Community Tasting Note
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Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 points
October 23, 2021 - Académie des Cinquante 65th Annual Dinner (Restaurant De Echoput, Hoog Soeren, Netherlands): For many wines, 1996 was a vintage that never blossomed. They were always too young - and then they were suddenly too old. It looked like that for Pontet-Canet as well. My first three tasting notes (2009, 2011 and 2012) all refer to a closed, tight and tannic wine, and the second three (2015, 2017 and 2020) all express concern over a lack of fruit in an otherwise classic and fresh Pauillac. Tonight we struck gold with this slender but rich bottle, which delivered a flawless expression of vintage and vineyard, with stunning, crunchy blackcurrant fruit spooned on top, menthol and just a touch of spicy beef stew.
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2 Comments
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djhammond commented:
10/24/21, 11:48 AM - I love your analysis of the 1996 vintage as a whole. Absolutely spot on.
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Jake Barnes commented:
10/29/21, 5:21 AM - Thanks very much for the insight on the vintage and this tasting note on the 1996 Pontet-Canet, Xavier. My only experience with 1996 at this point has been a group of weirdly youthful Potensac, which I’m still working my way through. Amazingly, they seem to be just now at their peak, but my impression is that they are quietly shedding fruit without becoming particularly aged. This would seem to confirm your observation of the vintage. Anyway, I am thinking of opening a 1996 Pontet-Canet with friends today. Hopefully, it will be a fine bottle like the one you describe!