Château Grand Pontet is a Grand Cru Classé that is adjacent to Beau-Séjour Bécot. The proprety is owned and run by Sylvie Pourquet-Bécot, the sister of the proprieters of Beau-Séjour Bécot. Even though Grand Pontet is not Premier Cru the wines are very good. We were warmly received by Marie Pourquet and taken through the property. The wines are made from vines that are on average 40 years old.
2007 Grand Pontet – 36€ – ****+ – Cabernet Franc 15%/Merlot 70%/Cabernet Sauvignon 15% – This is drinking very nicely right now. Lots of fruit in this bottle Blackberry, Black Currant, Blueberry and Raspberry. The tannin is still very firm so this will need to be decanted for 30-60 minutes before drinking. This will age a further 8-15 years.
2012 Grand Pontet – 55€(Magnum) – **** – Merlot 75%/Cabernet Franc 17.5%/Cabernet Sauvignon 7.5% – 2012 certainly won’t be recognized as the greatest vintage in Bordeaux history… That being said I was drawn to this wine and decided to leave with a magnum. A little rough around the edges but very well put together flavours of Cassis and Raspberry with firm tannin that will soften very quickly. This will age for 5-7 years.
Later in the day we had a chance to visit Château Trotte Vieille a Premier Grand Cru Classé winery. I am glad I had a chance to visit because they use a large percentage of Cabernet Franc in their wines. I was given the opportunity to try a barrel sample of a wine that they produce in house that is made completely of Cabernet Franc from a section of vines that are 100 years old. Even right out of the barrel it is incredible to taste the concentration of flavours from the fruit coming from such old vines. I have said before that Canada is still working at finding its identity on the international stage (and it’s not Icewine)… I’m convinced that Cabernet Franc may be the varietal that does it. Having the opportunity to taste wine from such Old Vines was melancholic in knowing that I will never get the opportunity to taste wine from vines of the same age in Canada.
2008 Trotte Vieille – ****1/2 – The nose is mushroomy and damp moss under layers of dark fruit. This is all black currant with raspberry and spice on the finish. The flavours are intense and concentrated. This will still need 3 or 4 more years before it enters it’s prime but will age for 15 years easily. Newer vintages of this wine are available at the SAQ.
