somewhat. A little more dark berry notes, dark butterscotch, coffee, minerals and some green elements. Still restrained but showing great depth. Loads of potential here. I would leave this be until 2020.
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5/3/2012 - vespasian wrote: 94 Points
Lighter styled but impressive and shows a nod to the 2009 if a little closed today; Cooler entry but lovely flavour and offers a similar peacocks tail of flavour. An excellent 2008.
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4/28/2012 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
A Ten Year Retrospective of Chateau Pontet Canet with Alfred Tesseron (Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Chicago): Opaque inky purple color. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, clay, oak and vanilla. Full-bodied, with blackberry, plum and vanilla flavors. With time, fruit delves into the red spectrum. Lovely.
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3/7/2012 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Attractive nose of plums, roses and graphite with blackberry undertones. Extremely classy use of oak. Palate has great structure and brilliant length. Young but with obvious potential.
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3/7/2012 - UTPK wrote:
WOTN among 3 left banks and 3 right banks, all 2008. Clearly the best nose and most complex palate. Very multidimensional. Manages to combine the sheer weight and opulence of fruit with an elegant lift and refreshing acidity. 2008 is just a great year if you are not into the jam business!
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2/6/2012 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
It started noticeable ash/burnt character with bright red fruits. With 30 minutes or air, the fruit expression decidedly change to ripe blue, blueberries, blackberries, crème de cassis, lead pencil, cedar and scorched earth. The oak component is not fully integrated. It is interesting that there is a hint of vegetal Cabernet fruits that quickly dissipates to display extremely ripe blue fruits. It is a bit confusing to me. The palate displays excellent concentration, bright acidity, surprisingly soft mouthfeel and very well integrated tannins. There is a hint of prune which I find bothersome. 24 hours later, very similar to first night with a bit more black fruits, licorice showing and still a hint of ash and oak. The palate is a bit more silkier but similar weight. I kept about 1/8th of bottle to observe when noticeable oxidation take place. Overall, this is a very modern ripe Pauillac with a hint of ripe Napa fruits.
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2/4/2012 - lumpyelbow wrote: 91 Points
Sample at LCBO. Stunning opulence on the nose. Creme de cassis woven with a mixture of red fruit. Creamy with a little lift. Quite backward in the mouth but showing huge potential. A little leaner than I expected but this will flesh out I'm sure. Don't open for 2-3 years minimum. 91++
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1/1/2012 - mcease wrote:
Drank on the infamous Lame-O New Years 2012. Fairly closed on the nose - tasted fresh berries and alcohol. On the pallet currents and cherries came through. Bright cherry or cherry liquor continued to come out over the next several hours. To be fair I had a cold while trying this so I was unable to judge the finish and probably missed some notes in it. I would love to try this again. I did get the feeling that this was a nice wine and will do well in the long haul but I cannot do it injustice by rating it.
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12/30/2011 - fort wrote:
Drank for NYE 2012 w/Mark S. Youthful cherry rim. Upon opening, the nose gave nothing save for some shy berry fruit, alcohol and a hint of cherry liquer. I have had several 2008s now and most were open and fruity, somewhat hollow in the mid palate, but this is reminiscent of young Barolo to me - very tannic, firm and unyielding. Even after pouring through the Vinturi (Christmas gift, had to try it) the wine softened a little bit but remained difficult to read. Regardless, I have placed my bets on the experience and forsight of the critics and bought a case of this as an anniversary wine. I won't waste another bottle just to try until my 10th (2018), and I think this will be a very long lived wine, especially when compared to other 2008s. If forced to rate this wine for what it is now, and not what it will or should be, I would say no more than 88.
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12/10/2011 - MarkMich wrote: 93 Points
I have a case of this stashed away, but found this bottle in a store and thought it was worth an early look. Very young and difficult to rate. I decanted for 3 hours but the bouquet opened up immediately. Dark ruby red and viscous this is full bodied wine that lasts for 30-45 seconds. On the palate it has the makings of a really nice wine....just think it will take some time. I'll wait until it hits 10 before I try it again.
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11/30/2011 - EyeDoc wrote: 94 Points
Very well made wine.
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11/6/2011 - robertdtwo wrote: 92 Points
Good, but very tight...muted nose and mouthfeel a bit thin, but I have lofty expectations for this once it gets some cellar time under its belt.
