2012 Château Pontet-Canet - 92pts

2012 Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Limited. Private wine stores
Cost: Average $149 CDN as per Wine-Searcher.com
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 20th, 2022

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. Still youthful at 10 with a robust, earthy nose and more perceptible extraction producing bigger, dark fruit notes and acidity to compliment the savoury characters. If there was a conscious change of style post-2009's uber-vintage, then this is the result when matched with a cooler growing season like 2012. Big, yet lean, robust, yet astringent. Ready to go now or hold for further integration. Drink 2022-2028+.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

2007 Château Pontet-Canet - 92pts

2007 Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Limited. Private wine stores
Cost: Average $133 CDN as per Wine-Searcher.com
Alcohol: 13%

Production: 20,000 cases
Date Tasted: February 20th, 2022

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. At 15 years of age, this Pontet-Canet has peaked and is showcasing its fully developed and integrated splendor. From the over-lamented 2007 vintage, the blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot offers charming, red and blue fruits with pretty notes of crushed flowers, subtle potpourri and a hint of aged leather and graphite. The palate that follows is best described as effortless with good continuity from the nose with a more pronounced mineral edge through to a long, elegant finish. Drink 2022-2024.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Merlot - 88pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 17th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Elegant on the dark fruit and charred, licorice-oak scented nose which precedes a rich'n'racy palate with good continuity of flavours framed by punchy acid, blackened tannins and a finish loaded with spice and iron. This is a Merlot to pair with dark chocolate or raw tenderloin, rather than with BBQ'd meats. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2025.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca