Arriving at Pontet Canet now and we are met by Melanie Tessaron who has produced a wine that today is certainly showing as the most structured of the wines tasted so far. Lots of minerality on the palate with a meaty and savoury characteristic very prominent. This is quite a big and structured Pontet, with a sweet core.
Straight into lunch at the Chateau and am currently standing in the queue for the cheese, and what an amazing sight it is!!
We are drinking 2004 Pontet Canet, and like all the 04’s I have tasted, it is drinking very well. 2004 is very much an under rated vintage, one that is giving an enormous amount of pleasure right now. If you have this vintage in your cellar my advice is, ‘why wait’.
Tasting now at Calon Segur in St Estephe, beginning with the inexpensive and beautifully made Ch Capbern, followed by Marquis de Calon Segur, (new label for what was Chapelle de Calon). For me it is all about the Grand Vin, with a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine has a sweet core of red fruits and some fine, soft tannins that are very well integrated. Again a key trait of the vintage raises it’s head: freshness, so fresh and the fruit is delicious and pure.
23 minutes later and we are arriving at Ch Montrose. No one said this was an easy job…..
The Montrose is deep purple in colour, has a heady perfume of black cherries, hints of spice and violets. On the palate it is incredibly silky on entry with a soft tannic structure that surfaces on the finish. I like Montrose, it is a Chateau that I would like to buy myself En Primeur. “The wine has a lovely texture”, quote, David Roberts MW.
The palate is showing no signs of fatigue, in fact it is still remarkably fresh ( it is the 1st day….). This is a wonderful thing because on the horizon is not only one of the most beautiful Chateaux to look at in Bordeaux, but also potentially one if the best tastings.
We end the day at Ch Pichon Baron and are ushered into the Chateau through their stunning drawing rooms to taste Ch Pibran, Les Griffons and the Grand Vin. Pibran I really like, I love the intensity of the fresh, quite classy sweet dark fruit and the perfectly integrated soft tannins. I think people will like this and it should be priced well.
The Grand Vin de Pichon Baron is for me one of the best wines I have tasted today. 77% CS and 23% Merlot. Aha! Was the 1st ‘note’ I wrote in my book as the wine was wafted close to my nose. High toned, pretty red and black fruits on the nose, with a lovely silky texture on the palate. The wine has excellent sweetness and freshness. The tannins are firm, relatively powerful, but seamless on the finish. It is also very long. Delicious, delicious.
Am now looking forward to actually having a proper glass of something really good over dinner!