2003 Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet

[hotwine]

Decided to go ahead and try this to see if it's worth pursuing. Poured two hours before dinner. Not sure what I was expecting, a tannic monster maybe, but was really quite tame. Tannins are still there and needing further resolution, but this isn't a teeth-scraper of a wine at all. Lush fruit upfront, entry shrouded in chocolate and cedar, smooth across the palate and a nice long finish. 13% alc/vol and $18.59 per. Definitely worth further investment. With corn on the cob, steamed brocolli, garlic bread, and a ribeye that was grilled last night and warmed over tonight, finished with a Girardelli dark chocolate square. Sample again in 2-3.

[hotwine]

For our anniversary dinner last night, to accompany NY strips, baked spuds & sausage prepared over an oak fire, with steamed brocolli. (Grilled the steaks over the coals and cooked the sausage & spuds indirectly in the smoking chamber.) Decanted the wine for four hours. Perfecto! Very nice bright fruit, delectable complexity on the palate, excellent finish. Trick-or-treaters even waited until we had finished dinner before demanding tribute. And the Spurs won. Nice evening.

[Innkeeper]

Happy Anniversary!

[winoweenie]

Happy Happy there Hotsie! Hope you have 60 or so more. BPR, WW

[wondersofwine]

You were married on Halloween! You're lucky Deb wasn't spooked away from the whole thing.
Congratulations and many more.