As good a bottle as I’ve had of this wine and it was showing everything you’d ever want in a great Pauillac with age. Black fruits, graphite minerals and a gorgeous silky texture which leads to a refined, complex finish with notes of grilled nuts and smoked earth. One cannot under-estimate the greatness of Pauillac and this is a classic example in every way. 96-7
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Savoury with a tremendous expression of cassis fruit sprinkled with spice and taking on notes of cedar and lead pencils. So fresh and elegant, yet precise and concentrated, with lift and complexity, finishing strongly. The epitome of a great claret and utterly superb. Life doesn’t get much better when sipping this! CHP 97 pts
Fantastic nose of cedar, tobacco, bright red fruit, and minerals. Amazing texture; evoked with great acidity and lift. Smooth medium finish. Awesome still
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Happy Easter 🐣🐰🐇 wines continue and a very Happy Bordeaux Sunday Dear Friends!
I was hoping this could finally crack the 💯 but while it is an absolute stunner, the finish isn’t long enough for it in my eyes. Prior tasting notes are spot on.
Brought to dinner last night at Lazy Betty’s—no liquor license yet in their new location means no corkage fee! Hooray!! We brought the ‘14 Larkmead and a ‘96 Comtesse Pichon Lalonde. Turned out to be a great match with our multicourse meal. Double decanted at home and then put into a decanter as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. A fair amount of sediment in the Comtesse so glad I had decanted it myself.
This wine was perfect, especially with the duck course. Everything you would expect from a Pauillac drinking at prime. Nose was probably better than the palate, with intense tertiary aromas of tobacco, leather and plums. On the palate plenty of compexity, blackberries, dark cherries, cassis. Nicely balanced. This will continue to evolve nucely but nothing wrong with drinking it now. The ‘96 left bank wines are exceptional right now. This was excellent, but not as good as the ‘96 Cos right now which I would put a few points higher.
Brought this bottle (which I received as a gift recently) to dinner with friends featuring Wagyu A4 beef (grilled to perfection).
The wine was a perfect complement - classic balanced Bordeaux with well resolved tannins, nose of blackberries, cassis, black currants. Plenty of fruit on the mouth, with delicious palate nicely coupled with the steak. A perfect evening of good food and wine.
Drank alongside the Pavie 2010. This was in a great place and a reminder that really good Bordeaux needs at least a couple of decades to hit its stride. Nice combination of soft tannins, but still a decent amount of fruit left to give it some bite. Might not reach the heights on the 1982 but a fabulous claret.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP at restaurant. Really hit its stride about an hour in and continued to improve until the bottle was gone. Excellent upfront bright fruit that leads into an impeccably balanced wine with a very long finish. Fully resolved tannins and a wine drinking in or near peak. There’s no reason to wait, but this wine will drink well for a very long time. Outstanding from start to finish. This was somewhat overpowered by Pompano livornese. Revisit 2025
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh in such a great place now for this 28 year old. Opened and decanted, aerated for 90 minutes then drank over another 90 minutes. Beautiful crimson cloak, hardly any signs of bricking or evolution, dense liquid. On the nose lots of blackberries, black currants, perfumed cassis, gravel, earth, graphite, old leather, fully reflected on an amazingly structured palate, finishes powerful and long with tannins nicely integrated with the bitter chocolate spicy finish. Just tremendous and masculine for a Pichon Lalande but definitely my style of vino.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Such a different wine from the ’95 drunk alongside and this makes sense given the Cab Sauv percentage is 75%! This wine has more crispness and cut than the ’95 but perhaps lacking that wine’s suppleness and plumpness. However, the ’96 is a much more precise wine and more terroir-driven with classic Pauillac notes of earthy gravel, grilled nuts and graphite minerals. The tannins here are more “knife on granite” and the finish is fabulous. I vacillated between both wines but in the end the ’96 is simple a finer and more complex wine. At Commanderie Dinner, The Modern
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Foliage (San Francisco): Nice nose with leather and tertiary notes, underwood, dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco, cherries, and green bell pepper. Good acidity on the palate with lots of dark berries, cherries, leather, and more chocolate notes. Nice finish. A lovely wine that's drinking really well. There's a lot going on, but I felt the 96 Mouton next to it had a bit more depth and promise. I would drink this now and keep the Mouton in the cellar...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Herwig (Foliage, SF): Aromatic, youthful, capsicum, black fruit, leather; palate is medium-full bodied, complex, integrated tannin, medium acidity; long finish. Very lovely. 93-94
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely textbook Paulliac, with utterly refined cassis notes, cedar, and graphite notes. Medium bodied, with as refined a palate and bouquet as I have come across, if not quite at the otherworldly level of Mouton 82. Without question at its peak of maturity, but based on balance, fruit ripeness, and perfection of structure, this will continue to develop, if not improve (though it’s possible)
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the most powerful and masculine Pichon Lalande I have tasted even more so than Baron 1996. Deep dark ruby red color, dense almost inky. On the nose lots of powerful cassis, some tar, asphalt, black currants and cherries, hints of leather. On the palate very concentrated, velvety, rich, inky, very round and structured, great lift and a long finish with tannins well integrated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from own cellar, dinner at Stephane's - Paris. My first brush with this wine as the 1st bottle from my stash was mishandled during specific transport and heat damaged. This followed a most complete Latour 1983 which set a high benchmark. Unfortunately it was opened in the spur of the moment and thus not decanted. In comparison to the Latour this felt rather inscrutable but the quality of the matter was very obvious. A lot more coiled up. The freshness was evident, menthol and some subtle green pepper note. I look forward to revisiting in proper setting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fitting Christmas Eve wine, paired with mutton curry. We have fond memories of our visit to the estate in 2009 and a sublime bottle of the 1982 for our wedding anniversary (LOTB 97/100). Classic cherry and plush dark fruit. Green pipe tobacco finish. Youthful for 37+ years, best years are ahead. 94+/100 with upside.
An iron fist in a velvet glove, elegance, power, purity, grace, a feminine Pauillac that is drinking perfectly, so understated, yet it has it all, great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10th of 25, opened an hour then decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, still remarkably youthful (particularly robe) and relatively primary, some bell pepper in flavours, otherwise much as last noted in Nov 21, upside, 20+ years. F+ (18)......slight mark down as my sense is that evolution is in the in between stage where the fruit is losing the attractive precociousness of youth but the tannins have not as yet resolved fully.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic Example of Classic Pauillac! Give a solid 2 hr decant! On the nose lots of blackberries, black currants, cassis, gravel, earth, graphite, leather, amazingly structured palate, finishes powerful and long with tannins nicely integrated
Consider yourself Lucky Having This in your cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. Immediately recognised as a high-quality left bank claret from 1996 or 1988. It was 1996… Perfectly classical. Elegant, finesse, subtle, oyster shells, long.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and followed over about 3 hours in a Zalto bdx, next to 88 Latour, 89 Lafite and 2010 Pichon Baron.
The 96 PLL shows nice richness and warmth. A more than sound bottle, it has some bricking at the edge of a ruby core. Some cinnamon stick and late summer red fruit, hints of tobacco and the only wine with any detectable pyrazine, which to me signifies the house. Long and improved in the decanter. My observation is that the gap between this and the WOTD 89 Lafite (in terms of quality) was very narrow
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous bottles. Dark red and black fruits, earth, animalistic on the nose. Blackish crimson color, youthful, refined entry on the palate, expansive mid palate with good acidity and lift, some flowers, finishes long and slightly spicy. Medium bodied. I recommend to open the bottle and slow ox the wine rather than aerating in the decanter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Two hour decant, but best after three. This wine is in an excellent place. 100 point nose. Classic Pauillac sousbois. On the palate, a bit less impressive but delicious nonetheless. Great balance, acidity, tannins and finish. Expect it to be great for the next two decades but amazing now.
