Chateau Potensac 2001 (review)

87 points

From Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

I previously reviewed the 2000. This is a med-full bodied, dark red wine, with a rather classic young bordeaux savoury hard and green flavour. But without a herbaceous underripe flavour. So I suspect physiologically ripe grapes but in a cooler vintage.

I've read before that Potensac typically starts life a bit hard and green. It is clearly built for some age, though the tannins and acid are not pronounced. A number of 2001 clarets are firm but quite approachable. This is more a keeper. Drink from 2007.

Some 1996 cheaper clarets I tasted were of this style though with less weight and stuffing.

Oddly Robert Parker is reported to have described this as "an elegant, medium-bodied Medoc offering dried herb and berry fruit characteristics in an open-knit, attractively fruity, pure style". Which barrel did he sample ? (He also gave it 87 points).

I've tasted this twice now, in two countries, bought from different sources. The last time over two evenings.

PS Decanter (April 2005) magazine lists Potensac equal first in a list of great affordable bordeaux describing it as "a full firm wine. Often austere, it has a degree of rusticity" and "depth, density, classicism and age-worthiness: Potensac has them all". I think this puts it rather well.