Chateau Pichon Lalande Vertical Tasting at Wine Watch

The Wines of Bordeaux give tone to the stomach, while leaving the mouth fresh and the head clear. More than one invalid abandoned by the doctors has been seen to drink the good old wine of Bordeaux and return to health.

--Comments by members of the Jury judging Bordeaux wines submitted under the new 1855 classification at the 1855 World's Fair in Paris, as noted in 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification

The secret is out among lovers of great Bordeaux; Chateau Pichon Lalande in the commune of Pauillac in the Medoc is making wines as good as its illustrious neighbors: Chateau Lafite; Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. All through the 1960's and 1970's, there was a groundswell of enthusiasm for the soft, beautiful wines of Pichon Lalande. Although connoisseurs in England have always known that Pichon Lalande was making great wine at ludicrously low prices, it has been only in the past few vintages that Americans began to clamor for their share. Throughout the latter part of the 1970’s and the entire decade of the 1980’s Lalande’s wines improved steadily, with the outstanding 1982 putting this chateau over the top with a (100) point score from the world’s premier authority on wine- Robert Parker Jr. Join us as we taste through 15 vintages of this famous classified growth Bordeaux, chef Michael Saperstein will be preparing a special four course meal to accompany the tasting wines. The fee for this tasting is $325 all-inclusive for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Chateau Pichon Lalande Vertical Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday March 19th 2010
7pm

1940 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

This was considered a very good vintage in Bordeaux but a short crop so these wines are increasingly hard to come by. We have a very good bottle in terms of the condition so I am crossing my fingers on this one.

1959 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

This was a classic vintage from bordeaux with the top wines of this vintage selling for stratospheric prices at auction today. Pichon Comtesse was not considered one of the stars of the vintage so hopefully we will be pleasantly surprised here.

1966 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(88 Points) Now ready to drink, this moderately dark ruby-colored wine has a rich, toasty, peppery, somewhat minty bouquet, and firm, fleshy, tannic flavors. Medium bodied, with good concentration, as well as the austerity that marks the vintage, the 1966 Pichon Lalande should be drunk over the next decade. Anticipated maturity: Now-2000. Last tasted, 3/88.

1970 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(88 Points) 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. Wine Advocate # 105, Jun 1996

1975 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(88 Points) This wine reached full maturity early and has taken on an increasing amount of amber/orange. It exhibits a dusty, herbaceous side as it sits in the glass. Although the wine is beginning to dry out, it is still an excellent claret, with classic, cedary, curranty fruit, combined with herbs and spices. Medium-bodied, with some sweetness on the attack, the wine narrows out and tastes more compressed and compact after it sits in the glass for 5-10 minutes. I would opt for drinking it over the next 5-6 years. For a 1975, Pichon-Lalande is doing a quick fade. Wine Advocate # 103, Feb 1996

1978 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(92 Points) An excellent 1978 (one of the top wines of the vintage), Pichon-Lalande's offering displays an aromatic profile consisting of roasted herbs, chocolate, cedar, tobacco, and ripe curranty fruit. Medium-bodied, with low acidity, some tannin, and a round, attractive personality, this wine has reached its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another decade. Anticipated maturity: Now-2007. Last tasted 6/97

1979 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(90 Points) Undoubtedly a top success for the vintage, Pichon-Lalande's 1979 exhibits a dark garnet color with some amber at the edge. It offers a fragrant, cedary, roasted herb, and cassis-scented nose. Rich, with medium body, well-integrated tannin, and some acidity, this is the quintessentially elegant style of Bordeaux that is found nowhere else in the world. Anticipated maturity: Now-2004. Last tasted 6/97

1982 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(100 Points) One of the monumental wines of the last century is the 1982 Pichon Lalande. Since bottling, it has flirted with perfection, and was a sprinter out of the gate, which gave rise to questions about how quickly it would begin its decline. However, at age 27, it retains all its glossy, rich, flamboyant cassis fruit, chocolaty, berry jam-like notes, and plenty of earthy, foresty flavors. This is a full-bodied, extravagantly rich Pichon Lalande seemingly devoid of acidity and tannin, but the wine is incredibly well-balanced and pure. It is an amazing effort! Release price: ($110.00/case) Wine Advocate # 183, Jun 2009

