Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 4 months ago

Douglas Braun

9.0

2017 Vintage - from 3 vineyards in sta. Rita ( fiddle sticks , Sanford & Bendict ,Rio Vista ) real nice earthy , sassafras , cherry fruit , leather, toasty oak background - beautiful setting — 4 years ago

Michi Z

9.7

Love this wine! Not too sweet. — 6 years ago

Dave Chambers

9.2

Some Pinot to go with cheese and crackers? Yes please! — 7 years ago

with Heather

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2009 vintage. Uncommon Syrah (65 %) - Cabernet Franc (35 %) blend. Single vineyard Sugarloaf Mountain — 8 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.7

2015 Vintage. 14.7% ABV. Wow wine for sure. Thomas Rivers Brown -excellent job! — 4 months ago

S.Carey

9.5

Top of this line, though big at 14.1%. Still, well balanced and so amazingly characteristic — 6 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Tighter than a Nun’s… Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry, cranberry and oak. A little high alcohol concentration at first. Needs to open up a bit. Tasty red fruit with a oaky finish. — 3 years ago

Kim Porpora

9.0

This is from Paso Robles — 5 years ago

Ashish Upadhyay

9.2

Awesome Cab — 5 years ago

with Shruti

Cecil Ramirez

9.2

2013 vintage. Vibrant ruby color, med bodied, soft mouthfeel & tannins. Bright cherry, cola, plum, strawberry, vanilla notes. Nice lasting finish. — 6 years ago

Keith Fisher

9.4

This vintage is showing better as time passes. Could this end up aging better than 2002 which was more highly acclaimed? I liked this a little better than the last 2002 that I had. — 8 years ago

Rick Phillips

9.5

Great way to end 5 days at the Cayman Cookout 2026 at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. Wonderful Food experience with some awesome Chefs and some spectacular Wines! — 4 months ago

with Sherre and Letha

Ana Bumgardner

8.9

2018 vintage on 10/19/25 with homemade bake rigatoni. Nice cab that went well with the red sauce. — 7 months ago

Chrissy O'Hara

9.2

Really changes once aired out. Tart on the front end peppery on the back end. It’s like a chameleon, always a lizard — 4 years ago

Simon lemmens

9.2

Zwarte bessen, stevige body, klein zoetje in afdronk. Heerlijk met stoofvlees. — 5 years ago

Sean Sims

8.9

Wow, jam, dark stone fruit. Deep purple rim. A pleasure to drink as I grill — 6 years ago

Jordi Farre

9.0

Una de les meves IPAs preferides, millor en llauna que en ampolla. Fantàstica a tota hora! — 6 years ago

Ran Ilkovitch

9.2

Superb to end ASBO with great wine and greater friends — 7 years ago

Robert Torretti

9.0

What a gem! Opened and decanted into a bottle with a narrow opening to keep from aerating too quickly. Nose had tobacco, leather and earth. Palate had all that and a little mint, anise and herbs. Beautiful red color, clean and clear. Enjoyed with the tail-end of an uni pasta special, and with shared lamb (with fresh mint, morels, and asparagus) and with roast suckling pig. Evolved during the course of two hours or so. — 8 years ago