Good deal for what’s in the bottle, or is this still overpriced? I don’t see many notes out there on it, and I’m usually not into paying much over $50 for a bottle of wine, but I was offered 5 of these at $95 Canadian - this probably equates to about $70 USD taking into account the general reaming we get. I don’t see many notes on it, but noticed the 2005s are now selling for over $200 per in the rest of the world.
Buy them now.
Wow, take them!
Here are RP TN FWIW:
Rated 89. But since he calls it “medium-bodied, elegant”, betcha it’s much better than that!
A classic example of a second wine, the 2005 Carruades de Lafite reveals a dark ruby hue with some pink showing at the rim. The moderately intense nose of graphite, forest floor, and sweet black currant fruit is followed by a medium-bodied, elegant wine with light to moderate tannin. Drink it over the next 10-15 years ('08-'23).
Neal Martin rates 93:
Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has a deep ripe plumy nose with good definition and freshness: cedar and blackberry, a tangible sense of mineralite but tightly-coiled. A dense weighty palate, great concentration and vibrant acidity, very focused, lithe, wonderful definition with a lifted cedar finish. No frills, but masterful winemaking is afoot here. Drink 2012-2025. Tasted January 2009.
MINIMUM online price (linked via their website): $230. Sounds like you’ve found a bargain, young man!
Excellent! Thanks guys. Sounds right up my alley.
Buy them and flip them to China - buy some Dominus instead.
Todd: you sure you’re not an MOT (like me)? 
You can probably find 1996 Pontet Canet for the same price. Better wine, more ready to drink.
Almost exactly reversed:
RP 92 (review from '99):
I was shocked by how backward the 1996 Pontet-Canet was on the three occasions I tasted it in January. This wine possesses superb potential, but it appears a decade’s worth of patience will be necessary. The color is a saturated dark purple. With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010
Neal M 89:
Tasted at the Pontet-Canet vertical in London. There is stark contrast between the nose on the 1996 and post-millennial vintages. This is a much more old-school Pauillac nose, less brightness of fruit, more secondary aromas such as pencil box, autumn leaves, sous-bois and a hint of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins a little brusque compared to the 2000, but fresh and lively. Certainly very masculine with moderate length. A little dry towards the finish. Drinking perfectly now, although lacking the same level of breeding compared to other vintages. Drink now-2015. Tasted May 2009.
Only online they list is indeed $90, from Binny’s
Yeah but given 96 Pontet and 05 Carruades, I’d take the Carruades, flip it and buy Barolo!
Back vintages are hard to find around here. You pretty much have to buy at release and wait. It’s also very difficult to flip, seeing as how it’s illegal.
Missed the Canada part, Dana. Regardless of what Neal M says, it’s a stunning wine - an opinion I share with some folks whose palates I trust a lot more than any critic’s. I’m sorry I sold what I had.
I just think that there’s much more value in the 95s and 96s than anything post-millenium, but I see your problem.
Don’t disagree with you Bob (I’ve never had this wine) but for completeness here is Neal M’s previous TN on it:
First tasted en primeur with positive notes during 2000 and 2003. Tasted again at the chateau in October 2003 with consistent notes. Then at Farr’s blind horizontal. A deep broody, blackberry and cedar nose. Touch of bacon fat. Good definition. Quite opulent but not garish. The palate is tannic, powerful, high extraction and concentration. Muscular. A lot of new oak with a huge grip on the finish. perhaps lacking subtlety and seems quite a bit of alcohol on the meaty finish. But well-crafted and will need some time.
I would be a self-admitted flipper all day long at this price. I would back up the truck. You could probably easily net $55/btl. and use that money to end up with something nice.
At the drinking level, I’m never a fan from a value standpoint of the 2nd wines of the 1st growths - esp. Lafite.
If you told me I had to drink them and couldn’t flip or use them for entry into high level tastings, I wouldn’t pay more than $40/btl. Clearly, most of the world disagrees with me, but I think a lot of them live across the Pacific.
Chris