2003 Pontet Canet good news/bad news

[William P]

For Tday, I thought I'd see how this old favorite was developing. I was surprised.

Bad News:

Well it's not really too bad, but on this date, the wine was very primary and exhibited a californiaesque quality. I was surprised how slow its development was, how dominating the fruit was, and the lack of complexity. Note, that in this case the california quality is of a very high caliber cali. It was a little loose in the beginning but tightened up toward the end of the day. The wine had a distinct black pit-fruit quality.

Good News:

The wine did evolve with time becoming more bordeaux-like. The tannins have substanially moderated since my last bottle a few years ago. The PC was very approachable and even enjoyable, just not what one would expect. I feel it was in a funny place and given time, this will become a beautiful swan. The PC demonstrates excellent balanced and above average length. I suggest at least two years before opening another, unless you wish to see how it's developing.

[DavidG]

I don't expect cru classe Bdx to start showing complexity until 10-15 years of age, so I wouldn't worry about this one.

[robert goulet]

I tasted this a few years back, can't say I was overly impressed.

[JonoB]

It for me is a very well made wine, but for that money there is plenty of other Bordeaux that I would like to drink and enjoy. 94 La Fleur de Gay the other day is a case in point.

[Bacchus]

Just wondering what people here think of the '06 PC? I recall a while back reading elsewhere that it too was kinda california-esque. The '04, which I have, doesn't seem cali-like to me.

[Blanquito]

I think that PC has become more modern in style, but I am still a fan. I bought some of the 2008, and I admit that Parker's 96-98+ rating had something to do with it (that, plus Alfred is such a charming guy).

Only time will tell for sure, but I am still confident that the northern Medocs of 2003 will be excellent with sufficient time. I imagine they'll always be lusher, like the 1990's, but no the worse for that. I've enough in my cellar to find out for myself in another 10-15 years.

[rjsussex]

I sold my 03 PC after noting that I preferred the 04 and, even more so, the 01.

Richard

[JimHow]

That dramatic evolution in the 2003 Pontet Canet described by Bill above has been one of the traits of this wine since about a year after it was released. It is almost a night and day experience with a few hours of oxygen. I remain completely convinced that this seven year old wine (read: smack in the middle of awkward stage) will end up being an absolutely profound and stunning wine.

[Bacchus]

Richard, you're a man after my own heart -- go '04. I find what I've tried of the '03s, and it's quite limited to be fair, to be a little too flabby for my likes.

Anyone tried the '03 Clerc Milon?

[DavidG]

I'm with Jim on this one. Maybe because of ownership bias - I bought a case of this based on Jim's enablement - but I think it really will be an excellent wine with more time.

[Jay Winton]

let's see how it's drinking in 2013

[Ramon_NYC]

Let's see how this is drinking in 2018.

[JonoB]

Well I tried the PC in the summer and it will improve, but I'm a whistle blower when it comes to 03. I had Pichon-Comtesse yesterday and although nice and will age for at least 5-10 years, it doesn't have the potential to be anything more than a decent Bordeaux. A touch unbalanced. But having said that it may blossom into something beautiful...

LMHB was the best 03 I've had for my tastes... Riper but still very classic.

[Claudius2]

Guys
I like this wine so much I bought another full case here in SIngapore.
Still have the first one (less a few bottles) back in Sydney in storage.

At 7 years of age it should be elemental and slowly devleoping.
But the fruit is so dense and opulent without that awful burnt, raisiny character of a lot of 2003s.

Hmmm..
I may open one soon (in a nice air cond environment when its 30 odd degrees Celsius all day, night, year..)

[JimHow]

I'm telling you, just about every one of the 2003 Pontet Canets I've had, after those initial few right after they hit the shelves, have been exactly the way Bill described them. They are really disjointed at first, and then they evolve into a really beautiful wine. On numerous occasions I have read here and elsewhere about night-and-day experiences with this wine between Day One and Day Two.

[JimHow]

...which is not a completely unheard of experience in the world of Bordeaux, of course, but it just seems even more so with this wine.

[Bacchus]

Well if I could get some up here I would. Sadly they're all sold out of the '03. I can only get 1999, 2004, and 2006. I already have a case of the '04 (and half a case of 2000). 2006 is really pricey (twice the '04), and '99 doesn't have that great a reputation, so I may wait until the '08s appear on our shelves before buying more PC. Although I may give into the '99 at some point, just to try. Anyone try it?

[JonoB]

９９ is quite a nice drinakable vintage of Pontet-Canet. Still quite big and primary but drinking now, and for another 5-10 until it hits it's peak and holds. I'd give it a go and it is not stupidly expensive.

[robert goulet]

$55 for the '04 pontet here. A taker for that price?

[JonoB]

A bit high but nothing compared to the 08 and 09...

[JimHow]

Robert, I'm going to be buying a half dozen half bottles in NYC got $26 each.

[AKR]

A decade later the 2003 Pontet Canet is doing ok - I'm getting cedar, rhubarb, pencil shaving on this bottle purchased EP, which was decanted and lightly cooled. I find the bouquet to be more complex than the palate. I liked the last bottle we had some years ago a bit better, it seemed deeper on the fruit. Tannins 95% resolved, acid is aligned with the other elements.

[Comte Flaneur]

“I find the bouquet to be more complex than the palate.” Agreed Arv. The real problem with this wine is the astringent mid palate in my experience. Last tried one a few weeks ago. Arv what was your rating?

[JimHow]

Yeah, in the end the 2003 Pontet Canet needed to be consumed young. It did not improve with age.

[AlexR]

Jim,

That's a great price on the half bottles of 03 PC.

I have just one bottle.
I'll drink it within the next two years I figure.

Alex R.

[JimHow]

Ha.. yes, back in 2010, Alex. This is a post started by William P back in 2010.

[AKR]

“I find the bouquet to be more complex than the palate.” Agreed Arv. The real problem with this wine is the astringent mid palate in my experience. Last tried one a few weeks ago. Arv what was your rating?

I'll finish the rest of this bottle today, but I'd probably slot it in to the B+ zone. That would be underwhelming given the years of patience + anticipation, as well as prior examples.

[Comte Flaneur]

It would give it a C

[DavidG]

My last 2003 PC was 3 months ago. I found it a bit alcoholic, with smoke and some astringent toasted oak playing too big a role. OK as a cocktail but tough to drink more than a single glass. It seems to have briefly peaked a few years ago but never reached the heights promised in its youth.

Not really sure what to do with the remaining bottles. Serve as party wines or wait a few years hoping for an unlikely improvement? The way things are going the next party may be a few years away.

[JCNorthway]

Gosh, you guys seem a little tough on this wine. Because of the recent posts, I opened my first bottle from a case for dinner last evening. I did decant it for about 4 hours, which may have made a difference. But I did not get any of the harshness and "toasted" flavors that some got. Though the tannins were definitely noticeable, there was plenty of fruit and freshness to contrast with the tannins. I would guess there is enough fruit to easily go another 5-10 years, or more. This will be a good wine for me to follow in the future to see if my experience and hunches play out or get refuted.

[DavidG]

I’ve had bottles like that Jon, but not recently. I’ll have to give the next one more air. Or maybe just wait a few more years.