This is the wine that made me fall in love with Bordeaux. I’ve been fortunate to taste this vintage of Pichon at least 10 times in my life. It continues to be my second favorite vintage of Pichon Lalande behind 1982. Tonight’s bottle did not disappoint. Fabulous wine that is fully mature but it will last for decades more. Great tertiary notes of green tobacco, black currant, cigar box, and a prominent black olive tapenade on the finish. I love this wine. Delicioso!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted annually, this has hit its sweet spot, and is magnificent. It still has a residual tannic kick, and I am unsure if this is a permanent characteristic of the wine, (as with the 1986,) or will it morph into the real deal as with the legendary 1982. I suspect it will fall between the two. That said, it is the greatest pre millennial Pichon Lalande after the legendary 1982 and goes head to head with the 1986 and the 1995. The nose and palate profile is evolving, and while still retaining a core or blackberry and blackcurrant, with forest floor, I am starting to detect the sage notes as observed by HKBob, and also the lingering flavours of sour cherry. I do worry the finish is on the lighter side and might not keep pace with the wine's development. It now only really needs a short decant.
Same as previous bottle. Decanted and aerated for two hours which the wine needed. Dark ruby red color, hardly any signs of aging. Masculine nose of black currants, perfumed cassis, some earthiness and aged leather notes, reminiscent of Margaux 1996 in its finesse. Medium to full bodied, great acidity and structure, took much longer to open up than the Cos D'estournel 1996 drunk alongside it, finishes long and profound with sweet tannins. Really in a good place and long life ahead of it.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear, medium garnet with no signs of bricking. This was ready to go immediately upon opening so chose not to decant. The aromatics were money with fresh Cohiba, sous-bois, cedar, graphite, sage and a hint of sweetness eventually morphing to sour cherry. All the elements sang in perfect harmony with its medium body gliding effortlessly across the palate. Just a fabulous bottle that is really in the zone now. My only wish would be a bit more length on that glorious finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love 96 left bank Bordeaux and this bottle was open for business. Cork half soaked. Blackish crimson color, nose of black currants, leather, perfumed cassis, graphite. Delicate entry on the palate, very refined, a little more muscular given the vintage, decent power, dark red and black fruits mid palate, great acidity mid palate, showing secondary notes, finishes long and sweet. Medium to full bodied, opened really well following an hour in the decanter.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Truffle Night at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): OH LALANDE, was Nicoletta's response when she tried it and this says it all given she is a tough customer to please. We opened and left to rest for one hour but we chose not to decant as the wine felt on point. Classic, elegant and very much alive, earthy, well secondary , lightest kiss of spice and frankly less austere than we expected this to be given a 1996 Pauillac. Bright nose too, cedar and light tobacco notes an a masterclass of classic and super well aged claret. 95 Easy and shame its our last bottle!.
So pissed off at this bottle. Have had this wine a few times over the years and it always delivered, stunning. Plush, velvety, accessible, outright delicious.
This bottle the opposite. Decanted for 2.5 hours and still tight as a brick. Damn. I mean really bad. Not open at all. Short finish. Everything else was fine, tight seal, high bottle fill, just not tasty at all. WTF!!
Gunna put it back in the bottle and grab a Burgundy for dinner.
A real beauty and gem having its price. Another positive surprise at the blind "Summer of 1996 Tasting Event". This Pichon Lalande de Comtesse surprised with a never-ending and tasty finish, silky tannins, and its powerness, as this wine still would be in its infancy. Will I add it to my cellar? Not sure yet, but it is definitely making it to my "Repeat and Threepeat wine Bucket list".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
July 4th Mondo Event (Atlanta, GA): Tasted blind. A glass full of cigar box and sweet Virginia tobacco. Wonderful nose on this wine with loads of tertiary notes and a green herb finish. You can taste the high Cab. Sauv. % with the sweet cassis on the finish. I thought it was from the '89 vintage based on the level of maturity. This is my second favorite vintage of Pichon Lalande next to the '82.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of forest floor, mushroom, toast, spices, black fruits, black currant. Medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin. Tannin is velvety. Full bodied and long finish. Dry and medium alcohol. Did not decant and will not improve with time. With good storage condition, it will last and be enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours, which was perfect from my point of view. Wonderful to drink even if it still has a long life ahead of it. A really great Pichon Lalande. What a pleasure. 95+ pts. at the moment.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Strong tertiary leather, assails the nose and palate along with that classic rose scented feminine perfume of Contesse. Bigger bodied than expected, this is really quite generous. Lots of oak on the palate. Behind the oak and leather there are great fruits of the forest on the generous palate. Structure now very well integrated and softening, though still proving grip and interest. Long and complex. Drinking now, will last an age, hope the tertiary and oak motes subside. If so this will merit a very high score.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An outstanding vintage for PLL. Hallmark bell pepper and cigar notes with richly textured plum fruit. Still youthful and gritty but nicely balanced. Early peak drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark beautiful color, very mature and seems to reach the end of the window where its still fresh. Lovely complete and grand vin, rich, lots of dark fruit with sophisticated balance. I would not wait too long while at the same time this could be this bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Décanté deux heures avant dégustation.Très belle robe pourpre.Le bouquet est très intense et vraiment complexe,très typé Pauillac: tabac,menthol,réglisse,cèdre,chocolat noir,cassis....C'est magnifique....La bouche est très belle aussi mais un léger creux en milieu avec légère note de poivron atténue maheureusement la note finale qui aurait été sensationnelle sans cela.Superbe quand même !!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
intense green peppers and tannins settling down eventually did not decant so it took 1-2 hours to start showing it's stuff wonderful elegance and potential for the coming years The 1985 and 1986 at the same sitting were more mature with secondary notes not surprisingly What a night with 3 chateau palmers in a second flight Cassoulet was a delicious complement to these wines in Wilmette
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The blend here is atypical for Pichon Lalande, since they normally use quite high proportion of Merlot, but in 1996 they made a strict selection of fruit for the grand vin and a smaller-than-normal amount of Merlot was selected for the blend, resulting in an atypically high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc seems to vary from one source to another, but most sources seem to say this wine was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (50% new). 13% alcohol. Tasted blind in a 1996-themed tasting.
Dark, slightly translucent and very deep black cherry color with a subtly evolved pomegranate hue. The nose is instantly recognizable for a Bordeaux with quite sweet and distinctively perfumed aromas of juicy dark plums and blackcurrant-driven nuances of sweet dark berries, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light spicy notes of sweet, toasty oak, a little bit of roasted bell pepper, autumnal hints of damp leaves and a fragrant touch of violets and exotic spices. The wine feels ripe, dense and - as is typical for the Château - quite lush on the palate with a full body and juicy flavors of rich plummy fruit and ripe blackcurrant, some mocha nuances of toasty oak spice, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of pipe tobacco, a hint of gravelly minerality and a herbaceous touch of cooked bell pepper and minty greenness. The wine is impressively high in acidity with ample yet very ripe and quite powdery tannins that contribute to the rich texture of the wine and slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is rich, juicy and gently grippy with a long and quite intense aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants, some woody and cedary notes of savory oak spice, a little bit of tobacco, light gravelly mineral notes, tertiary hints of wizened red plums and meaty umami and a touch of minty lift.
