Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2000 Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac Red Bordeaux, France.
This wine teases you with want and desire, being shy at first, but then crashing on the palate with classic Bordeaux flavors and complexities that include red berries, plum, currants, mineral, gun powder and black olives all delivered with a tar like quality. A background of tobacco, sage and spice fades as the wine opens up, but is in no way unpleasant and gives complexity before the tangy fruit comes back and lasts on the long finish. This wine is still very young feeling and would do with another 3 to 5 years before giving elegance, even though it shows a pure Pauillac nature. Have patience if you own this Bordeaux, and if you must open soon, give lots of time and decant it 2 to 5 hours!
*A Fifth Growth estate, across the street from Mouton and owned by the Tesseron family, Pontet-Canet is a still rising star and is a Parker favorite for quality and value with a case production of 25,000 to 40,000 depending on vintage. The vineyards are made up of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc with an average age of 27 years old.
($61 Est.) 90-92 Points, grapelive
*Still a few at:
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