New Year’s Eve leftovers forgotten (open) in the fridge after an epic night and a full day of napping. So after 36 hours it’s still pretty righteous amber bliss, a bitter edge with singular notes of butterscotch, anise, petrol, citrus rind, pine, and the faintest bit of untanned leather on the way way back....nice performance. very easy late morning armchair drinking. vendor says 2015 but the bottle is not marked. — 5 years ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed from red Solo cups over the course of a few hours. This bottle of the 1966 came to party! The wine pours a garnet color with a near translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and loads sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of black and red currants, Montmorency cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, old leather bound books, espresso, loads of organic and inorganic earth, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. What a fantastic performance by the ‘66. Drink now though similarly stored examples won’t be falling off a cliff anytime soon. — 7 months ago
At peak performance but many years to go — 3 years ago
Haven't had a fairly aged red Bordeaux in a long while. It was very good. My wife and I enjoyed it very much. Can see a lot of sediment sticking to the side of the glass after the swirl. Beautiful nose of black fruits, dark chocolate, old leather and cigar box. On the palate, full body, well-balanced acidity and tanin. Long finish. This is probably at its peak performance, so better to drink now rather than cellared. — 3 years ago
Popped for our 30th and taken to Sons & Daughters in SF. Straw gold color, still looks youthful. Spectacular nose. Notes of lemon curd, marzipan, wet river stones, white acacia flowers, tan spice and some petrol. Equally amazing in the mouth, this explodes in the glass with great structure and acidity, bounded by ample fruit. In short, this is everything you want in a white burg. Still easily has a decade or more of enjoyment at this peak performance. A top all time bottle for me. — 5 years ago
Aromas of dark black fruits - blackberry, plum, blueberry. Bold and big, with soft integrated tannins that draw you into the inner sanctum of the grape varietal. A tinge of age at the ends, but not in the fore front. Nice lovely finish lasting over 30 seconds before it breaks down. Definitely at its peak of performance. Paired well with the bolognese. Even better with the veal chop with figs, pluots, and watermelon radish. As Elizabeth says, this is a gorgeous wine. “It’s a grown up, but not old”. Or as I like to say, like a 40 year old classy lady wearing an evening gown and pearls - just stunning! — 6 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Château Grand-Pontet Grand Cru Classé 2019, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
A structured Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 77.5% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec, showing a more classical Right Bank profile with emphasis on structure and finesse rather than overt plushness.
Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, cassis, dark plum, graphite, cedar, and subtle baking spice. As the wine opens, layers of cocoa, tobacco leaf, and earthy minerality begin to emerge.
Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with refined structure and beautifully integrated tannins. After extended decanting, the tannins become silky and the palate reveals impressive balance with a superb, polished texture.
Food Pairings
Roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged hard cheeses.
Verdict
A refined and structured Saint-Émilion that showcases the elegance of the 2019 vintage. Balanced, layered, and already showing impressive harmony while still capable of further evolution.
Did You Know?
Unlike the fixed 1855 Bordeaux classification, the Saint-Émilion classification is periodically revised, meaning estates can move up or down depending on quality and vineyard performance.
🍷 Personal Pick
A beautifully composed Saint-Émilion with remarkable texture and finesse. After proper decanting (+2hrs), it shows silky tannins and impressive balance, already entering a very enjoyable drinking now window. — 2 months ago