March 3, 2024 - As a member of upper society, I have had the privilege of tasting some of the finest wines the world has to offer, but none have ever left as indelible a mark upon my soul as the 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. It is a wine that transcends mere taste, elevating the act of drinking into a sublime experience that touches the very essence of what it means to be alive.
I am grateful for grandfather's old cellar, where back in 78 with his small pocket knife and trembling hands he etched into the case of Pichon the inscription: “Open 2024”. How could he know?
As I delve into the sensory journey of the 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, I am immediately greeted by a symphony of aromas that evoke memories of a bygone era. The Bee Gees were screaming “Night Fever” and “Stayin' Alive' ' and Travolta was tapping Olivia Newton John.
Put your nose in the glass…..ahhhhh the first inhalation reveals an enchanting bouquet of blackcurrant, intertwining with subtle hints of cedar and tobacco. Each scent is layered with complexity, inviting me to dive deeper into its depths.
Good lord the cigar takes it to a new level..yes lads the 1978 vintage of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and dedication of its creators. From the moment it graces the glass with its deep, ruby hue, to the last lingering notes that linger on the tongue like a lover's caress, every aspect of this wine speaks of elegance and refinement.
Upon taking my first sip, the wine caresses my palate with a velvety texture that speaks of age and refinement. The taste of ripe blackcurrants dances gracefully across my tongue, accompanied by nuances of dark chocolate and leather. There is a sense of harmony in every sip, as if each element has been meticulously balanced to perfection.
But it is in the finish that the true magic of this vintage reveals itself. As the flavors linger on the palate, they gradually fade away, leaving behind a long, lingering aftertaste that is both satisfying and contemplative. It is a testament to the wine's pedigree and craftsmanship, a final flourish that lingers in the mind long after the glass is empty.
As I uncorked this legendary vintage, the air itself seemed to shimmer with anticipation, echoing the echoes of a night long past, yet forever etched in the tapestry of my memory.
Picture, if you will, a moonlit evening in 1994, where the stars danced above like diamonds strewn across velvet. It was a night that fate herself had ordained, where a chance encounter with a waitress at Venta Restaurante La Butibamba would ignite a flame that would burn eternally in my heart. Her name was Elena, a vision of grace and beauty whose presence enraptured my soul from the moment our eyes met across the crowded room. We spoke through mutterings from across the dining room, smiles, passings, and a stolen kiss by the bathroom before a word was spoken.
As the sommelier presented the bottle of 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande tonight at Seastar in Bellevue, I couldn't help but be transported back to that fateful night on the beach, where Elena and I shared two bottles of this epic wine, but our deepest hopes, dreams, and desires. The wine flowed like liquid poetry, each sip a symphony of flavors that danced upon my palate, whispering of love and longing, of passion and desire.
As I savored each sip, I couldn't help but be reminded of Elena's lips, their softness yielding to the firmness of the wine's embrace. It was as if each taste carried with it a fragment of that unforgettable night, and that’s what wine is to me….a place where time stands still and the world fades away. Wine is memories and this bottle left only the two of us and the endless expanse of the ocean stretching out before us.
The 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is more than just a wine; it is a symbol of luxury and opulence, a testament to a life lived with gusto and passion. From its complex bouquet of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, to its velvety texture and long, lingering finish, this wine is a masterpiece of oenological artistry, deserving of its place among the pantheon of greats.
For those who, like myself, are hopeless romantics at heart, the 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a wine that speaks to the deepest chambers of the soul, stirring emotions long thought dormant and igniting a passion that burns brighter than the sun itself. It is a wine that reminds us that love is not just an emotion, but a force of nature, capable of shaping our lives in ways we never thought possible. It’s deep and it hits you hard like an Eagle, but with the butteryness of a Special Selection.
As I raise my glass to toast the memory of that unforgettable night with the Spanish waitress Elena, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of this extraordinary wine. For each sip, I am reminded not just of a love lost, but of a love cherished, and though for just one night; a love that will forever live on in the depths of my heart, like a fine wine aging gracefully with each passing year.
Cheers to the 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, a wine truly worthy of its legendary status and my Spanish sand maiden.
NOTE TO SELF: POP AND POUR LITERALLY OPENED UP OVER AN HOUR EVEN MORE THEN QUICK FADE.
February 3, 2024 - From magnum. This was so surprisingly good. Dark fruit, earth, green pepper on the nose. So soft and sweet on the palate. It actually competed with the 1982, which was a perfect bottle, we had next to it.
October 7, 2023 - Drinking very well and only improving with time and air in the glass. It is interesting to see the style with this because there is just that hint of elegance that they seem to be going for (funny because it’s right next door to Latour). Still it works very well in this wine. Drinking nicely. A lovely evening with friends.
June 2, 2023 - Third time of tasting, this is proving to be a little unpredictable. This was not up to last bottle, but still an enjoyable mature Bordeaux. Taste profile is as per last note.
May 7, 2023 - Second bottle of 4 recently purchased, the first a month ago showed over age and was carrying a slight taint. This was completely different and was superb. It still benefits from a couple of hours in the decanter to blow off the barnyard funk. Once it does, it a classic old school mature Bordeaux, fully integrated with secondary and tertiary characteristics.
April 16, 2023 - This bottle was definitely in the latter stages of its drinking window, but perversely still needed time in the decanter to blow off barnyard funk. I also think that it was carrying a slight taint rather than over age. As you would expect, this is fully developed with secondary and tertiary notes, and is a good mature Bordeaux with excellent depth and balance. I have another 3 bottles, and will be interested how they fair as it is inevitable that bottle variation plays a part in a wine this age. I reiterate the need to allow a couple of hours in the decanter as it started to settle during the evening, but could not unfortunately lose the slight taint.
February 11, 2023 - good lower neck level, cork broke, minor bricking but still very good for age, lovely nose, classic Pichon Lalande, really classy and fine, softer than peers perhaps reflecting the higher Merlot content, perfect for ‘78 which can sometimes tend to hardness, cedar, restrained floral perfume, still very good fruit, perfect aged tertiary Bordeaux on the palate, elegant, fruit perhaps fading in this bottle but still with great flavour and structure, perfect balance and great length, lovely wine but at this stage for those appreciating the attractions of age rather than youth
January 21, 2023 - The 50 Big Bash (Harry's NYC): There were a few bottles of this floating around. One that was sadly corked, but a 5L provided by the hosts of the party that was just awesome. Fresh and pretty and herbal and floral and very well pulled together. Elegant and excellent wine.
December 10, 2022 - Pleasant, correct, but no real spark. No fruit left, and nothing really to distinguish it.
September 17, 2022 - Mildly corked, but enough to make it impossible to enjoy.