Château Pontet Canet 1994

What surprised was how much more mature it was than the 1994, a much lesser year by reputation. After the event, I came across some thoughts by UK critic Michael Broadbent: “I dislike this wine intensely.” No sitting on the fence there. He talks of it being vegetal and there is a note of that. I suspect that overall, it is saved by the vintage.

1994 – Little expected here as this is considered a very poor vintage in Bordeaux (one vintage chart places 1994 stone last for vintages from the past 30 years in Bordeaux). So this wine came as a complete surprise. This was bright, supple, and plush. Blackberry notes with cassis and vanilla. Fine but firm tannins. A thoroughly enjoyable mature Bordeaux, and so much fresher and more approachable than the 1990 with its 63 percent Cabernet, 32 percent Merlot, and 5 percent Cabernet Franc. 94 for me.

It was only later that I read that this was the vintage that is considered the first in the renaissance and that is easy to see. I doubt that there are very many 1994s that would come close to this today.

A bit green in the nose and on the palate – this vintage simply didn't provide grapes with enough maturity. Lean and with wet cardboard flavor.