PICHON-LALANDE VERTICAL TASTING - Mark Allen (5/29/2014)
Million thanks to Mark and Sarah for putting this amazing tasting on. How fun to go back in time with Pichon, “The Comtesse”, and delve into these fantastic wines! I’ve also included Mr. Parker’s scores just for fun.
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1966 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Black-red fruits, dry cherry, delicate pot-pouri and dried leaves, light, elegant, almost no tannins left with low acid but balanced considering the weight, and lets a little sweet cherry fruit poke its head out; very charming, easy to enjoy. A touch of cedar and hay in there as well. Past its prime, but not gone at all. (RP 88) (88 pts.) -
1979 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
More fresh cherry and red currant than the '66, with a touch of strawberry; forest floor mixed with light berries and cedar. Great balance with light tannins still there to give it a little grip. Very nice. (RP 90) (92 pts.) -
1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Dark cherry, black currant, a bit spicy with light vanilla nuances still there; medium bodied, fine tannins, forest floor and darker berries single this one out of the 8 vintage vertical. Smooth, good balance, darker and bigger than the others; not as elegant as the '79. (RP 94) (90 pts.) -
1990 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Wet cigar with mixed spices, tobacco and sweet black plum; moderate + body, ample tannins, acid, fuller body than the others in the vertical; sour black cherry finish. This was strong, but to me lacked complexity and elegance. May need more time. Black fruits, earthy, dark character marked this wine. (RP 79) (89 pts.) -
2001 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
What a nose on this–iron, spice, plum, smoke, cigar, truffle, black currant, cherry–stunningly beautiful nose; The palate was no slouch either with great balance–medium plus body, fine ample tannins, good acidity and beautiful flavors that mirrored the nose. I know not as heralded as the other great vintages tasted, but this was my WOTN. I think it’s just in that perfect place right now and will likely stay there for a few years to come. (RP 93) (93 pts.) -
2005 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Dark chocolate, cherry puree in the nose with elements of the '01 (iron, spice, truffle); compact, fuller bodied, good hidden complexity, but not ready to reveal itself fully just yet. Give this 5-10 more years and this should be stunning. I still liked the '01 better, but I think this has great potential. (RP 86) (93 pts.) -
2006 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This showed a bit austere with mushrooms and underbrush and black currants; a bit one dimensional, fairly tannic as well. Go figure it’s the only vintage that is comprised of just 2 grapes: 64% Cab, 36% Merlot. This appeared to be the least favored of the vertical. (RP 95) (91 pts.) -
2009 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Big, soft, rich, ripe blackberry, black currant, black cherry; truffles galore, smoky, party in a bottle. Very primary still but this has great potential, although I’m not a big fan of the softer riper 2009 style. (RP 95) (93 pts.)
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