A fantastic, complex and harmonious vintage of Pichon Lalande showing the hallmark qualities of the Château (rich, almost exotic nose and lush, supple texture) despite the atypically high Cabernet Sauvignon component. True to its style, the wine is very approachable and accessible, not really showing any roughness or angular character, yet at the same time coming across as relatively youthful for its age. I immediately guessed this was a Bordeaux, but due to this softness, plush texture and ripe-fruited sweetness in the flavors, I placed my guess for the appellation in Saint-Émilion instad of the left bank. Although Pichon Lalande might usually be a bit too lush, polished and soft for my preference, I must admit that this 1996 is a very fine wine indeed - one that is drinking beautifully right now but will also continue to evolve and improve for years, if not for decades. Although I favored the slightly less polished and a bit more rustic 1996 Leoville-Poyferré in this tasting, this wine was not far behind. A very complete wine. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A most beautiful Pauillac from a wonderful vintage.
From the first opening the mesmerising nose took you to land of cedar, white flowers, pure blackberry with a hint of mint and pencil shaving. The body has soften but it has power and depth telling you that life is still good and the bottle is just entering its prime. Black fruit, some mocha and fine soft tannin. And some secondary notes of sage and spice are beginning to emerge. The colour and the freshness seem to indicate this wine will go for a very long time. Fine finish.
Drink now to 2035+.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at a private dinner, Little Cove, Noosa. This is a very fine bottle of Bordeaux that opened beautifully still with a beautiful deep crimson colour. The nose is very forthcoming with a perfume of blackcurrant, cedar, lead pencil and tobacco with touches of flowers, dark chocolate and mint. There is a Petit Verdot touch of autumn herbs and black olive. The palate has a very fine layered structure of fruits, savoury elements and lingering gossamer tannins that add up to fine and poised 'haut couture' impression. Lovely with the complexity and length of age yet the freshness of fruit of a good year.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Right Bank vs Left Bank Bordeaux Through the Decades (Charlotte, NC): 2 hours full decant, back in the bottle for transporting to dinner and then slo-ox for 90 minutes prior to consumption. Aromatic and young nose – cedar, forest floor, hints of cigar box. Rich on the palate with balanced notes of blackberry, bramble; tannins well-integrated but present giving great body to this wine. Long finish of plum and blackcurrant. Drank wonderfully when served but reached glorious heights 90 minutes later. Give this wine plenty of time and you will be handsomely rewarded. WOTN, 4 votes for 1st place
This bottle was still quite youthful with a lovely layered and integrated texture with blackish fruits and good lift and freshness. The finish was crisp and taut with emerging complexity and a bit of green pepper.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet color turning orange rust at the rim with a wide reflective band. The nose gives off smoky notes of black fruits and mentholated orange peel. The palate is medium bodied with a silky texture and lively acidity. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry form the core but there are secondary flavors of balsamic vinegar, dried meat, leather. Finishes long with spicy, gravelly eucalyptus notes. Drink now until 2027.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted annually, this is starting to hit a sweet spot, but be warned it needs air. It really comes to life after three hours and can be underwhelming if not sufficiently aerated at this point in its life. The nose is glorious and mature with deep aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant. The palate is robustly Paulliac with firm tannin, but nicely rounded and balanced. The finish is excellent but some residual tannin needs to resolve. This has a long future ahead of it and I find it more modern in style to the 1986 and the legendary 1982.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinøs hyttetur; 9/30/2022-10/1/2022: Masser av mørke bær mot solbær og bjørnebær, fantastisk lengde og balanse, fremdeles en ball av frukt, aldeles fasinerende kompleksitet. Inne i drikkevinduet sitt, men ennå mer kompleks om 5-10 år. Glatt helgas vin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinøs hyttetur; 9/30/2022-10/1/2022: Dark berries, black currants, gorgeous length, balance and complexity. Utterly impressive, has still some development ahead.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The last of my 4 bottles was a lovely experience, although I will say that I deducted a point with the fruit fading after an hour in the decanter. This was still a nice classic PL with everything you would expect; cedar, pencil, dark stewed fruits, sous bois.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium garnet. Nose of currant, damp cellar, cedar, plum blossom, cassis. Layers of austere black currant, plum, and graphite on the palate with a blast of “fat” ripe red plum fruit in the middle of each sip. Softened tannin and moderate acidity. Longer finish of red plum, tobacco, dense earth, and the ahh of resolving steely sweetness. From a half bottle. Consumed at Potlatch State Park.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cedar and tobacco. Red fruit and earthy notes. No rush here, as this has a long life ahead of it, but for my tastes it’s in a great spot right now. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Whoa this was singing with deep and penetrating classic aromasof smokey tobacco, wet earth, dark blueberries, flowers and a touch of cedar. Balanced, mature, and quite appealing, soft and supple, just a gorgeous velverty texture and a balanced finish. Absolutely mature and delicious; enormous nose with a suave body.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brilliant. Drank with friends at Taillevent following a short decant. Deep ruby with minimum sediment, this wine is mature. Seamless deep nose of black fruits and raspberry
Flirting with perfection, experience very consistent with my previous note for this wine.
If a date, this was a 35 year old Fortune 500 middle manager with Wharton MBA brains + Penthouse Forum sex appeal.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brilliant. Drank with friends at a French restaurant after a splash decant. Fully mature + in a great place. Beguiling nose of black cherry, dark fruit and mocha. So close to perfection, it's really a 99.5 score Easily 10-15 years brilliant drinking ahead
If a date, this was a blind date with a former Playboy centrefold, now 45 and exquisite.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the enigma vintage for me tonight. I’ve loved it in the past but tonight it was a little “quiet.” Although with time in the glass and some contemplation, it was extremely refined and smooth with the classic ’96 firm molten graphite edge and great balance. Needs more time and may have suffered against the stupendous 2000 drunk alongside. 92-3+
An epic night where we drank, amongst others, 4 x 96 Bordeaux - PLL, Lynch Bages, Montrose and Angelus. The Pichon Lalande was opened and slow-oxed 5 hours prior to dinner whilst the others were opened and slow-oxed an hour before.
