Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Ratings on Delectable

David T Delectable Pro

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron. The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde. This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty. The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot. Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet.

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron. The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde. This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty. The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot. Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet.

9.3

Ron Siegel

Black fruits, plum, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco. This was drinking young & had a polished, silky texture with good tannin structure,

Black fruits, plum, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco. This was drinking young & had a polished, silky texture with good tannin structure,

9.3

Mike Levin

In a really great place but can still go the distance. Powerful stuff.

In a really great place but can still go the distance. Powerful stuff.

9.5

Max Kelly

Tannins are fully resolved. Still fresh and with lovely soft, rich cassis, tobacco, and leather. I didn’t get any pencil lead, but otherwise classic Pauillac. Time to drink up though - this will begin to decline in the coming years.

Tannins are fully resolved. Still fresh and with lovely soft, rich cassis, tobacco, and leather. I didn’t get any pencil lead, but otherwise classic Pauillac. Time to drink up though - this will begin to decline in the coming years.

9.2

Soon Koh

Whee! Felt savory when the half bottle was first poured. Then graphite. Then mushroomy. Really enjoyable!

Whee! Felt savory when the half bottle was first poured. Then graphite. Then mushroomy. Really enjoyable!

9.1

Pazzu Zu

Full bodied, powerful.

Full bodied, powerful.

9.6

David Singer Delectable Pro

Sommelier/Wine Educator LibationEducation

Starting to drink really well. Classic pauillac notes of lead pencil, cigar box, cassis, roasted bell pepper and gravel.

Starting to drink really well. Classic pauillac notes of lead pencil, cigar box, cassis, roasted bell pepper and gravel.

9.2

Steve Messinger Delectable Pro

Wonderful bottle bouquet earthy, long complex finish, still developing

Wonderful bottle bouquet earthy, long complex finish, still developing

9.7

Ryan Mullins Delectable Pro

Fantastic bottle of classic Bordeaux in a nice spot. Leaning toward the less ripe side with serious tannin but it felt like a throw back to the 70s and 80s Bordeaux. Thank you John Rothermel!

Fantastic bottle of classic Bordeaux in a nice spot. Leaning toward the less ripe side with serious tannin but it felt like a throw back to the 70s and 80s Bordeaux. Thank you John Rothermel!

9.7

Parag Lalit Delectable Pro

5th growth? Really!?

5th growth? Really!?

9.8

Location

  • 300 Massachusetts Ave NE
    Washington D.C., DC 20002

  • Hours:
    Monday - Saturday
    10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
    Sunday
    11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.