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11/6/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Lots of Bordeaux with Dan G for Public TV; 11/6/2011-11/7/2011 (WVIZ World Series of Wine Seminar): Very tight. It took a lot of air and coaxing to get something out of this. Slightly dusty nose with cassis and leather. Great texture. Firm tannins. Lots of tight cassis. Long finish. I don't know how you can love this today. I base my score on past performance, texture and finish. Even after the seminar, with lots of air, a glass of this just did not show much.
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10/27/2011 - curtr Likes this wine:
Big, balanced, lots of potential. I will try my next bottle in 2022. Long life ahead.
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10/26/2011 - gbbwino wrote: 94 Points
See notes on '96 review....needs A LOT more time in the bottle. Everything is there! Score based on future expectation.
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10/21/2011 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly drinkable at this young age, only had a small glass so cannot tell how much it will improve with time but suffice to say that a well made wine with potential.
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10/20/2011 - ludwigbpm wrote: 95 Points
Le meilleur potentiel du lot selon moi, avec le Las Cases. Notes d’élevages évidentes mais moins dérangeantes que sur le Cos D’Estournel. Assez austère et tannique, il est tout d’un bloc mais long et d’une densité qui le classe d’emblée comme grand vin. Énorme potentiel.
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10/2/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 91 Points
2008 Bordeaux tasting (Beltramos tasting bar): Deep, dark, rich, lush, almost voluptuous; only moderate tannic structure, even a bit soft, walks a tight-rope between Bordeaux and California. Very enjoyable, but certainly not "classic" particularly in this 08 vintage.
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10/1/2011 - signotim wrote: 91 Points
very tight on the nose. palate brings a wave of dark fruit on the attack that carries thru mid palate to nice finish.
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10/1/2011 - aaronwine wrote: 92 Points
At Beltramos tasting. Good but not as good as expected. Big wine.
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9/13/2011 - Ianjaig wrote: 92 Points
Tried at Glengarrys Bordeaux tasting. Balanced, elegant, hard to differientiate from the Leoville Barton in terms of balance and overall elegance. Palate, big, long but very, very, balanced.
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8/22/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 94 Points
Outstandingwine with lots of depth and fruit. Still quite primary but I think this will be wonderful in 10 years.
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7/22/2011 - EyeDoc wrote: 94 Points
Tremendous wine - not quite the depth of the 05 but a delicious wine. Great fruit and balance. Will age nicely. Not a wine for the long haul. My guess is it drinks best from 2015 to 2025. Very nice now but obviously very primary.
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7/17/2011 - EyeDoc wrote: 94 Points
Not quite at the level of 2005 but and impressive effort. For those who have disdain for Bords that are too modern this is an example of a refined wine that isn't light in the pants. Burgophiles will like this.
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7/13/2011 - John McCabe wrote:
Hard to know how to rate this as it's so not ready to drink. Opening this wine now is really a waste now. I've tried a couple of other '08s and have really enjoyed them as they are drinking surprisingly well now (For example, Haut Bailly and Haut Bergey), but this thing is still completely unevolved and incomplete at this stage of its development.
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6/17/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 88 Points
Day 1: 2 hour aeration in the decanter, then back to the bottle for 2 hours, 1/2 the bottle tasted over 2 hours. Purple, muted nose, giving up some leather and faint cassis notes. Minimal red fruit, green notes, medium-minus acidity, huge drying tannin. Tough to see what is hidden back there. This wine, like the '05-'07, lacks the traditional Pauillac characteristics that frankly I am a big fan of.
Day 2: The nose has opened up, revealing red fruit, french oak, and little if any graphite. The tannin has released its lock, but I don't believe the vintage was good enough to merit cellaring this for the 10+ years that it needs.
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6/15/2011 - G_H Likes this wine: 90 Points
wow, this wine is toooooo young. Tannins are brutal and the nose still muted, even after a day in the decanter. This wine will age for 50 or more years and will be a great 95+ points wine when I drink it at my retirement celebration. This will be a 2008 legend and beautifully it will be affordable, given that it will forever be in the shadow of 2009 and 2010. Good stuff!
