February 9, 2024 - Chalk it up to bottle variation perhaps, but as a friend says at this age it really is equally important the bottle is stored and what is in the bottle itself. This bottle was fairly heavily tertiary at this point and not a whole lot of fruit - this didn't feel corked but it took a lot of searching for the fruit.
July 21, 2023 - We’re having this side-by-side with the ‘86. And while this might be surprising, the ‘79 is really drinking well tonight. Earthy red & black fruit on the nose, really expansive on the palate, and hard to conceive that this could be any better.
June 21, 2023 - At forty years, it was time to open this bottle and we weren't sure what to expect. The label, fill level and foil and most importantly the cork were all in amazing condition, looking more like they were half their age. Impressive, even more so considering this was 375ml.
This showed minimal signs of diminution from age with decent color, bouquet and fruit flavors - ruby/garnet colored, medium bodied, amazing resilience with its flavors and bouquet of black cherry fruits, notes of cassis, and some vanillin, oaky scents.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2023/06/pour-boys-impromptu-wine-dinner-on-deck.html
June 5, 2022 - Vinetasters: This and That (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. I liked this much less than another recent bottle of this (though they were from the same lot). This had a bit of a pruney/balsamic nose, but does taste much better than it smells. Some plummy notes, with the fruit still surprisingly dominant after all these years. Fully resolved; at this point, it's really just a question of bottle variation.
February 21, 2022 - This was disappointing, really not a lot to remember.
December 5, 2021 - Vinetasters: Brown Bag (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Again clearly old Bordeaux. The nose shows lots of leathery characteristics, but with the dark plummy fruit still showing some residual signs of primary qualities, I guessed that this was a decade younger than it was. This was definitely more acid driven and had a coolness which seemed to indicate this wasn't a very ripe vintage.
February 1, 2020 - Was a 1978 not 79
August 5, 2019 - in a blind sample this wine was presented. it shows up fast the classical bordeaux nose. also the left bank comes classically. one hardly notices the age. however i sorted the wine somewhat under Cos, because the expressiveness was missing something.
i was betting on a simpler St.Julien/St.Estephe, but 20 years younger.
So much the greater the pleasure of the second glass after the dissolution.
From my point of view now ready to drink!
November 22, 2018 - A big, delightful surprise!
Original buyer and always carefully stored. Opened on Thanksgiving with a '79 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Wine level was at top of the shoulder. Cork was brittle but secure. Decanted and allowed to breathe for about 30 minutes. Initial nose was musty and vegetal but it quickly developed into fruit and leather. In the glass: narrow brown ring at the rim then good claret color. This wine is still big and powerful. Like a much younger wine. Lots of fruit, muted tannins that lend a smooth and more sophisticated finish than other vintage St. Estephe's I've had. A truly outstanding bottle that time has favored. Delicious and unforgettable! We drank it over about an hour and a half and it kept developing. We all preferred it to the '79 Pichon which was another big surprise.
June 1, 2017 - Double decanted. Very happy nose though took an hour to open. Palate a bit muted. Very enjoyable though for my vintage year