Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Sarah Stierch

Food & Wine Editor Sonoma Valley Sun

9.6

Best rose of the year — 9 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

"I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon"... I can see why Nicolas Alexandre Marquis de Segur said these iconic words after having this wine in my glass. The nose is so inviting with warm spice, cigar smoke, embers, and toast. Raspberry syrup, plums, vanilla, and toffee on the palate. Nice thread of smoke throughout with nice balancing fresh fruit. What an enjoyable wine! 20 months in new oak - obviously the more accessible style the new owners are going for... the Pinot the other night gave an experience, this one tells a story. — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Ali Story, of Smith-Story Wines, was in town and did a nice tasting at Classic today. A pleasure to meet and very unique and enjoyable wines.

This is an elegant style Pinot...lots of brambly notes, kirsch, and cedar bark. All red and black fruits here. Ali said that the barrels this pinot is done in comes from Russell Bevan. Quite the opposite style! — 8 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.6

This afternoon I had the pleasure of dinning with a 2009 Chateau Haut-Bailly. Made up of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and I can see why 09' is the vintage it is with great fineness.

There are beautiful aromas of dark fruit, black cherry, black plum, blackberry, black currant, mocha, wet soil, and minerals.

The first sip shows its elegance right away that is velvety smooth and great depth. Beautiful dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, fig, plums, black currant, graphite, and violets.

This is a full bodied wine with medium + acidity, medium+ gripping tannins with a long pleasing finish. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🖒 — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Located in the communes of Macau and Ludon, Chateau Cantemerle, designated a great growth in the famous 1855 classification, has deep fine gravel soil. A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Black fruit aromas with spicy notes. On the palate dark berry flavors, a touch of pepper on smooth fine tannins. Long finish, well structured on a fresh ending. Needs decanting or a few more years in the cellar. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago

Young Bock Lee

9.4

deep, dense perfume of violet, lavender. dried cherries, hint of muddy soil. balanced among fruitness, acidity(med plus), structure. med plus tannin. lovely! — 10 years ago

Oscar Rosales

8.9

Complex red, bold, semi dry, lots of flavor, strong red! — 8 years ago

with Celia

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose, sweet dark currants. Ripe & rich blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries & poached strawberries. Fair amount of baking spices, anise, black raspberry cola, black tea, violets and fresh dark florals. The palate is lush, beautiful & fresh. The fruits perfectly ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries & poached strawberries. Really delicious! Black raspberry cola, anise, moist rich turned earth, sweetened black tea, a touch of dark crushed rocks, some, sry top soil, a note of bay leaf, fresh tobacco leaf, very little graphite, nice round acidity and a long, slightly dry tannin fruit finish that last over a minute. It's very good now but patience will be rewarded waiting five more years to open. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.5

Another level... Still dense at the core, with steady, attractive bricking: Wonderfully dense nose of blackcurrents, pencil shavings, fine tanned leather, and a hint of woodland floor (fine moss, leaves, and fresh soil after an autumn shower). Velvety tannins and great acidity. Along with the '66 this is one of my all-time favourite Bordeaux vintages. Seems to be keeping up better than the '61s I've had over the last few years!

We drank half of it from the coravin before waxing the top in case the cork had lost too much elasticity to self-seal. I'll have the rest with my brother in a few weeks' time! — 9 years ago