1983 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(94 Points) A stunning wine, Pichon-Lalande's 1983 has been gorgeous to drink for a number of years. It is one of the finest 1983s, especially for a northern Medoc. The color remains a dark ruby/purple, with slight lightening at the edge. The knock-out nose of roasted herbs, sweet, jammy black currants, and pain grille is followed by a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated and well-proportioned wine with low acidity, plenty of glycerin, and a savory, highly extracted, fleshy mouthfeel. This has always been one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted 6/97 Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition # B1 Jan 1998

1985 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(90 Points) The fully mature 1985 exhibits a deep ruby color, and a ripe, oaky, curranty bouquet with a trace of herbaceousness. This lovely wine is rich, elegant, supple, and not dissimilar from the style of the 1979 and 1981. Anticipated maturity: Now-2002. Last tasted, 6/93 Wine Advocate # 88, Aug 1993

1986 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(96 Points) 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. Anticipated maturity: 1994-2015. Wine Advocate # 95, Oct 1994

1990 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(79 Points) A noteworthy failure in this vintage, the 1990 Pichon Lalande is slightly green, but that’s not its biggest defect. An absence of concentration, a hollow mid-palate, and shallow currant and plum-like fruit go nowhere on the palate. As I indicated from the very beginning - caveat emptor! Release price: ($450.00/case) Wine Advocate # 183, Jun 2009

1991 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(89 Points) Pichon-Lalande's 1991 is among only a handful of 1991s worthy of being the "wine of the vintage." Only 30% of the harvest went into the final wine, resulting in a deeper-colored, richer, more concentrated, and complex wine than the 1990, which was atypically light - even for the elegant Pichon-Lalande style. The 1991, which possesses plenty of tannin, displays an opaque, deep ruby/purple color, and a sweet nose of chocolate, cedar, and ripe, plummy, blackcurrant fruit. Round, medium to full-bodied, and opulent (atypical for a 1991), this wine finishes with considerable length and authority. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. The 1991 Pichon-Lalande is one of the stars of the vintage! Wine Advocate # 91, Feb 1994

1995 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac

(96 Points) What sumptuous pleasures await those who purchase either the 1996 or 1995 Pichon-Lalande. It is hard to choose a favorite, although the 1995 is a smoother, more immediately sexy and accessible wine. It is an exquisite example of Pichon-Lalande with the Merlot component giving the wine a coffee/chocolatey/cherry component to go along with the Cabernet Sauvignon's and Cabernet Franc's complex blackberry/cassis fruit. The wine possesses an opaque black/ruby/purple color, and sexy, flamboyant aromatics of pain grille, black fruits, and cedar. Exquisite on the palate, this full-bodied, layered, multidimensional wine should prove to be one of the vintage's most extraordinary success stories. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. The 1995/1996 vintages are two of the greatest back to back efforts Pichon-Lalande has ever produced, including the 1982/1983 vintages. Wine Advocate # 115, Feb 1998

2000 Chateau Pichon Comtesse Lallande Pauillac

(97 Points) 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. Wine Advocate # 146, Apr 2003

Menu

Assortment of French Cheese

Mixed Green Salad

Terrine of Foie Gras with cranberry toast points

Bordeaux braized Shortrib with root vegetables

Chocolate Truffles

A bit of info about Pichon Comtesse:

The recent phenomenal success of Pichon Lalande can be attributed to a lady named May de Lencquesaign, whose family has owned the estate since 1926. During the 1960's and 1970's it was administered by her brother; in 1978 she assumed control as a result of a family quarrel. When the family's holdings were split, Madame de Lencquesaign took control of Pichon Lalande and moved into the property. She immediately launched a five-year, multi-million dollar capital improvements plan for the chateau. The entire mansion was refurbished, a new underground chai was built for aging the wines, the most modern winemaking equipment was installed, and an ambitious replanting of the vineyards was begun. Bordeaux's superstar consulting enologist, Emile Peynaud, was hired to assist the extremely talented cellarmaster Jean-Jacques Godin. Peynaud has become the single most influential man in modern Bordeaux; he has consulted to and improved the wines of over 100 chateaux. Some say they can easily detect Peynaud's influence in the change of winemaking styles. Peynaud believes in wines of early accessibility and drinkability - wines that do not have to age in dark cellars for twenty years before they emerge from a grudging adolescence and become enjoyable to drink. While some old-school thinking deplores this "Penaudization" of Bordeaux, we applaud it vigorously! For a time the name of the chateau had been shortened so that it would not be confused with that of its less superior sister property, Pichon Longueville Baron. Madame de Lencquesaing - dismayed at the abbreviated name given the estate by her brother - returned the wine to its original namesake: Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.

