I am not doubting that RdV Lost Mountain is an excellent wine and arguably the best you can find in VA. Nor am I arguing that RdV compares favorably to many Bdx.
Lost Mountain is $125 min. I can buy 2014 Lynch Bages RETAIL, today for $99. And EP prices are even better. Lynch Bages is a legendary estate and remarkably consistent. Have had great bottles going back to 60’s.
I attended a wedding in Barboursville a long time ago, and threw back a fair bit of their cab franc that weekend. It was pretty solid, although seemed pricey when I found out what it went for. Interesting the folks who got married laid down a couple cases of the CF wine they served at the reception (maybe it was leftover) and over the years we followed it, having a bottle now and then, usually versus a St Emilion or something. It kept ok, almost up to age ten, before losing its vigor.
I remember how hot and sticky it was that weekend in Virginia, and my car’s A/C and cruise control both conked out on the long drive back to New England.
Opened a bottle 2 dinners ago from an en primeur 6-pack purchase and couldn’t agree more with the TN. I’ll add that the elegant, medium-bodied nature kept me going for more with my US-wagyu dinner at home. Really good stuff! Happy with having remaining bottles. If drinking, stand up for a week … plenty of sediments.
Not surprised PC is still showing well. Tried the following 03s not that long ago. While undoubtedly there were many failures in France in 03 due to the heat, the generalizations about the vintage I found to be more wrong than correct in bdx at least. While you could note the softness/ripe fruit in a few, no one tasting these thought they were too ripe/hot etc and none of the wines screemed “drink up”. Wine of the night was Leoville Poyferre and Lascombes was a surprisingly strong second. Gruard Larose was the most backwards/needing age.
Scores are on a 5 pt scale:
Faugeres 4
Chauvin 3+
Destieux 3+
Troplong Mondot 4-
Clos Fourtet 4+
d’Armailhac 3+
Clerc Milon 3
Gruard Larose 4-
Haut Bages Liberal 4-
Pontet Canet 4
Lascombes 4+
Leoville Poyferre 4+
Good to hear this, I am familiar with both of your palates and they align well with mine. I have 6-7 bottles more of the 2003 Pontet Canet. I’ve had this wine several times before (but none in the last couple of years) and while I’ve liked it, it seemed too diffuse or soft to be a really strong Pontet Canet. I hoped more time would help and if sounds like it’s pulling together.
A separate question could be: what are the great Pontet Canet vintages? I’ve not had any post-2003, but I’ve had many from 89-03 over the years. I know which is my favorite.
Patrick down in Chateau Casenova for Tim’s ‘Crackers’ McCracken’s 50th the 2001 shone like a beacon. I think the 2000 is excellent too. There was a stylistic change which became more noticeable by the 2004 vintage.
Pat, the last PC vintage I have drank was the 04, until two weeks ago which was the 2016. It blew me away. Curious, what is your favorite wine in the 89 to 03 range, the 96? It would be my choice. Dale
Here. I’ll do the work for you. My note from 2012:
Black Ankle Vineyards, ‘Crumbling Rock’, Frederick County, 2006
This is expensive juice from Maryland, a blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Petite Verdot. Lots of plummy black and red fruits. Well made but a little anonymous. Tannins virtually melted away at this point. With more air, there is a fragrant savoriness that comes out, probably from the cab franc. The blend changes year-to-year, so it’s never really the same wine twice. 13.5% A-/B+
Thanks for notes David. I also live close to Black Ankle but haven’t been in a while. The last bottle I had was a 2009 Crumbling Rock, which I enjoyed. I paid $45 for that bottle. The owners have bought two nearby farms to grow more grapes and build a new tasting room.
I enjoyed the 89 and 90 Pontet Canet a lot, but that was quite a while ago (>10 years ago). The 94, 95 and 96 trio are all terrific, but my favorite is clearly the 1996.
I think Pontet Canet started hitting bigger strides with vintage 2000 and beyond. I remember liking the 2005, which I never bought, but tasted at release. I’ve not had anything beyond 2005, but also read directional-stylistic changes with late 2000s.
Lamb and Pauillac are a classic combination so Easter dinner called for a 2003 Pontet Canet [Pauillac]. As others have noted in this thread, this continues to be a gracious, well flavored Medoc. If one didn’t know the vintage, I doubt a taster would identify it as ‘obviously’ a 2003 – there are no hot nor flabby characteristics. Great density and length, on a medium body, with polite tannin and even some lifting acidity. Still dark, with currants and pencil flavors. Sediment is light. Natural cork. I think this will continue to drink well for decades, but I do plan to step up the consumption pace. A- on my scorecard.