Beautiful black fruit and tobacco. This was so dense , inky and lingering. 10 years too young! For me this was the second best 96 Bordeaux of the night, behind the ethereal Angelus.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous as the other bottles have been…. Make sure you give 2+ hour decant!!! Really comes a loves at the 3 hour mark. Faded at 4-5 hours. A Beautiful ethereal wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red fruit and tobacco on the nose. Damp earth, cedar, and some clove as well. Beautiful texture on the palate the earthy qualities carry through but there’s a nice core of red/black fruit here. In the zone as far as I can tell. Will slowly decline form here but at least 5-10 years of enjoyment left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted regularly, this is now firing on all cylinders and is at the peak of its drinking window, but hopefully should stay at this level for at least the next decade. The nose is concentrated and deeply intense with ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco and leather. With time in the decanter and glass it settles and the palate is silky smooth with perfect balance. The finish is more typically Pauilliac with a robust tannic edge, but with everything in perfect harmony. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened a magnum about two hours ahead of drinking, to get the wine off the sediment, of which there was a fair amount. The cork was in nearly perfect condition. The wine was a deep garnet color, with some lightness at the rim. It has a nose of cedar, a touch of barnyard, some blackfruit, dill and cassis. Medium in body, silky in texture. There was at first wood and spice on the attack. The fruit seemed to fade on the mid-palate and I would call it a medium finish. There is good balance in acidity, though I wonder how much longer the fruit will hold out. This is my last bottle so I may never know. This was written right after decanting, so I may return in a few hours with some additional comments.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was good but not as enjoyable as a '96 Ducru we had the same night. Showed more tertiary flavors relative to the DB. Looked like a bit of mildew on the top of the cork before opening so don't know if that signified something relative to how the bottle was kept up to now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP, should have decanted. This showed a moderate amount of funk/brett on the nose. The palate is still closed and took some time in the glass to open. Dark fruits, saline texture and some coffee grind graininess, this was not as fun as the 89 PB opened alongside it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At probably full-maturity, this is a gorgeous Pauillac. rich, supple, and concentrated, you find a wealth of dark currants, tobacco leaf, cigar box, spice, blackberry, peppery herbs, and leather on the nose. The palate is even better with its silky textures, length, and soft, luscious, earthy, tobacco-tinted fruits that linger. Popped and poured, it showed great from the get-go.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was nearing the end of its drinking window (which surprised me a bit) as the fruit started to fall off a bit after a few hours in a decanter. Prior to its tipping point, there is lovely black, blue and red fruits in a classic restrained style with pencil shavings, some tar, tobacco and hard leather notes and some dried herbs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375. Perfect cork and fill level. Very slight bricking. First sip very tight and no nose. Initial palate impression - dirt, soil, cedar, tobacco. Slowly opening up with decanting. Nose of dry rose petals is starting to emerge. Ample acidity and quite a bit of structure. Fills out mid-palate with the air. Becomes rounder, more aromatic, red fruits start to emerge at 1 hour of decant. Kept improving and peaked at 2 hours. Long finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
9th of 25, opened 2 hours, perfect cork and level, splendidly attractive and youthful at 25 purple rim included, fruit very primary, fine persistence and energy on exit, underlying fine grained tannic structure, round, silky and generous for a 96, upside for at least 20 years. VF (18.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young, dark, a bit green in the early hours; evolved into an effeminate, bright red cassis with attractive structure and length and polished finish. Below the last bottle but still quite enjoyable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dryer than the Angelus, tobacco, pot-pouri, floral, tangy, cut, hint of a medicinal left bank minerality w/black cherry. Acid showing from '96 but really excellent and well structured. DD Bordeaux 1989-2000 Lawson's Steakhouse. #5 overall.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At 25 years of age, still rather primary, with red and black berry fruit, aniseed and balsamic but also tertiary aspects like crushed tobacco and graphite and red grilled pepper. Not “over anything”, not over ripe, not over intense, but spherical and balanced … with fine tannin and an impression of grace. The majority Cabernet Sauvignon lends structure, the Merlot sumptuousness. Long, lifting finish. Purchased from an online auction. An overly moldy label made it less expensive. Could it have come from a very humid underground cellar? Or a malfunctioning wine fridge? I would know, as I have had that experience... What counts is what’s inside and a cork in excellent shape, zero seepage, very moist yet firm, and, most important, wine in top form.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Been a few years since I had this wine. What an improvement . Nose across the room . Tertiary flavors are coming . Still with terrific red fruit. Coming into its own.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent Lalande. Aromatic immediately upon opening, with the palate ans finish deepening with air. Lovely mix of pipe tobacco, cedar, and mint notes. Palate is a bit strict and almost thin initially, but fanned out with air. Tannins are mild but as noted, still rather narrow on the palate. Lengthy finish, but maybe a bit less powerful than you’d expect from a ‘96 left bank. Solid wine, with the aromatics suggesting early mature but clearly this rather youthful on the palate. Drink or hold. Classic bdx lovers will love this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is now firing on all cylinders, and is in a perfect spot with an hour in the decanter. Displaying secondary and early tertiary notes, it is mature Bordeaux at its best. It is such an elegant wine with soft resolved tannin and a wonderful mouthfeel. Blackcurrant, plum, leather, and tobacco are prominent on the palate, and my previous concern about the balance on the finish seems to have resolved. That said, I still find it on the shorter side. This has a structure to continue at this level for the next decade at least and possibly become more interesting as the tertiary notes continue to develop.
This was a spectacular wine. It has years left. Wonderful example of a Pauilliac Bordeaux. Rich, decadent fruit -- cassis, vanilla, and even a hint of blue berries on the finish. Took to dinner with old friends James & Katie at FINCA for an over-the-top fun night, and enjoyed with Wagyu steak. This wine was elegant, rich, and yet smooth as silk. I could not believe how long-lived this wine is -- no danger of it falling off at this moment. It was perfect in its drinkability window. Yummy yummy juice. I really love aged wines. They seldom disappoint.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
24 Vintages of Pichon Lalande: All wines tasted blind. A few general observations: 1) Most wines showed the typical Pichon Lalande elegance. This is certainly one of the more delicate and elegant Paulliacs. 2) The relatively high Merlot content (often 20-30%) showed in many wines with fine, fresh rhubarb, rosehip and floral aromas I wouldn’t necessarily associate with a Medoc - all adding to the sensuous quality of the wines. 3) A few vintages showed the very sexy burnt sugar/coffee notes you associate with the 1982 Lalande or a Mouton or a Cheval Blanc - unfortunately, not to an extent and with an intensity to truly excite. 4) Following the legendary 1982 and until the most recent vintages (starting with 2014 but especially with 2016) there are three decades of pleasant Pichon Lalandes but hardly any vintage has the depth and length of truly great wines. The best wine tonight was the 2009 (rated 95+ points) with many more in the 92-94 point category.
TN: This was the best wine from the 90s. An expressive nose with ripe dark and red fruit, even slightly candied, intense with herbs but still rather young-ish without much tertiary aromas. Quite good precision not only on the nose but palate, which distinguished this vintage from virtually all other Lalandes from that period. On the palate full-bodied with ripe dark and red berries, minerality, herbs and some hints of tobacco. At first still a bit rough around the edges, the wine opened-up and became more round, soft and creamy with more air. More depth than most other vitnages and a good medium+ long finish. I would give this a good decant, it needs it. 94+ points.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Boys' Wine Night - Champagne & Old Bordeaux (Island Room, Hong Kong Country Club, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): Semi-transparent cherry red in colour. Nose is lovely feminine and alluring, heady and resonant. Palate is still quite tannic but slowly beginning to unwind. Needs 10 more years. Lovely adolescence but it has evolved glacially since I last drank a bottle in 2013, when I thought it would unfurl by 2020-2022. It still needs another 5-7 years in the cellar or a multi-hours decant today. 92 with higher potential for beyond.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A superb bottle of this which was delicious and seemingly perfectly mature tonight. Classic Pauillac flavors of black fruits, sweet gravel and graphite minerals with an extra layer of black truffles on the long, distinguished finish. Yum. Double-decanted 4 hours.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this bottle with anticipation, after some starters with a Pol Roger NV. Initial nose of barnyard that blew away quite quickly. Dark in the glass, appeared quite youthful. Nose of blackberries, sweet soy sauce, and wood, an aroma that I would not forget for quite a while. Palate was excellent, ink, dark red fruits, tannins. It felt like a mature claret with a youthful character, deceiving in a good way. A well structured wine, the most Pauilliac of wines that I have tasted so far.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially barnyard but this went away quickly revealing an inky brooding nose. It is very singular on the nose. On the palate it was very balanced with cassis, pencil lead and perfectly melted tannins. Iron and hint of menthol on the finish. I thought this was an example of a fine Pauillac.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
good deep purple red color starting to brick at the rim, muted nose of black fruits and dark spices, on the palate peppery, still tannic and not yet fully reemerged from its slumber, savory blackberry fruit, blueberry tones, evolving at a slow pace but it appears to be well worth the wait.
