Ross Vick

9.5

Post Lent Wine Adventure (after 46 days of sobriety!) lovely with oysters and grilled seafood...a new house white?! Yep. — 8 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

B

10

1985 Lopez de Heredia Temperanillo Rioja. Post Doc fam dinner at house. Much bigger than the 1978 Vina Real. Decanted this for a while before serving. Much more fruit, a lot of earthy funkiness, and body. Deeper, richer color. Really enjoyed! — 9 years ago

Karen Allison

9.0

Nice hearty Syrah, very cherry. Maybe you didn't buy this after all Barb . . . but you got one now. Steak dinner at your house! 😊🍷 — 10 years ago

Alexander Sanchez

9.2

Red fruits, raspberries, earthy. More alcohol, no acidity. — 10 years ago

Joshua Fisher

8.9

Drank the 09half bottle at the old Ebbitt bar with a house made walnut and cream ravioli . The dryness and mineral potency of the medoc alongside the pre pope visit crowd, under boars heads and dead turtle carcasses in lamppost light at 11 pm is like feeling the serpent coil up your leg whispering the unknown secret while your mouth chews the red fruit of old lands greedily without a care except that you should post your thoughts on delectable. — 10 years ago

Seth Truman

9.2

This is a Jenn Truman post: The real estate industry drove us to uncork this wine at 5pm sharp. Cheers to NOT dealing with dip shits the rest of the evening!!!! Good house wine for $20!!! — 12 years ago

TJ Girsch

9.0

Complex but light and easy to drink. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.3

After my first sip, my words were “I wish I had more of this.” Holy smokes. This is hands down one of the best rosés I’ve had out of Cali (alongside the Arnyca rosé). The acidity is so sharp out of the bottle. Love that! So many rosés are flabby and creamy. Kiwi and strawberry in the nose. Watermelon, cantaloupe, and plum skin on the finish. This is the epitome of refreshing rosé. I need to give credit to @Shawn R for gifting me this bottle from when we were together at his house a few months ago. Loved it, brother! Perfect by the fire pit. 👌 — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is still very good but was likely peaking 2-3 years ago. It's still drinking nicely...just better a couple years back. On the nose, stewed, candied fruits with a shade of tartiness. Blackberries, plum, dark cherries, cherries, extracted pomegranate, cranberries, raspberries, whispers of baking spices, dry limestone earth, dark volcanic minerals and decayed dark florals. The medium body is waning. Tannins completely resolved. The fruits match the nose with a touch of pruniness but still show nicely. There's more dark spices on the palate than the nose. Light baking spices with vanilla leading the way, gritty dark minerals, rich black earth, decayed dark florals & nice round acidity that rains on the palate. The finish is soft, ripe, round and elegant with spices that give a light sting on the long finish. Photos of; one of the Kistler vineyards, the Trenton Road House, the front entrance and estate patio. If you own the 01 Sonoma, it's time to drink up. — 9 years ago

boyd

9.1

Definitely on the road to fully oxidized, but alive enough to still be a very enjoyable bottle to drink. Soft almost pillowy texture with lemon and caramel. Smell was a dead ringer for grandmas house and Werther's Originals. — 9 years ago

Stacy Cloutier

9.1

Steel aged Chardonnay, no oak flavor — 9 years ago

B

10

Magnum 2005 Jumilla El Nido CS. Post Doc fam dinner at house. Biggest of the three wines ('78 Vina Real & '85 Lopez de Heredia). Eyes closed, we all thought this would have been a Cal CS. Big jammy fruit, structured tannins, oak, vanilla, and spice. This seemed to be the crowd favorite. Lovely! — 9 years ago

Janet Ross

9.3

Had a white wine drinker at the house this evening, I'd forgotten how good and refreshing this was. So crisp and light. Great to sip on a hot summer day in Texas 😊👍 — 10 years ago

Scott Fausel

8.9

Enjoyed during anniversary weekend post-dinner. A lively blend of Sangiovese, Malbec, Petit Sirah, & Cab. Genuinely love this house blend of quality juice. — 10 years ago

Gina Zihlman Ramos

9.5

Sherwood house Oregan Road Red Blend. Very good with flavored of cab franc standing out. — 10 years ago

Chris Danner

9.3

slutty house red! great post panther victory. — 11 years ago

with Greg and Cortney

Melissa Tullo

9.7

A white merlot? What's not to like! Really smooth finish — 13 years ago

Jérôme

8.9

Janvier 2018 - Agréablement surpris par ce vin. Jeune et déjà puissant et plein d'arômes. — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

I completely forgot to post this. My brother from another mother Kirk Alexander uncorked these 2 Absolutely Phenomenal 100 point beauties for us to enjoy just because I came over!!!!!! ! Damn., I’ve got to go to his house more often!!!!!! All kidding aside., we were celebrating Veronica’s (his beautiful wife) birthday and what a truly special Evening.it was. There’s nothing better than uncorking a special bottle with friends that have become like family.
We love you Veronica!!! And put up with Kirk just because of you🤣😜🤣
— 8 years ago

with Dov and Christine

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Nice color, amazing aromas of cherries, cigar box, mild eucalyptus... very aremoairc. A nod to Sideways. Have to visit the steak house now. — 8 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

8.9

Young yet, and still showing more of D&G house style than its own idiosyncrasies. Tasty, but should prove more interesting down the road. — 9 years ago

Nathan Adams

Consulting Wine/Beverage Director, Snake River Brewing, Persephone, King Sudachi

9.2

Right at home by the fire in the old beach house. — 9 years ago

with Claire

Meagan Hahn

9.6

Beautiful tropical notes; incredibly smooth and pairs well with salad, chicken, seafood, and red sauces. Our favorite sauvignon blanc to keep in the house for dinner. — 9 years ago

B

10

1978 Vina Real Rioja. Post doc fam dinner at house. Poured out of decanter, though we didn't let it air for too long. Still a lot of life in it at first pour and delicious- light and still some fruit, but got flat after about an hour. A real treat while we drank it though — 9 years ago

Caryl K

9.0

Decent house wine. — 10 years ago

with Malena

Gregory Hibbin

9.7

Most delicious, dinner at TK's house post camping — 10 years ago

Jane Carver

8.9

Really good and smooth, well-balanced for the "house" happy hour wine being served in Gig Harbor Hub where U.S. open private planes land. — 11 years ago

David Quammen

9.7

01/06/14, Salt Lake City, Kris's house - Luke Patterson's Birthday — 12 years ago

Bill Ryan

9.5

Very good — 12 years ago