WTN: 2004 Pontet Canet (Pauillac)

[David M. Bueker]

First bottle out of a solid case of 375s bought on futures.

This is solid Bordeaux. Red and black fruit, lead pencil (graphite pencil??), cedar chips and iron-rich blood on the nose are a total dead giveaway to Bordeaux. Fantastic. I coud just smell this. The flavors are a little bit muddled, but all the parts are there, including some solid tannins and acidity. This seems like it will be enjoyable for a few more months, but then it could very well clamp down tight for a long, long time. There's plenty of material to carry it through a long sleep though, so no worries there. Yet another winner from the only PC I like.

Just perfect with my grilled lamb chops. (The cat liked the chops, but she had no comment on the wine.)

Thanks, David. One of my favorite wine shops had a bottle of 2000 P-C, and I'm looking forward to trying it circa 2011. (This shop has not steered me wrong yet vis a vis Bordeaux. Their only flaw is a downright contempt for California wine. On the other hand, that contempt means that they sell Georges de la Tour for $25 off standard retail I will be visiting them again.

[David M. Bueker]

Their only flaw is a downright contempt for California wine.

That's a flaw???

LOL. There are many California wines I love. Generally, the ones that try to copy the older styles.

[David M. Bueker]

Me too.

[Jenise]

Can you compare it to what you remember of the 02? I was reading Parker's reviews on the two wines last weekend, and got the impression that these are almost identical vintages.

[David M. Bueker]

I do not find the 2002 and 2004 to be similar at all. 2002 is a harder, rougher wine, while 2004 seems to have all the pieces in place. I think the 2004 has much better balance, where the 2002 is probably the least successful Pontet-Canet of the new millenium IMO.

[Jenise]

David, thanks. Wish I'd had your opinion Sunday morning. Won't bore you with details, but I had a chance to buy either at around $30 and I made the wrong choice apparently.

Cost Plus World Market recently had the 2003 P-C on sale for $36.99 (1/2 price) cuz they wanted to make room for the new vintage!!! They flew off the shelves....I tried one, it's tight, but has all the stuffing that David notes on the '04....there is nothing like a nice Bdx, in my book....

[David M. Bueker]

Jenise,

The 2002 is still a very good wine. Pontet-Canet hasn't set a foot wrong in 10 years. The 2002 is just going to require more patience to come into balance. It's more an old-style Bordeaux. The 2004 is modern without the barest hint of spoof.

James,

$36.99 for the 2003 is an insane steal!

[Jenise]

$36.99 for the 2003 is an insane steal!

I'll say. I paid over $50 at auction.

$36.99 for the 2003 is an insane steal!

I'll say. I paid over $50 at auction.

I was cracking up when they told me that the HQ has said they needed to make floor space for the `new model' by clearing out the old vintage....so much for understanding wine....

Thanks. I have a few of these in the cellar.

$36.99 for the 2003 is an insane steal!

I'll say. I paid over $50 at auction.

I was cracking up when they told me that the HQ has said they needed to make floor space for the `new model' by clearing out the old vintage....so much for understanding wine....

Funny, I was looking for some pinot noir the other night and stopped by the World Market next to my office to see what they had. I told the guy working the wine department that I was looking for something in the burgundy style, and he told me that he didn't know anything about how they tasted, but that he could show me his best sellers. I passed and went to my neighborhood wine store and ended up w/ a nice Savigny Les Beaune. However, I may take a trip back over there this evening on the off chance that this store also has some of the P-C on close-out special- thanks!!

[Jenise]

I was cracking up when they told me that the HQ has said they needed to make floor space for the `new model' by clearing out the old vintage....so much for understanding wine....

That's how we discovered Bordeaux in the first place!--the wines were, the clerk explained, "too old". HA!

I was cracking up when they told me that the HQ has said they needed to make floor space for the `new model' by clearing out the old vintage....so much for understanding wine....

That's how we discovered Bordeaux in the first place!--the wines were, the clerk explained, "too old". HA!

Awesome. Let's just hope that their ignorance doesn't extend to storage techniques

I was cracking up when they told me that the HQ has said they needed to make floor space for the `new model' by clearing out the old vintage....so much for understanding wine....

That's how we discovered Bordeaux in the first place!--the wines were, the clerk explained, "too old". HA!

Awesome. Let's just hope that their ignorance doesn't extend to storage techniques

You had to ruin it, didn't you???

You had to ruin it, didn't you???

Well, I got my come-uppance for it...stopped by my local World Market and was excited to see a lone bottle of the '03 in the glass case where they keep their more expensive wines. There was no price listed, so I had to search out a clerk to open the case and scan it for me (all the while thinking that this must be a very good sign, surely it's on "clearance".) $75.99. Oh well

[David M. Bueker]

I would never advocate buying Pontet-Canet for over about $65 (taking currency issues into account - otherwise the limit would be $45), but the 2003 is not far from 1st growth quality IMO, and so could very well be worth the $75 tariff.

The 2002 is still a very good wine. Pontet-Canet hasn't set a foot wrong in 10 years. The 2002 is just going to require more patience to come into balance. It's more an old-style Bordeaux.

Well, that sounds much better to my ears now. The 02 was dirt cheap en primeur, so I thought what the hell, even I can drink a Bordeaux from time to time...from 2012 I guess...

Peter

[David M. Bueker]

The 2002 is still a very good wine. Pontet-Canet hasn't set a foot wrong in 10 years. The 2002 is just going to require more patience to come into balance. It's more an old-style Bordeaux.

Well, that sounds much better to my ears now. The 02 was dirt cheap en primeur, so I thought what the hell, even I can drink a Bordeaux from time to time...from 2012 I guess...

Peter

2012 or so will be the first time I grab one. Lots of Riesling to drink in the meantime.