(****)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best bottle I've had yet, although I wouldn't have guessed it based on the state of the cork and fill level. After getting it open, however, we were treated to a mature, fragrant Pauillac that retained its balance throughout the 4 hour drinking experience. Cedar, cassis, pencil, elegant perfume, and barnyard were the elements and a nicely balanced palate with some tertiary flavors peaking out after some coaxing. This wine is very good now and will continue to be for years to come.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The last year has seen this really integrate and soften some of the harsher tannic notes. With 4 or 5 hours of decanting this is starting to drink at its best, and is displaying secondary and the beginning of tertiary characteristics. Blackcurrant, plum, blueberry, old leather and cigar box dominate the wine with some cedar hints starting to appear. Depth and balance are excellent, on the palate and finish with a wonderful mouthfeel. The finish is a barrier to a higher rating, and is on the shorter side and slightly unbalanced.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Captivating nose of spices, pepper in particular, leather and tobacco.
The mouth develops incredible energy. The touch is very dense but textured, the juice is incredibly concentrated, with perfect balance. Everything is intense. The tannins that were still somewhat prominent at the start of the tasting have melted to give way to an explosive finish of rarely crossed length.
I think the mouth is still a bit compact as it is, it would take a few more years to reach the fullness of today's 1990s. But as it stands, it's already great
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright youthful nose with cedar, anise, dark blue and black berry, pencil lead and forest floor. Fantastic dynamic body with sublime lift, length, and unbelievable balance. Finish is long and blissful.
Whenever I drink this I remember why this is one of my favorite BDXs from any vintage ever. So delicious and room to keep going.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Pauillac with Jane Anson (Zoom!): JA says that at the time of release this was regarded as the wine of the vintage, along with Lafite, and it's still quite a bit more expensive than the 1996 Baron.
75% CS, 15% M, 5% CF, 5% PV - more Cabernet than is typical for this estate, reflecting the quality of that variety in 1996. Slightly less gloss to the appearance than the Lynch. A lot softer and more reserved on the nose than the first two tonight, but fortunately lots of impact in the mouth: plenty of berry fruit, and wood and an ashy flavour come through on the mid-palate. There's some spice too.
Feels a bit closed – 5-10 years until peak, JA thinks. Perhaps not the best bottle of this given the lack of performance on the nose, and it so obviously being outclassed by its sister property tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted back into bottle. Delicate complex nose with violets, coffee. Medium legs Beautiful on the palate, silk and finesse; not austere great charm. Again, coffee, vanilla on palate and pure dark fruit. Fantastic complexity, rich, with each sip slightly different. Seems more like a Margaux than a Pauillac. Great length and has years ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 90 minutes. Medium ruby colour, slight bricking. Hint of lavender, red fruits (present), oak, pepper, earthy with medium acidity, sediment. A bit too light for my liking. I had high expectations here but unfortunately didn’t live up to them. BM points: 92
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfume of old books and dark fruit gives way to a palate of similar notes along with tobacco and leather with plenty of fruit to make it seem youthful. Tannins still are not quite fully integrated so I think this still could improve with about 3-5 years. Still, overall, an outstanding wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Everything you could want from a mature Pichon Lalande or great Bordeaux is here. Splash decanted, which is all you need, this beauty offers flowers, spice, cigar box and roasted, dark red fruits. On the richly textured palate, the wine is generous, soft, silky, elegant and fresh, with a hint of spice and leafy nuances in the deep, red fruit-filled finish. This is at, or close to its peak. Unless you are a necrophiliac, it is time to start popping your corks on this beauty.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After having the misfortune of a corked bottle earlier in the year I was keen to try this again for reassurance re the whole case. This was fine, and it is firing on all cylinders. However, I do concur with a fellow reviewer that tobacco notes are further to the front on the nose and palate than previously. That said, the balance and depth are exquisite, and the finish is 30+ seconds. Although showing secondary and tertiary notes, I think that there is still development ahead, and the recent harsher notes should mellow. A couple of hours in the decanter is recommended.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1996 Pichon Lalande is really beginning to drink with style, wafting from the glass with an inviting nose of blackberries, cassis, cherries, rich soil tones, cuban cigar and subtle hints of mint and bergamot. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with an expansive, sumptuous core of fruit underpinned by ripe acids and powdery and refined but still virile tannins. Long, penetrating and sapid, this unusually Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated vintage was tightly wound for its first two decades, but as time passes it's the château signature that's dominating the cépagement.
Popped, poured, consumed over three evenings. I still really like this vintage of Pichon Lalande, but it seems to be in a new phase where the cigar box notes have become a little dominant, drowning out some of the other notes that made it more complex. At the end of the third night, however, other notes seemed to be coming forward and integrating, so I'm hopeful that this will age well and transition back to the kind of complexity it had previously.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for one hour before serving. This was served to me in blind. Cassis, dark current, green pepper and herbs on the nose. Well integrated palate that was soft with sweetness. Very enjoyable yet I felt the wine was older given how resolved it was. Drinking well now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stunning showing tonight from a superb bottle, this has almost a perfect aged Bordeaux nose of sweet tobacco and nutty gravel. Quite powerful on the palate with great balance and intensity and delicious flavors of black currants, tobacco and smoky gravel. Sleek and refined with a very concentrated finish which sports crisp tannins and complex notes of roasted nuts and dark spices. Fabulous but well-stored bottles should continue to improve for years as the rather strong tannins continue to soften. 95+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Always a pleasure having aged Bordeaux, and my first time trying this super-second. The first vintage where PLL moved away from a majority Merlot blend, but the Merlot signature is still very much present with its round suppleness and tarry chocolatey notes. Very good lift and concentration. It definitely met expectations, but is it worth the price? I am not so sure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic, power with abundance of fruit, tobacco, cigar-box, spice. It still has a very good core of fruit, seems unevolved yet not impossible to drink. Classic wine, stylish. #Ib
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful and highly aromatic nose of forest floor, dark berry, cedar, wet earth and tobacco. Pure velvet on the palate with great structure, youthful energy, and long elegant finish.
Just a beautiful and well rounded expression, and as good or better than when I had it 18 months ago with many many wonderful years ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Soaring lead pencil and sweet cassis nose at opening and it remained aromatically gorgeous. Opened to reveal more violet, black chery and cedar notes. Palate: so much depth, but the inner mouth perfume is exceptional. Blackberry, plum, sweet tobacco, florals, cedar and fine leather. Finish: Resonant and long, a huge finish here.
One of my favorites of the year. Just magnificent, but many years are ahead fo this.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have always loved this wine and it continues to delight with its explosive, pencil-driven nose, complemented by warm cedar, cassis, plum skin, and touches of herbes de Provence. What a succulent inner mouth perfume, the cassis even more to the fore with beef blood and toasted almond. As enjoyable as this is now, the long finish bodes well for the future. 96
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours. Tasted alongside the 2000. Excellent nose with plenty of graphite, ripe blackcurrants, some gentle truffle. Classic Pauillac & really singing. Palate is fully mature; very gently tannins and medium acidity - lacking some weight perhaps. Good fruit with lighter black fruits, almost a little raspberry. Some light truffle and rosemary. Perhaps lacking a little persistence. Very good but drinking now. Drink now-2022.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think that this was the first bottle of Pichon Lalande from any vintage to be tainted as it is such a reliable estate. This was still drinkable, but the taint of the cork was all pervasive on the nose, with the palate compromised.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
youthful, on the crisp side from entry all the way through, good fruit , a dry relatively short finish, rich , some graphite but kinda lacks depth. Hold a while.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful nose of rich tobacco, dark red fruits and graphite minerals. Much the same flavors on the palate with excellent intensity and rich dark fruits all within a still-structured frame along with the classic refinement of the ‘96 vintage. There is a bit of the bell pepper notes this wine can throw off but it adds to the complexity on the finish which is still grippy and crunchy. Double-decanted 5 hours and it needed every bit of that time so there is still more to come here. 94+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brilliant as always. Double decanted 6 hours prior to drinking, starts off classic lovely Pauillac classic flavours of black current and earth and slightly herbaceous 96 character, but really blossomed 2 hours later and fattened out to be the most amazing glorious experience. This. Wine. Needs. Air.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like many 1996s, this wine is currently in a great drinking spot with a bit of air. The highlight here is the multifaceted nose and the high precision, the surprise is the femininity and red-fruited palate (which let others, who had it double blind, to put it on the right bank) and the downer was the short finish. Anyway, a lot of fun to drink. 94/95 points easily.
