WTN: Hickory Dickory Médoc

[David M. Bueker]

• 2001 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/5/2024)
  It's always fun to open a bottle from the cellar after being away for a couple of weeks (and not drinking for those couple of weeks). This wasn't my planned wine, but the originally intended bottle of a different wine was corked, so this got the pop and pour treatment, rather that a couple of hours in a decanter. All that said it showed very well, especially after being open for about an hour. It's not richly fruity or showy, but it does have Pauillac typicity in a more classic style that hearkens back to the pre-climate change era. Cedar, pencil shavings, and a touch of dried tobacco dominated the aromatics. The fruit was subdued but present, and definitely in the blackcurrant spectrum rather than a brighter cherry or berry. Tannins are still present, and even a touch dry. It's an old leather chair in a club room Bordeaux, and that's perfectly fine with me.

thanks, I should have one, will try to dig out

[Jenise]

Mmmm...I've been ready to pop some Bordeauxs and I own more vintages of PC than any other Bordeaux, so its likely I have this one too. I'm grilling steaks tonight, would be perfect.

[Jenise]

Opened one last night--it was exactly as you described, that old leather arm chair and tobacco. I didn't decant but did open it several hours in advance and it showed more plum fruit by the time I served it.

[David M. Bueker]

Nice!

I like and have that Pontet Canet but was saving it until I had worked through the 95 and 96 (not that it s 'work'). Did you feel that there was no rush on the 2001?

[David M. Bueker]

No rush, but I suspect zero benefit in waiting.

[Jenise]

No rush, but I suspect zero benefit in waiting.

Well put, and in general the case for most 2001's now.