Pichon Lalande is located in Pauillac, but about a third of its vineyard crosses over into the borders of St. Julien. The estate's 150 acres of vineyards are planted to about 45% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. The fact that its southern exposure lies in St. Julien and that sometimes less than half of the wine can be Cabernet Sauvignon results in a fruitier, more feminine, more supple wine in youth - somewhat akin to Lafite as opposed to the other great Pauillacs like Mouton and Latour, which show more concentration due to the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the cepage. The soil here is a graves dating from the Gunzien period. At the top it is almost pure gravel but deeper down there is more clay. Under this is a soil type called Molasses du Frondasias, a greenish sandstone of the Miocene age and, below that, limestone and marnes de Saint-Estephe (marnes is marl, a clay-limestone mixture).

It is interesting to note that Nazi soldiers occupied the chateau during the Second World War and Madame de Lencquesaign lived in nearby Margaux, where she helped Jews escape the Nazis. After the war, she lived with her husband in the United States (Kansas) for three years and returned there in 1968 and 1970. She and her husband travel to the United States at least once a year to see old friends and promote their wines. Unfortunately she has done too good a job at it; the prices for recent vintages of Pichon Lalande have doubled in price. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is now regarded as one of the world's greatest red wine properties.

Wines Available for Sale:

1983 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac
Price: $250.00 Sale $220
Quantity in Stock: 1

(94 Points) A stunning wine, Pichon-Lalande's 1983 has been gorgeous to drink for a number of years. It is one of the finest 1983s, especially for a northern Medoc. The color remains a dark ruby/purple, with slight lightening at the edge. The knock-out nose of roasted herbs, sweet, jammy black currants, and pain grille is followed by a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated and well-proportioned wine with low acidity, plenty of glycerin, and a savory, highly extracted, fleshy mouthfeel. This has always been one of the stars of the vintage. Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition # B1 Jan 1998

1996 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac
Price: $210.00 Sale $185
Quantity in Stock: 2

(96 Points) The 1996 Pichon-Lalande is just as awesome from bottle as it was from multiple cask tastings. For Pichon-Lalande, the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon is atypically high. This wine normally contains 35-50% Merlot in the blend, but the 1996 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Only 50% of the estate's production made it into the grand vin. The color is a saturated ruby/purple. The nose suggests sweet, nearly overripe Cabernet Sauvignon, with its blueberry/blackberry/cassis scents intermixed with high quality, subtle, toasty new oak. Deep and full-bodied, with fabulous concentration and a sweet, opulent texture, this wine was singing in full harmony when I tasted it in January. Given the wine's abnormally high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, I would suspect it will close down. It possesses plenty of tannin, but the wine's overwhelming fruit richness dominates its personality. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. Wine Advocate # 122, Apr 1999

2000 Chateau Pichon Comtesse Lallande Pauillac
Price: $237.00 Sale $208.56
Quantity in Stock: 2

(97 Points) 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. Wine Advocate # 146, Apr 2003

2003 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac
Price: $138.25 Sale $121.66
Quantity in Stock: 24

(95 Points) The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003 offers gorgeous aromas of blackberries, plum liqueur, sweet cherries, smoke, and melted licorice. Fleshy, full-bodied, and intense, displaying a seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 20 years or more. Wine Advocate # 164, Apr 2006

2004 Chateau Pichon Lalande Comtesse Pauillac Magnum
Price: $266.25 Sale $234.30
Quantity in Stock: 4

(92 Points) The 2004 Pichon Lalande is a strong effort for the vintage (much better than their underwhelming and much more expensive 2005). A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as scents of cocoa, espresso roast, black cherries, and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy, this classic wine cuts a stylistic persona somewhere between the 1995 and 1996. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades. Also tasted: 2004 Reserve de la Comtesse (88; $35.00) Wine Advocate # 171, Jun 2007

2005 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Price: $181.75 Sale $160
Quantity in Stock: 17

Only 50% of the production made it into this blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The Merlot harvest began on September 20, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was brought in in early October. Deep ruby-hued with purple highlights, the lighter-styled 2005 Pichon-Lalande (reminiscent of Pinot Noir) is a racy, elegant, finesse-filled Pauillac without the power, flesh, and substance of previous vintages. Its delicacy and vibrancy have resulted in a singularly styled effort for this impeccably run estate. I would not be surprised to see the 2005 put on more weight after 4-5 years of bottle age; it should keep for two decades. Wine Advocate #164 (Apr 2006)