Pichon Lalande

Tasting Notes:
This estate has been sold to the Louis Roederer/Deutz champagne firm, but it appears the winemaking team will largely remain intact. Only 50% of the production made it into the 2005, a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. While not in the same league as Pichon LalandeÕs greatest efforts (2003, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1986, 1983, and 1982), it is a lighter-styled, more linear, slightly herbaceous yet impeccably elegant wine offering notes of cedar, black currants, and plums. Medium-bodied and fresh, with moderately high tannin, it seems to be an improved version of the estateÕs 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. The Wine Advocate #170 Apr-07.
Parker Points: 86
Drinking Period: 2012-2025

Tasting Notes:
The 2000 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is spectacular, and certainly a noteworthy rival to the 1996, 1995, and even the extraordinary 1982. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this effort has a dense saturated purple color, a singular/distinctive yet possibly controversial aromatic smorgasbord existing of creme de cassis, vanilla, and violets, but also tapenade and tree bark. No doubt the Petit Verdot has imparted a certain almost olive-like component to the wine's aromatic profile. In the mouth, it is a wine of extraordinary density, opulence, great presence, and richness. As the 2000 sits in the glass, notes of lavender and melted licorice emerge along with the distinctive tapenade aromas interwoven with creme de cassis, espresso roast, and cedar. The wine is full-bodied, with extraordinary purity and a tremendous texture. I suspect this wine will be relatively approachable young but evolve effortlessly. This is a dramatic, almost flamboyant style that is not classic Pauillac in one sense, but a classic wine. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025. The Wine Advocate, #146 Apr-03.
Parker Points: 97
Drinking Period: 2007-2025

Tasting Notes:
The 1999 Pichon Lalande performed inconsistently. This wine is a blend of 47% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. It offers a complex, evolved bouquet of cedar, underbrush, red currants, and spice box. The dark ruby color is not as saturated as many 1999s, and the wine possesses the weight and style of the 1979 and 1981 (both of which are superior to 1999). There is medium body, excellent ripeness, and an angular finish, without the persistence typically found at this chateau. Robert Parker Wine Advocate #140 April 2002
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 2002-2012

Tasting Notes:
(94 points) The 1996 Pichon-Lalande exhibits extraordinary sur-maturite due to the exceptional ripeness the Medoc's Cabernet Sauvignon achieved in this vintage. The wine has tightened up since my tasting in the spring, but it remains an opaque purple-colored example with a smoky, blueberry, blackberry, and cassis-scented nose that is to die for. Medium to full-bodied, with huge extract as well as extraordinary elegance, and a perfect marriage between new oak, fruit, and tannin, this is one of the more structured and tannic Pichon-Lalandes I have ever tasted, yet the wine's triumph is a result of its sweetness of tannin. As I indicated in my earlier review of the wine, an atypically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) was used in the blend, with an abnormally small percentage of Merlot (5%). In most vintages Pichon-Lalande contains 30%-40% Merlot, so the 1996 may be the most Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine made at this estate in memory. A profound success, the 1996 is one of the finest examples made under the regime of Madame de Lencquesaing. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. The 1995/1996 vintages are two of the greatest back to back efforts Pichon-Lalande has ever produced, including the 1982/1983 vintages. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate.
Parker Points: 96
Drinking Period:  -

Tasting Notes:
Tasted 7 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes The 1986 is the most tannic, as well as the largest-framed Pichon-Lalande in over three decades. Whether it will ultimately eclipse the 1982 is doubtful, but it will be longer-lived. Dark ruby/purple, with a tight yet profound bouquet of cedar, blackcurrants, spicy oak, and minerals, this full-bodied, deeply concentrated, exceptionally well-balanced wine is, atypically, too brawny and big to drink young. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 96
Drinking Period: 1994-2015

Tasting Notes:
The 1986 is the most tannic, as well as the largest-framed Pichon-Lalande in over three decades. Whether it will ultimately eclipse the 1982 is doubtful, but it will be longer-lived. Dark ruby/purple, with a tight yet profound bouquet of cedar, blackcurrants, spicy oak, and minerals, this full-bodied, deeply concentrated, exceptionally well-balanced wine is, atypically, too brawny and big to drink young. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 96
Drinking Period: 1994-2015

Tasting Notes:
The 1986 is the most tannic, as well as the largest-framed Pichon-Lalande in over three decades. Whether it will ultimately eclipse the 1982 is doubtful, but it will be longer-lived. Dark ruby/purple, with a tight yet profound bouquet of cedar, blackcurrants, spicy oak, and minerals, this full-bodied, deeply concentrated, exceptionally well-balanced wine is, atypically, too brawny and big to drink young. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 96
Drinking Period: 1994-2015

Tasting Notes:
The 1986 is the most tannic, as well as the largest-framed Pichon-Lalande in over three decades. Whether it will ultimately eclipse the 1982 is doubtful, but it will be longer-lived. Dark ruby/purple, with a tight yet profound bouquet of cedar, blackcurrants, spicy oak, and minerals, this full-bodied, deeply concentrated, exceptionally well-balanced wine is, atypically, too brawny and big to drink young. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 1994-2015
Drinking Period:  -

Tasting Notes:
I have had this wine a half-dozen times over the last eleven months, and have rated it either 98, 99, or 100 on every occasion. It is a fully mature, sumptuous, gloriously perfumed, luxuriously rich Pauillac the likes of which are rarely encountered. The color is a dark plum/ruby with amber at the edge. Spectacular aromatics offer up cedar, smoke, jammy black and red fruits, minerals, licorice, and toast. Unctuously-textured and full-bodied, with low acidity, fabulously sweet, rich fruit, surprising definition for a wine of such lushness and intensity, this is one of the vintage's most compelling and profound efforts. It has been delicious since birth, but absolutely stupendous over the last decade. How much longer can it hold onto its magic? My guess is that it should be consumed over the next 5-7 years. Wine Advocate # 129 Jun 2000
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2000 - 2007

Tasting Notes:
Based on this tasting, the 1970 Pichon-Lalande appears to be losing its fruit and is in decline. The color revealed considerable rust and amber. The wine exhibited some vegetal, tobacco, cedary, blackcurrant scents, but on the palate the sweet fruit in the attack quickly dissipated to reveal acidity, tannin, and alcohol, as well as a tough finish. I have had better examples, but this wine has been fully mature for many years. It may be fading more quickly than I would have thought. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 1992