TN: At first some stinky cellar smell but with a bit of swirling this was gone. Beautiful tertiary aromas with black truffles, farmyard and with time more sweet red fruit, rose-hip, fir resin and cola. Same aromas with an additional minerality layer on the very fine, very feminine, round and soft palate. Completely softened tannins, good acidity, high precision and medium+ intensity with a rather short finish.
Decanting: Only a short double decant. Got better with more time in the glass, so my advice is 1.5 to 2 hours in the decanter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 60 minutes. Short note: fully mature excellent Bdx - pencil shavings on nose, secondary sous bois notes, light blackcurrants. Palate has gentle intensity with very light tannins, acidity and fruit in ideal balance. Drinking perfectly now; won’t improve from here but an excellent wine. Thoroughly enjoyed. Drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind from decanter. Lots of aging notes including barnyard, earth, some mushrooms and leather with a rather dark berry fruit. A bit of an acidity overhang. Leather aromas resonate nicely on the on the palate for a good amount of time. This has developed very well and a treat for aged Bordeaux lovers. In my view, however, the muscle has already started to shrink and impact balance. Paired against Opus One 1996 this one came in clearly second. Drink up, would be my advice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Doesn’t feel quite in harmony yet, despite a four hour decant. Ripe fruit, tobacco, leather on the nose; very clean and fresh. Lovely ripe tannins but a strong acidic backbone that, today, dominates the fruit. Has the structure to last a long time; hopefully the fruit will too. Just feels like an awkward spot given how delicious these were a few years ago.
Stunning, sexy nose of leather, dry meat, cedar, graphite, paper, rockdust and well-defined red fruit & cherries with a hint of vanilla. Pure, tantalizing, universal pheromones.
On the palate fresh acidity with glossy cherry aromas contrasted by a carpet of dry, solid oak that leads into a well-balanced, evolving finish. This is great, clean, drinkable stuff, the aromas are well-rendered and just of the right intensity.
As for my personal taste I am not sure whether the fresh acidic fruit pairs well with the dry, dusty wood in this one. I have tasted Calon Segur performing better (purer) on the Kirsch and Haut Bailly on the heavy oak. Then again its practically impossible to stop drinking this once in the decanter…
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same OWC we pulled last bottle from in 2016. Cork in mint condition. Wine seems to be in a dumb or "semi-dumb" phase. Closed. Few hours decanting made little if any difference to nose. Good news. On palate, no sign of aging. Same dense fruits as in previous tasting. Tannins still noticeable. Too early to show tertiary notes. Score held
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I worried a few months ago that this had closed down, but this bottle was absolutely in its prime drinking window, diplaying secondary and tertiary notes. Generally left bank wines from the vintage seem to be hitting their stride, and this is very approachable with just an hour or two in the decanter. It is very much old school mature Paulliac. The nose is is full of blackcurrant, blackcurrant, plum, cigar box, and old leather. The palate is multi layered and complex with sweetened tannin, while still retaining a bite, and is perfectly balanced. The finish is 30+ seconds, but perhaps still over tannic; maybe another year or two will address this. With regards to longevity I am beginning to suspect that contrary to initial expectations, the vintage as a whole will need to be consumed over the next decade to enjoy it at its best.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showing a bit of brick on the edge. Ruby core. Pure focus aromas of cassis, tobacco, dried earth, mushroom, leather, and a touch of green spice. Medium weight on the palate with a good hit of tannin and bright acidity. Incredible length and just a lovely brightness to this wine. Looking forward to this opening up. I’d hold for another 3-5 years and drink over the next 15.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker Merrall & Condit Bordeaux vs. California Tasting (Michelangelo Hotel): Tasted blind next to the '97 Mondavi Reserve. This was clearly left bank & I called it squarely in Pauillac. It has everything that I love in Bordeaux and the '96 Vintage of Pichon Lalande is always so consistent. Next to the 1982 vintage of PL, the '96 is my next favorite. We shall see how the younger vintages fair over time. '96 PL never disappoints.
A superb bottle of wine. Deeply rich and saturated flavors of dark berries and plums that follow through in the aroma. Perfect balance and length, lush and sexy fruit. Do not decant. Allow it to open in the glass. Drink now - 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 1996 Pichon Lalande is maturing faster than previous bottle I had last year (which was too young to drink. This bottle however is maturing and ready for business. Sensual nose of blackberries, soft cassis, mild pencil shaving with smoked meat. Some resemblance with the 1982 Lalande but not as dense and intense. (90/100)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The second wine of 14 vintages of PL back to ‘61 courtesy of Mark Golodetz. This also showed quite youthful with a lot more acidity and cut than the ‘00 but without that wine’s lushness and power. This is precision in a glass with some PL tertiaries of black truffles and Latour-like dark earthy gravel. Finishes crisp with firmer but smooth tannins and it really needs more time to come together. 93+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Paulee Bdx dinner small glass. Decanted for 2 hours in wide decanter. This was nicely open in its early prime and I think Lalande and 1996 are a good match as often I feel 1996 is overrated and almost too structured in Cabernet dominated blends on the left bank. The Lalande with its exotic notes works really well here. Touch of milk chocolate. Very smooth and certainly a lovely glass. 95 with upside for another point and one of my favourite 1996 left banks (for me actually better than Latour but behind Lafite).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The second bottle of this was better than the first, this one opened up and showed its stuff after 90 minutes of decanting. Hefty barnyard nose without the brett, this was pleasant, elegant, and bursting with dark fruits, cardamom, dark chocolate, and green herbs. I didn't feel bad about drinking this now but this will only get better over the course of the next decade.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted for 90 min, med. ruby with slight brick rim, dark fruit with tobacco & leather, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, Bordeaux at its finest (reminds me of the 82, but on a slower trajectory), drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smelled like wet stone upon opening, needed a good double decant and two hours in the bottle before it started to show its grace. Very balanced and elegant wine, short finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours and it showed a lovely aged Bordeaux softness with flavors of black fruits and charcoal minerals and a touch of green pepper. Nice but not as good a bottle as recent tastings.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brick red. Nose is really so elegant, beautiful! With toasted notes, coffee and nice complexity and depth. Mouthfeel is quite lean, medium bodied, and so elegant, fresh, with toasted notes, coffee, and very good length.
This is a wine that really shows why Pichon-Comtesse has the reputation of elegance!
