Neal Ferry

9.1

Apricots she says… sweet and acidic — 9 months ago

with TwiLea

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2021 | Sauvignon Blanc from a large brand, very convincing though 🫶 paired with a schnitzel — 2 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.0

Brioche, Granny Smith apple, oxidative — 3 years ago

Richard Poulin

9.1

Robe typique jaune clair, ce vin charme en premier lieu avec ses beaux arômes d'agrumes, de citron et de pamplemousse rose, avec un soupçon de chèvrefeuille; la macération pelliculaire et le bâtonnage ont n'ont seulement donné à ce vin du volume grâce à une texture légèrement grasse, mais également de la matière et de la longueur; la bouche est donc savoureuse et fraîche sans être trop mordante. Une belle longueur sur l'apricot ou l'amande. — 4 years ago

Oldrich Cabla

9.2

Very nice — 7 years ago

Julia Geisler

9.2

Herby, there’s almost a butteryness to it? Kind of light on the palette. When tasted right after the Vacqueyras it’s a little less exciting. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Pichon Lalande is my favorite 2nd growth with a steak. Yup...it's #SteakandClaret night to quote my buddy Gary Westby. Further, it's certainly one of my favorite producers period. I've waited for this wine to be in the bottle for 10 years before finding out definitely how good it was or wasn't. You see, the 05 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional. It's drinking right now better than 00. 00 may turn out to be better, but not for some time. The real issue was the division of scores between RP & NM. Parker had this as low as an 86 and now has it at 89. Neil Martin has been consistently at 95-96. I found it simply inexplicable that Pichon Lalande could have bombed in such a great vintage. Tonight, I know they didn't. This wine is beautiful. Although, I don't believe it will cellar as long as their some of their very best vintages and many others I've enjoyed. On the nose, bramble, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries, graphite, baking spices, cedar, lightly perfumed violets and dark, fresh & dry red flowers. The body is medium-medium plus, tannins nicely resolved with 10 years to be completely resolved. Fruits of; ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries and pomegranate with a whiff of spice. There's notes of dry bramble, soft leather, fresh violets, graphite, cedar, dry stones, dark rich earth, limestone, tobacco, spice-box, vanilla, very light cinnamon & nutmeg. The finish is very long, elegant, ripe, round, smooth, good acidity and beautifully elegant...50-50 earth & fruit. I bought more bottles of this at $85 after it's was first released in futures and I do not regret it. $85 is proving to be a steal for this wine when it normally sells for between $100-$150 a bottle and higher. Might heavy up further after tonight if I find more around the same price. Oh yes...I'm with NM on the scoring. Photos of the Chateau, estate vines, newer tasting room & the Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. Forgive my long post, but my passion and love for this producer is profound. Producer history and notes...as I wrote in an earlier post for Pichon Baron, Pichon Baron and Lalande started as one entity. The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande was the creation of Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of the top Bordeaux estates today. Pichon Lalande was given its name when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women, Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. His three daughters received Pichon Lalande and his sons Pichon Baron. What happened next was Virginie, the wife of the Count of Lalande took over the management of the estate under the name of Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 she commissioned the popular, architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande, located in Bordeaux. Without heirs, Pichon Lalande passed down from aunts to nieces. Following World War I, the Miailhe brothers, bought Pichon Lalande in 1925. They were the ones who planted even more Merlot. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, the daughter of Edouard Miailhe became the new owner and general manager of Chateau Pichon Lalande in 1978. She expand the size of Chateau Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares to it's current 89 hectares. Chateau Pichon Lalande remained in the same family for more than 250 years! In fact, over three centuries, only two families have owned Pichon Lalande. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing sold Pichon Lalande to the owners of Roederer Champagnein in January 2007. This family-run company is managed by Frederic Rouzaud who owned several other wine estates in Bordeaux; Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau de Pez, Haut Beausejour and Chateau Reaut la Graviere. He sold Chateau Bernadotte in December 2012. In February, 2011, Sylvie Cazes was named the director of Chateau Pichon Lalande. She replaced Gildas d’Ollone. Sylvie Cazes was replaced in 2012 by current Director Nicolas Glumineau, who was previously at Chateau Montrose. In 2012, Pichon Lalande renovated the estate with a budget estimated at over 15 Million Euros. The new facilities included; building of a new underground barrel aging cellar and several new buildings...one that houses their new tasting room as shown. This renovation provided numerous improvements in their wine making. Most importantly, in the vinification. They created a new, triple tiered, cellar where everything moves by gravity. They also added numerous new, stainless steel, temperature controlled, double skinned vats. These new vats allow Pichon Lalande to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis as well as get much softer & gentle extractions. The 89 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Lalande is located adjacent to Chateau Latour and and across the road from Pichon Baron. The terroir of Chateau Pichon Lalande is deep gravel with clay and limestone soil and is planted to; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. — 8 years ago

Jeremy

9.2

Lovely wine, although not as refined as the Cab Sauv. Improved markedly a day after opening. Great value. — 10 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Very enjoyable with some nice jammy dark red fruit & spice. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Nice Ruby color with an array of fruit, floral and spice aromas. On the palate cherry, currant and raspberry flavors with some fresh cinnamon and smoky oak notes. Vibrant acidity, elegant fine tannins, well balanced just starting to wake up, long finish ending with slight earthy mineral notes, plenty of depth, will continue to develop. Nice! — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Wow. Awesome.

Almost some sweet yeast thing on the nose. Not actually sweet.

Palate has great fruit. Very ripe for champagne. Not overripe but rich. Excellent deliciousness

Long delicious finish.

Bought from fass selections. — 5 years ago

Joseph Elliott

9.0

Nice fine red wine, fairly dry and robust. Good with charcuterie. — 7 years ago

John T

9.0

Kathy likes this rose — 7 years ago

Chris Haywood

10

Spicy Syrah nose. Rose petals and pepper front and gentle tannins. Seriously good. 2014. — 8 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2009 | beautiful smell with raspberries, awesome balance — a year ago

Pong Anderson

9.3

Delicious with bright fruity flavors without the sour. — 3 years ago

Matt

9.0

Pure and ripe fruit, salt, kelp, nice lees component, ripeness is there but the acids are holding it all together. — 4 years ago

Stewart Gross

8.9

Very pleasant and yummy 2018 — 4 years ago

John Van Trijp

10

Bottle 283/690. Unbelievable big masterpiece! Woow! Very impressed. Perfect score for a St. Aubin? Well what the heck ❤️ — 5 years ago

Byron Hewett

8.9

Solid. Needs another 3+ years. — 7 years ago