Believe it or not, this was really good, and pretty much ripe vintage, classic Bordeaux. It was not a 2003 caricature. I would never suspect it as California, as it leaned more towards the cassis end of the fruit spectrum, and it had that dusty/cedary element coming through that I never taste in modern California wine. The fruit/tannin balance was very good, and there was zero heat. It was delicious with my steak! Seems to have years left in the tank. I am glad to have several more bottles.
Alongside, I opened a bottle of 2015 Black Ankle Vineyards Crumbling Rock (Frederick, Maryland), a Bordeaux blend. It was also really good, and not in a "good for Maryland wine" sense, but in an objective sense. I went back and forth between the PC and the Black Ankle, and the Black Ankle never suffered. It had less depth/richness than the Pontet Canet, but it was an enjoyable wine to drink that did a great job of showing the quality of Bordeaux grapes in the Eastern USA. I think it was the best Eastern USA red wine I have ever had, and I have had a lot of them.
I corked up both and put them in the fridge to try again tonight.