I hardly believe it will get any better, but it's probably no hurry drinking either.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maybe this is bottle variability. I felt this was under developed compared to the last Lalande I drank which was the 1995. The fruit and balance was present in the 95 unlike the 96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine (Rachael's Birthday). Fantastic aromatics of cigar box, flint, smoke. Palate coats the tongue, fine tannins still there but mild. Turns a little sour and thin on the midpalate--not sure if this means it could use more time? but holds it back a little from '82/'89 for my palate. Really holds on a long finish. Great wine though, one to drink now and for the next 10-20 years. 7yrs from my last bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from magnum: Cassis, flowers and earthy aroma, with slight vegetal tertiaries. Tasted cassis, blueberries, earth, terroir. Grape skin bitterness and menthol finish, with slight green and mint leaf tertiaries. This still needs abit of decanting. Classic Bordeaux. Open now; feel it’s drinking window is almost up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great favourite of mine, but this seemed a little closed from 8 months ago when it was singing. Everything was in a perfect spot with the wine, but it seems to be needing a little more time. The nose and palate are classic Paulliac, with robust tannin and good fruit. The depth and finish are excellent and I still maintain my opinion that it is potentially the best Pichon Lalande drinking, but it seems to haved closed slightly and needs a few more months in the bottle or perhaps simply more time in the decanter.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really lovely Pauillac, traditional in every sense on the nose (lead pencil, cassis, cedar), but still a bit young for me, showing mostly a lovely melange of red and blue fruits for the first couple of hours out of the bottle with the secondary flavors showing up later. This is a very lovely bottle of wine, to be sure, but certainly not in the class of the legendary 82 and some time for more development yet to come to see if this adds a point or 2 over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty much the most refined Bordeaux I have drunk in the past few years. Not a hard edge to be found, essence of Paulliac. Brilliant lead pencil, near and cassis. The proportion of the wine is absolutely perfect, and the tannic structure is supple, but also very much alive. This is not a blockbuster, rather it goes down like water - the bottle seems to evaporate before one's very eyes! Certainly extraordinary for its balance, and textbook countenance. At full maturity, but this is going to develop over the next few decades.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing yet again. A wine of two parts. First two hour phase it’s belts and braces. Leather, earth, black current, some sour cherries. Fairly firm, enjoyable but not hugely rewarding. And then... around the Two hour mark, the funk blew away to reveal the most gorgeous ethereal fruit and seamless balance. I couldn’t feel my legs. I didn’t know where this gorgeous wine stopped and I started. Etc
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Attended a head to head blind tasting of Pichon-Baron VS. Pichon-Lalande. Vintages were as follows for the Pichon-Baron: 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1998, Pichon-Lalande offerings were 1985, 1986, 1988 & 1996. The fourth blind wine happened to be the 1996 Pichon-Lalande. Cherry, graphite, mocha exploded from the glass. Supple tannins with a lengthy salty finish. Seems like in a dumb phase and in it’s infancy, this wine will continue to improve over the following 2 decades. Would love to try again in 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was really strange. From the bottle, it was amazing. The nose was arguably one of the best aged bordeaux I have had in a long time. Just ultra classic and in the perfect spot where primary turns secondary, which made me start thinking this would be very high scoring. But then something very strange happened, after about 2-3 hours of being open, when we came to drink it, it went very green, and lost all that amazing appeal. I would really not expect this to have deteriorated so quickly, but if I get a chance to try again, I will likely pop and pour and then follow it over the evening. Drank during our 72 Richebourg event in KL.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind verkostet. sehr klar, klassische Bordeaux Nase; Kirsche; Cassis; Zigarre komplexe Nase aber sehr wenig Druck; mittlere Länge; verändert sich mit Luft nicht zum positiven. Eventuell Flaschenfehler
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for several hours. Tobacco, pencil shavings, black and blue fruits with red fruits in the background. Sweet Oak. Very long finish. Still young with further development in the future.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted two hours. It wasn’t enough because this wine was still not ready. Really fully came out to play after about four hours. Terrific blackberry, cassis, cigar box and lead pencil. Full bodied this wine is elegant and well balanced but also has strong concentration and intensity. It is mature but will continue to gain complexity over the next ten years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I added another Pt here, as this just keeps hitting all the sweet spots. Sensuous, silky and fresh, with layers of ripe, pure, elegant, polished fruits, the wine tastes, feels, smells and performs just great. This is a stunner now, and there is room for improvement too!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thick brick in the glass. Stunning nose reminiscent of old brick ovens, licorice, blackberry pie, sandalwood and cherry compote. Trying the 1985 just a few days ago, this is a different league. Not in a bad way, not in a good way, just different. Leaner and cut of the fat that can usually be tasted in CdL. Lacking in aftertaste and already showing a slow decline. Sad emojis.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Mag & decanted about 4 hours and put back in bottle. I have always had great success with this wine and vintage, and this was no different. Plenty of life and enough development in order to appreciate where this wine will end up going. Beautifully done!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7th of 25, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, youthful purple rim, more mature on nose and palate, now showing ash and smoke as well as normal flavour profile per previous notes eg 12/17, intriguing, still adolescent. VF (18.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderfully fragrant blackberry, earthy, cedar, bell peppery goodness that makes my eyes roll, and leads to an elegant, insanely smooth black cherry and tobacco driven palate that is light yet develops as it coats, builds and persists as it lingers on the finish. 97 points and wishing I had bought much more and in larger formats!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Heavenly plummy aromas. This is a w-o-w wine. Deep flavors of saturated dark fruits, zingy black cherries, a veil of smoke, and incredible length. Listing the elements doesn’t communicate the hedonistic experience a glass of 1996 Pichon Lalande provides. Supple, silky, and saturated this is drinking exceptionally well right now. W-o-w!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pure perfection and showing at peak. Very secondary and tertiary notes of cedar, cigar, lead pencil and bell pepper. Silky and smooth on the palate with more mature fruit notes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At first, the nose was incredibly dark, showing a mix of red and black fruits, with a green streak of wild herbs and minerals. Yet the longer it spent in the glass, the sweeter its fruit seemed to become, arriving in crushed blackberry with a twist of citrus. On the palate, I found a silky expression contrasted and lifted by zesty acidity, giving way to herb-infused black cherry, blackberry and spice. The finish was medium-long, resonating on dark fruits and lasting mineral tones.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still full of life with a long future ahead. Close to fully mature with a nose you can smell a foot away. Ripe without tasting over extracted it has pencil lead and Forrest floor notes. This is my first from 1996 and if others are like this or better we are all in for a treat. Definitely a classical styled Bordeaux. I wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Muscular but charming aromas of plum, bell pepper. Full body and concentration on the palate. Just reached its peak maturity and will shine for decades.
2nd Growth Classe. Usually 35% Merlot, but '96 was 75% CS, 15% M, 5% CF, 5% PV. Fermented in steel, 20mo aging in new oak renewed every 6mo, racking every 3mo. Fining, no filtration.
One of the most consistent Pauillacs irrelevant of the vintage.
Decant, decant, decant - this is a killer wine, but it NEEDS air to show at peak. Per my usual course of action, this was PnP'd and followed over the next 8 hours, peaking near the 4-5 hour mark. Very nice tertiary flavors developing after enough air - caramel, toasted almonds, hint of slate / wood smoke...in addition to the usual blackcurrant, tobacco, briar patch notes that PLL often shows; if you drink this too early though, you'll miss it! I think many of the 96's (Ducru Beaucaillou being another one) can be drunk now and are entering a nice drinking window, but decanting is your friend to truly appreciate them....
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is getting better with each tasting and it is only a couple of years away from being fully mature. However, it is magnificent now and firmly in its drinking window, and becoming a more opulent version of the 1986. The nose is classically mature Bordeaux, full of blackcurrent, blackberry, and cherry and is musty and aged. On the palate the fruit is rich mingled with flavours of tobacco, with the tannin further sweetening., and it completes with an excellent finish. For myself it is the best Pichon Lalande drinking well at present, pipping the 1995 and 2003, and nudging ahead of the 1986 and (from memory of a few years ago) the 1982. As stated, it still has potential improvement over the next year or two when I expect to be elevating the rating. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing. As usual, silky, smooth, elegant. Incredibly smooth tanins. I just love it. Definitely ready to drink, and I could guess it still has a few years in it ( 5, 6, more?)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some oak, extremely typical BdX nose: black currants, pencil shaves, almost violent compared to the previous bottles this night, blueberries and ash; Long and intense, dusty tannins, youthful - this is just in the beginning (bearly) of its drinking window, but already complex. Wow. Wait 5 more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wine I love now poking into early maturity with all of the vigor and energy of a young wine complemented by the first tertiary notes. Loads of pure blackcurrant, pencil, and cedar with touches of violet, lily, and almond. So pleased with the direction this is taking.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark rich fruit but smooth with tannins controlled, chocolate and a bit of tobacco on the nose, silky good finish, lovely bottle, probably at it's peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
All dark fruit, black raspberry, light earth and tobacco. Gorgeous spot right now. Fully mature, drink up. Way better than the last time I had it, no great wines only Great bottles....
