Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Fresh bottle, just opened. Pop & pour.

I have 09 & 10 of this second wine of Pichon Longueville. I just haven’t considering opening one yet.

As 2010 is a big vintage, I choice to pair this with the cheeseboard but writing notes before digging in. Something to soften the tannins of what I consider to be a brawny vintage that needs time. Cheese pairing is often chosen to pair with young, big reds as it coats the palate and softens the impact of big, brawny tannins.

This is quite nice, showing the quality of the vintage, yet being a second wine, you can open one now for what otherwise is a long age vintage for first wines.

The nose is somewhat expressive & inviting. Dark core of black currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, black cherries, some poached strawberries, hues of purple & blue fruits, anise, charcoal notes, anise, understated black licorice, French roast coffee beans, dark toast, steeped black tea, candied to withering dark flowers with candied violets.

The palate is clean with strangely not a ton of astringency. M+ dry, powdery tannins Ripe & juicy; black currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, black cherries, some poached strawberries, raspberry overtones and hues of purple & blue fruits. Anise, charcoal notes, sweet tarriness, anise, understated black licorice, French espresso roast, dark toast, steeped black tea, oak barrel shavings & powder, dry twigs/leaves, leather, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry herbs, dark earth, dry top soil, nice dark spice, caramel, dark & milk chocolate, mocha powder, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dry stone, withering dark flowers, red roses with slightly candied violets, excellent acidity, it’s balanced but will be better balanced w/ age, structure & tension show the brawn of the vintage, it’s getting to an elegant and polished finish that lasts two-minutes and falls on dry earth, oak and spice.

Showed some tiny, velvety sediment at finish.

This drinks now but I would wait another 3-5 yrs to open and will age nicely for another 10-15 yrs.

Definitely worth picking up if you find Pichon Longueville outside your price point. 92-93. Rounding up today from 91.6.

Cheeseboard is bourique cheeses, served with crackers and accompaniments including grapes, churney, honey, dried fruits and nuts

@EK225 — 3 days ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

2014. Baked apple, baking spice, caramel, subtle toast, tiny bit of an oxidation (nuts), nice acid. — a year ago

Seth Masterson

9.0

Haven't tried a wine from Lebanon in a while. Wonderful aroma of dark red and black fruits. Tobacco. Cedar. Sour plum. Pretty cool 😎.
This 2020 is aging pretty well. Could go longer but drinking well now, a bit unctuous. Thick. Not a super structured or complex palette but it holds it's own with any Mediterranean lamb dish that you would pair it with. Very similar to Napa cabs but with a bit less finesse but with more interesting aromatics. — 21 days ago

Stuart Pollack

9.4

Earthy $90 Pinot Noir with a well-balanced berry flavor to start. Restrained and reserved in style but worth buying and drinking. Good with steak or fish. — 4 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

So smooth with pear, apricot, oak, lemon, and soft white florals. Good acidity but not sharp, it holds up well to food but is complex enough to enjoy on its own. — 7 months ago

Daniel Sullivan

9.3

Light ruby color.
Clean red fruit nose.
Lean and astringent. Whole cluster?
Well made. — 3 years ago

Ashraf Attal

9.1

With an amazing company — 23 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Light ruby color with a dark core. Aromas of dried black cherries, caramel, cedar and dry soil. Bold flavors of ripe red cherries, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate and tobacco. Hint of dried rose petals on the long and persistent finish. Very soft tannins and wonderful balance. Extremely expressive. Thanks for sharing this one, Keith S! — 2 months ago

Adam Baker

9.2

Drank with Mediterranean buffet at Citizens House for Board Dinner. Very good with and without food. — 5 months ago

with Brud

John Hagood

9.0

At Albi 1010/2024 — a year ago