12 July 2012: A couple of nights ago, I tasted a bottle of 2002 Pontet Canet (part of a flight of vintages from 1996 to 2006) and it has to be the most under-rated wine that I’ve tasted in a long time. It had been decanted for over 2 hours. It was packed with delicious black fruit- blackberries, cassis and plum, with complexities of liquorice and dried herbs. The medium-bodied wine revealed a lush texture of velvety tannin, with the rich fruit notes balanced by great acidity. I liked the finish very much. A delightful accompaniment to the deep-fried pork spare ribs and cashew nuts with spicy salt! A really fabulous effort for this under-rated vintage, 2002, and in my mind, deserving much more than the Parker rating of 88 points. Apparently, the Château also thinks that this is a much under-rated wine and has been known to be served blind to surprise diners! 17.5/20
The other vintage that showed very well was the 2003 Pontet Canet, which, when paired with the sauteed Angus beef filet with deep fried garlic slices, came out so well! A rich and intense nose of burnt black fruit compote, smoke and liquorice with warm earthy and meaty nuances. A powerful wine, concentrated and dense, oozing of seduction and warmth from entry to finish on the palate. Gorgeously textured with ripe velvety tannin and just sufficient acidity to give the finish a refreshing lift. A very stylish 2003, just perfectly balanced in all aspects! Drink now and over the next 15+ years. 18.5+/20
The other vintages also came out rather well, with the 2000 just opening up now to reveal a very elegant Pauillac nose of black cherry, cedar, cassis, graphite and liquorice, with just a hint of herbaceous note that rather enhanced the complexity and freshness on the finish. Still quite tannic, with the oak beginning to find harmony with the rest of the elements. A good measure of acidity keeping this wine invigorated. After 3 hours of decanting time, this wine was putting on a very good show of purity, balance and finesse. A wine that could do with further cellaring to show its best. 17/20
The 1996 and 2006 vintages both showed very classic Bordeaux characteristics. The 2006 was all about purity of sweet cassis, with underlying complexities of graphite and cedar for the 2006 vintage. Already showing a very refined and linear structure of good acidity and fine-grained tannin but will need quite a few more years of coaxing before the transformation into a classic beauty. It made a brilliant pairing with sauteed prawns with salty egg yolk - the saltiness of the egg yolk softening the tannin and the acidity cutting through the oiliness. 17/20
The 1996 is a classic style wine, the external austerity belies a lovely concentration, with a muscular tannic structure balanced by a good dose of acidity. Classic Pauillac nose, cedar, graphite, mushroom and earthy. Medium-bodied. Nice finish, but not very long. Definitely needed the decanting time. A wine for the long haul. 16.5/20
The 2002 really was the biggest discovery of the evening....here's what I call value-drinking!
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