TN: 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

WINE TALK
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  • 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (10/12/2023)
    Served blind, and decanted off the sediment about two hours prior to service, this was just gorgeous, and kept getting better throughout the tasting. Velvety red fruit, light oak spice, aged tobacco elements - it brought the whole package. Largely resolved, so not much back end tannin, which made it all the more seductive. Quite haunting in a good way. Memorable wine.
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Such a terrific wine, and unlike my experience with the rest of PLL wines from the 80’s (which can be brilliant), the 89 never seems to disappoint or have an off night.

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One of my two favorite 80’s Bordeaux along with the 85 lynch bages. (When factoring for current market value essentially.) They both just speak to me, even next to big hitting counterparts from the same vintage. Although the 85 Pichon Lalande is right up there too.

Patrick and I were at a dinner recently where I brought this bottle and the group loved it, although it didn’t fire on quite all the same cylinders for me as previous bottles have. It also had some stiff competition with 96 first growths and other beauties.

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Sounds wonderful - wish I still had some! Like Pat, I never had a bad one.

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BTW there were two additional 1989s poured - a Chateau Belair that was well past its best, and a Chateau Angelus that was brutally corked.

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I love this wine, so steady and reliable. And available. I snagged a 3/4 case lot just last year after I finished my last bottle. Price was reasonable enough for me. Is there any other wine style/region with so much reliable back vintage wine still around?

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No, especially stuff 30+ years old that is still really good.

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Love, love, love

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For many years I thought the 89 Pichon Baron was a better wine than the 89 La Lalande, but now I think the La Lalande is better. IMO the Baron has peaked and the La Lalande still improving.

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‘85 was our wedding so bought a few. Marriage and wine both going strong. Only a couple of bottles left, so I’ve been wrestling with the when to open conundrum.

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The 85 Lalande? It’s hard to find this one at a reasonable price from a good source these days. I’ve had it a couple times and both have been stellar once the green has integrated/balanced. I would like to put this up next to the 85 Lynch one day.