Keith Crump

9.2

2010 a little taunt on opening acidity and citrus but managed to loosen — 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. — 9 years ago

Ryan Brazell

Rise Over Run

9.5

I don't think I've had an example of this wine vinified by Virginie until now. In my humble opinion, quality is WAY UP now. Too many pre-2006 examples were mealy, oxidized and awkwardly alcoholic. I'm glad to see one of the world's most enviable vineyard sites skew toward quality rather than simply bio-d dogma (again -- humbly opining). — 10 years ago

Jim Westby

9.2

Concentrated and taunt, but still giving enough to be fully satisfying. Love the 2010 Chiantis! — 11 years ago

with Cleora and Gary

Ryan Mullins

9.7

In such a fantastic spot with decades ahead. Taunt and wide. A remarkable wine — 8 years ago

Annie Hil

9.3

We loved this one. Find and buy again. — 9 years ago

Justin McGlothin

9.2

Paired with ground turkey and vegetables. Wine was great but didn't pair well. — 9 years ago

Shawn R

9.2

Out of a mag. Taunt acidity went well with charcuterie board. — 9 years ago

with Vinod

Fraser Mackenzie

8.9

Taunt. Plum through light casis. Crisp acidity belies its age. Courtesy of Le Clos, DXB — 10 years ago

Rush & Wine Nut

9.0

Just the right amount of funk. Barnyard, pepper, earth on the nose. Subdued black fruit and spice on the palate. Taunt tannins — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 09 still needs another 5 years to be all it can be. Even after an hour decant, it was better but it still needs time to resolve. The fruits are; blueberries, baked blackberry pie, black plum. There's some black licorice, a slight tar quality, dry crushed minerals and baking spices. The tannins are taunt and dry on the finish. — 10 years ago

Sam O'Brien

9.0

Taunt and well structured white burgundy. Slight use of oak. Tight on the finish with slight mineral touch. — 11 years ago

Katherine Bordelon

Court of Master Sommelier Guild member

9.3

This playful little number showed off all her beauty underscored by a subtle viognier blended in. Balanced, layered, light with a taunt of cherries and spice. — 8 years ago

with Edmond

Shawn R

9.3

A little Zin and smoked pork tenderloin, what could be bad! Right off the glass I get this big jammy grape nose as in Welches grape jam. Succulent and sweet. Front of the palate reveals molasses and smoke. Dry tannins as in completely dry. Asian spice, touch of bay leaf and cinnamon. Finish is taunt and strong which brings the wine to the finish. Well done. — 9 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.4

First night pretty and taunt. After 24 hours showing incredible depth and intensity. Would love to have a case to celebrate when Cory Booker is elected President. — 10 years ago

ed porter

8.9

Virginie Pillet — 10 years ago

Chris Durall

9.1

Celebrating 5 years with my sweetie!!! — 10 years ago

David Lincoln

9.0

Flowers, grass, melon, clean. — 10 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.2

House pour for Thanksgiving. A taunt pleaser — 10 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.2

Taunt and nervy — 11 years ago