Community Tasting Note
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Motz wrote: 97 points
June 16, 2019 - Pontet-Canet '14 - '16 vertical.
Pontet-Canet consistently expresses vintage as well or better than other Chateaux. Want to understand how the ripeness of 2003 affected the Left Bank? Look no further! Curious about the marked rusticity of 2006? Here you go! Questioning the notably understated quality of 2008? This (along with Leoville-Barton) is the grail!
The same holds true for 2015, which ranks among the most misunderstood Bordeaux vintages of my (wine) lifetime, a Burgundy aficionado's year. There are exceptions of course, notably Giscours and Rauzan-Segla, yet Pontet-Canet, along with Domaine de Chevalier, captured the elegance that this vintage offered.
An ethereal elixir, deceptively powerful, featuring high acid and powdery tannins. It will age forever...and then some. Worth tasting now, and better in time. 97-98.9 people found this helpful 15,731 views
6 Comments
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Mark1npt commented:
6/16/19, 12:40 PM - Awesome! Thanks for the wonderful notes! Mark
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Laz4wine commented:
6/16/19, 2:10 PM - Bought 2 more a couple months ago @ $110, thanks for reinforcing that decision.
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Motz commented:
6/16/19, 3:57 PM - Thank you both.
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Mark1npt commented:
6/16/19, 6:20 PM - Well played, sir.....well played.
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jviz commented:
10/12/19, 7:47 AM - Really interesting note, Motz, well done. I agree that this wine is in stark contrast to the 15 Rauzan Segla which is fuller in body and darker in profile. Looking at the clarity alone, you can tell that it is going to be lean. Domaine de Chevalier has been lauded for its elegance in the past, but Pontet is not a house with that reputation from what I can tell (see 2009/2010 for example). Yet the 2015 is quite graceful. Perhaps it has something to do with their 100% bio approach? Others can comment better than I on that point.
I think it may age nicely but I’m impressed with the high scores which usually go to bigger scaled wines in BDX. Anyway, I agree with your characterizations all around and happy tasting! -
Motz commented:
10/13/19, 6:06 AM - Thanks jviz. Pontet-Canet has long been my Left Bank quality benchmark, particularly in the best and worst vintages. In the by all accounts 'awful' 2013 vintage, for example, the Chateau made the finest 92 point wine imaginable.