WTN: 2004 Chateau Pontet Canet

[David M. Bueker]

Steak on the grill last night & opened a half bottle of the Pontet Canet as the accompaniment. It's still somewhat youthful in its tight, somewhat austere profile & of course there's plenty of back end tannin, but the balance is very good, and with the richness of a ribeye steak the wine opens up and expresses more fruit and less of its structure. This is no low acid, hedonistic fruit bomb of a wine, but rather a more typical expression of Bordeaux, albeit with the improved wine making of the last 20 years fully engaged.

I'll wait another 5 years before taking a look at mine.

[David M. Bueker]

Full bottles? If so then that is a good plan. I think the halves are only 2-3 from hitting a very nice spot, and I will be checking in regularly since I bought a bunch of them.

Thanks, David. I have one 750 ml...so...

I have to admit that sipped by itself (i.e., not with a nice steak) the 2000 vintage of this wine last year was pretty tannic.

[David M. Bueker]

The 2000 is not lush, that's for sure. The 2003 is also turning into a tannic beast.

I like tannic beasts.

Off topic...but it seems like 2002 produced super tannic wines in Napa. Probably the only wine I almost found too tannic to drink was a Rubbisow Las Piedras 2002.