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6/9/2011 - jamieirving wrote: 92 Points
Intense nose showing nail varnish and extracted dark berry fruit. The palate seemed a little closed, but I did find full body, plenty of fruit and tonnes of tannic structure. One for the long haul. (2008 Bordeaux Tasting)
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5/23/2011 - mike410 wrote: 97 Points
Tasted at the WS Grand Tour in Boston. This Chateau rivals the premier cru's, and this wine in particular is probably the best of the vintage in Bordeaux. As you can tell I am a big fan. Well done.
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5/19/2011 - socidelvino wrote: 90 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour Boston 2011
Eye: deep purple/reddish color. Nose: floral, berries, slight spice. Palate: different fruits, nice structure, long finish, bit young but powerful.
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5/19/2011 - RockinCabs wrote: 93 Points
WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: violet, lilacs, blueberry, blackberry, cassis and fruit tart notes. Palate: Very nice layered and elegant. Lots black fruit layers that create a sense of depth. Finish: very long with muscular presence. Can't wait to see how this evolves. Room to improve here.
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5/15/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 94 Points
Tight now, but this will be a tremendous wine! Very tasty now, so over time, the improvement should make for an exquisite Pauillac.
- WS Grand Tour 2011
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5/4/2011 - vespasian wrote: 93 Points
Lovely nose here, very fresh and defined; good palate with refreshing acidity and nice fruit - this seems better than at the UGC tasting.
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2/15/2011 - mmh wrote: 91 Points
Very different from other vintages of P-C I have tasted. Big, impressive, spicy nose. Very good on the palate. Fruity. Surprisingly approachable at this young age. Potential for greatness.
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2/12/2011 - Jozefs wrote: 94 Points
Ripe black fruit, sweet spices, earl-grey tea and liquorice on the aromatic nose. Lots of tasty black and red fruit on the palate, intermingled with sweet, spicy tannins, exotic spices, tea, chocolate and liquorice. Primary, but lots of material and great length. Will probably need a lot of time to fully develop. Might merit a higher score.
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11/24/2010 - Philippe_C wrote: 93 Points
Powerfull nose of graphite, cassis jam, tobacco... mouth of black fruit, loads of ripe tannins, cigar box, very very long aftertaste... great wine with a very long potential (93+/100)
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11/16/2010 - dave747400 wrote: 92 Points
Farr Christmas Tasting 2010: After 2009 Cos & Pontet, I fully expected the 2008 to be a disappointment, but no. Round, full, complex & delicious. £800/cs (Sal 91 pts, same as 2009)
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10/19/2010 - vespasian wrote: 91 Points
Very ripe, almost Port-like nose; big powerful palate. Napa Bordeaux? A bit much. 90-92
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7/20/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
2008 Pontet Canet is another winner from Alfred Tesseron, who has been making better wine every year since the 1994 vintage. Black fruit paired with spice, licorice, earth and toasty oak introduce your senses to the wine. This powerful, full bodied, cassis and blackberry jam filled wine is fresh, fat and concentrated, ending in a wave in chocolate covered, dark berries. 95 Pts
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8/31/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
08 Château Pontet Canet is deep, dark ruby. The nose expresses sweet black fruit, cassis, and fresh earthy notes. “Wow” is the first descriptor I used to describe what the wine feels like on your palate. This wine is incredibly concentrated with dense, ripe, rich, almost flamboyant fruit. The texture is fresh, fat, rich, juicy and opulent. Everything is in balance in this packed and stacked wine which finishes with intense purity. 94-97 Pts
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8/31/2009 - admid wrote: 85 Points
Deep purple
Aroma: Sweet cherries and a touch of alcohol
Very powerful and concentrated. Firm tannins and good texture.
Good length
85-90
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8/30/2009 - LWI wrote: 90 Points
Bordeaux 2008 Primeur (The National Opera, Oslo): Sweet dark berries. Surprisingly little oak, eucalyptus (?). Extracted style, and a bit unfocussed, and verging on being over extracted. A tad too sweet at the present, but I guess the sweetness will integrated better as the years go by.
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6/1/2009 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bordeaux 2008 (Bordeaux): : Very fine, fresh nose of black cassis fruit, with good floral lift. The palate is rich yet brooding, showing much strength and underlying power. This seems to be quite special. One has to applaud Alfred Tesseron's steady output here since the mid 90s, although the prices have headed far North in later vintages. 92-94+
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