Pichon Lalande Vertical Retirement Party

Atlanta, GA
Tasted Sunday, May 26, 2024 by Francophile1 with 37 views

Introduction

Hosted a fun retirement party from one of our friends in the wine group who was officially 'retiring' from the group. No better way to celebrate than with a vertical of great Bordeaux along with other great wines throughout the evening.

Flight 1 - Starter Champagne Wines (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - Pichon Lalande Vertical (10 Notes)

We started with the youngest and went to the oldest vintage.

  • 1998 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    The 1998 surprised us all at how good it is drinking right now. It is beautiful at this stage with some green tobacco, cedar, black fruit, and spice.

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  • 1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Greater fruit concentration than the 1998. Incredible nose of black fruits, cassis, tobacco, a very long finish. As the evening went on, this wine began to shine as bright as a star. While it was beat out by the '82, not by much.

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  • 1995 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Almost new world in style in contrast to the 1996. Touch of caramel, primary, some sweetness on the finish. While it is a good wine, it is worst 1995 that I've ever had from Pichon Lalande. Could this have been counterfeit? Who would go through the trouble for $250?

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  • 1990 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    It was great to taste this side by side with the 1989. Initially, both were similar in style but then once they sat in the glass the 1989 emerged as the clear front runner. The 1990 is more muscular, fat and almost flabby with a slightly prickly finish.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Next to the 1990, this was a more feminine & classic expression of Pichon Lalande. Incredibly well balanced and a long finish. While I far prefer the 1990 vintage stylistically overall to the 1989 vintage in the Left Bank, I far prefer the 1989 PLC to the 1990.

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  • 1988 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    This is fully mature and absolutely beautiful despite it being from a weaker vintage. Wow!

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  • 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Initially, I thought it was just the rustic style of the 1986 vintage, but as it sat in the glass, it was clear this was corked. Bummer!

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  • 1985 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Deep black fruit, tannin is fully resolved, rocking nose and finish. Drinking in a perfect spot now. This was my third favorite of the night only behind the '82 and '96. Loved it so much, I went online the next day and bought more.

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  • 1983 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Touch of funk on the nose, feminine & elegant. Some thought it was slightly corked, but I disagree. This is just a fully mature Pauillac wine showing its age.

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  • 1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    10 Year Vertical Tasting of Pichon Lalande ('98, '96, '95, '90, '89, '88, '86, '85, '83, '82)
    Absolute perfection. Probably the second best version of this wine that I've tasted lifetime. It was much better than the bottle I brought to the Super Bowl event earlier this year. Having tasting all of the giants from 1982, the '82 PL stands at the top of the list. I do think '82 Latour will eventually surpass it if it will ever mature. Hopefully in my lifetime.

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Flight 3 - Palate lifter and intermezzo (2 Notes)

I highly recommend mixing in something white with acid or bubbles to awaken one's palate before diving into the reds again.

Flight 4 - Closing ceremony (6 Notes)

Mixed bag of goodies!

  • 2006 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    After 10 vintages of Pichon Lalande, this came at the perfect time in the line-up. This is drinking in a fantastic spot now. Mature Cornas from a producer like Allemand puts a big smile on my face.

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  • 2011 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind. Every time I have this wine, I think it is a great Barolo. This makes a great ringer for a blind mondo Nebbiolo tasting.

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  • 2010 Marchand & Tawse / Pascal Marchand Clos Vougeot

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

    I like this producer. This is a well built and structured Clos Vougeot that needs time to integrate and mellow out. I'd hold for 5 more years to let this shed its baby fat.

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  • 2013 Domaine Bruno Clair Bonnes Mares

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    Back to back next to the Marchand Clos Vougeot. Both are still young and beastly, but I still loved them both. Give this one more time to integrate and shed its baby fat.

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  • 2010 Domaine Denis Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

    Similar to my tasting note on this wine from 12/31/23. Three Burgundies back to back in this line-up. I actually preferred this village Bachelet to the two grand crus that preceded it. Nevertheless, this was too young and needs more time to mellow out.

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  • 1983 Château Latour Grand Vin

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    The end of the evening pop and pour. So good! While the 1982 Latour is the better wine, the 1983 is a fraction of the cost and drinking great now. It is a more enjoyable vintage at this stage of its maturity. Delicious! Glad I have two more bottles in the cellar.

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Closing

Great night. The standout vintages for the Pichon Lalande were '82, '85, '89, '96, and surprisingly '98. All were lovely, except for the '86, which was corked.

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