Still as good as ever. Opened 3-4 hours before the meal. Did not carafe or decant. Superb nose of leather, tobacco, chocolate... Drank it with a “poulet aux morilles”.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet with noticable browning and some sediments Nose of blueberries, coffee, funky leather at start; licorice and sweet spice emerge towards the end of the bottle Grippy tannin, relatively low acidity, some minerality and spice Compared to the 2000 Pichon Lalande, it shows more fruits but less tannin strcture and minerality
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of magnum with a 3-hr decant. Really perfectly aged at this point with a very pure, silky texture and classic flavors of dark fruits, gravel, and graphite minerals. Finishes with great refinement and superb nutty complexity. A complete Bordeaux that will go many more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted with the '95 tonight as well, which had sweeter tannins, and more elegant complexity. Here, more dark earth, darker color, primal, hint of clean barnyard. Longer life than '95, but she'll never be as pretty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tobacco, cassis, lead pencil, plum and violets can be found in the complex aromatics. Medium- to full-bodied, with a deep core of dark fruit, leather, minerals and underbrush, good acidity and a long, resonant finish with excellent complexity. Squarely in its drinking window, with lots of secondary nuances, this is an outstanding Pichon Lalande, and an absolute joy to drink. 96.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this seven years ago and it has softened nicely since then, allowing the fruit to blossom and show more of its richness. It still has issues in the fruit being a bit cooked or overwrought, as I called it in 2011. Very pleasant despite that.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is the concept of "plateau of maturity"...then there's the perplexing decision as to when that occurs; especially in age worthy wines like bordeaux. I've had fun over the years sampling a bottle here and there from a case and tracking the evolution. The 96 Pichon Lalande was pulled from my cellar in excellent shape, mid neck fill, cork looked practically new. The wine had a "bricky" or garnet appearance and the nose was utterly profound-cherries, lilies, perfume, wonderful. Soft and silky on the palate with a taste profile that went on for 45 seconds or more. This wine is at it's best right now and I see no reason to hold it if you are into the pleasure of drinking and enjoying your wine. If you have a child born that year and you're waiting for a wedding or something, it still has legs. But when a wine tastes this good it has to be drunk.-sm
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
If you are going to pick up some BDX for your cellar that could appeal to just about anyone, this bottle is it, it has enough fruit for Cali fans, enough subtlety for Burgundy fans, and still has all the stuffing a die hard Pauillac fan would need. A textbook wine for balance. Wow. And yes, it does have a place at the table with 1982, which I had the privilege of tasting alongside ALL of the 1982 First Growths in a horizontal recently. And the Lalande took second place to only Latour. I’m glad I have 9 bottles left to revisit over the next 20 years. It’s ridiculous to say, but this wine is a serious QPR value at current auction prices.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very refined and classy Pauillac that just got better and better as we drank our way through it. Initial aromas of cherry and blueberry, red meat, stalky tobacco, peat and sappy wood. Later developed pepper, nutmeg, and graphite. Palate had some dark berry fruit, surprising but harmonious salt, and truffle. For me, this tops the 1982. Very precisely balanced and a gossamer finish. Pair with something bland (in our case, a steak) to get every hushed note out of this beauty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux night at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): This seems to have filled out from the last time that I tasted it. I loved this wine -- the nose had a brilliant perfume, as well as an intensity that outclassed many of the other wines this evening. This is a dense and powerful wine on the palate, but agile and nimble thanks to the acidity here. Classy stuff here, this is a bottle that makes me wonder why I don't keep some PLL in my own cellar...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a monumental Lalande, the best since 1982. Pull the cork and you know that you are in for a special experience. Pauillac through and through, the nose delights with hints of green pepper, briar patch, menthol, cassis, clear red cherry, tobacco, earth, and pencil. The palate has really filled out now and there is a massive infusion of fruit that was missing before. Velvet in the mouth and layer after layer of Pauillac complexity. I actually think that well stored bottles of this wine may continue to improve, my singular thought. 98 Pts
Nothing more to add from the previous notes. This is a fantastic wine that is showing incredebly well. Forest earth, layers and layers of fresh fruit that is vibrant and lively and not at all tired. Phenominal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): This was probably my third favorite of tonight's tasting and seemed a very classic Bordeaux style - elegant. On the nose - old english library and leather. On the palate this is elegant and restrained with mature red fruit, leather, pencil shaving and some drying tannin on the finish. Pretty and elegant - quite enjoyed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
deep red, brick rim - needed an hour to fully open, but afterward a beautiful nose of blackberries and cassis with lead pencil and cigar box complexity - medium full body with sweet mature cabernet fruit and excellent acid balance - tannins resolved - long, long finish - drinking beautifully now, but still has many more years to develop further complexity
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To reiterate previous notes, this is a great Pichon Lalande. With a nose packed full of blackcurrent, blackberry, and cherry, the palate is deep and complex with the fruit, and flavours of tobacco. It completes with a lengthy finish. Still needing a few hours in the decanter to see its best, it is pipping the 1995 at present, and up there with the 1982 and 1986.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Tobacco and herbs; palate: Well-integrated tannins, jam, spices. Medium body. Impressive length, cigarbox. Well balanced. This was a true pleasure to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Although the aged tobacco was there from the start it took 4-5 hours of air in the bottle for the wine to really sing. Seductive tobacco from the nose, some ripe red bell pepper, small touch of mint, cedar wood, smoke, bit of mocca. Never heavy. Elegant and intricate nose as expected from Comtesse. Mocca and tobacco carry through on the taste. Tasty acidity left. Tannins have melted into wine. Classic Pauillac but with the Comtesse softness and elegance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not sure if this was a mediocre bottle. Nose was impressive. Olives, cherries, currants. Palate was ok. Not particularly complex. Improved over time after a 30 min decant
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Silk, elegance, balance.... it is hard to find the words... We opened it and carafed it about 3 or 4 hours before the meal (of lamb chops with fresh garden veggies). It was simply sublime. The tannins are beautifully rounded and blended in, yet still present enough. Hints of tobacco, cherry, and chocolate. My wife described it as having hints of black Forest gateau... Absolutely beautiful (the wine too!) She asked me a good question: why are you giving it a score of 98? Why not 100? What is not perfect about it? She is right. I don’t know what stopped me from giving it 100, as I could not find a single thing even slightly imperfect about it. I am so glad we still have 9 bottles left...
Sometimes wine is wine. And sometimes, wine is love. It's true that great company enhances excellent wine. It is also true that great wine enhances excellent company. The '96 PL is a "love" wine. It has such sweetness, such complexity and underlying smokiness, such balance and elegance that it does more than taste great and make food taste better (terrific homemade pizza in this case) -- it makes people happy.
Flavors: cedar, pumpkin pie spices, wood smoke. Raspberries. Just a hint of jarred artichoke hearts oiliness. Enough tannin to stitch it all together, but not enough to feel it. Subtle, gracious nose. Not an overwhelming wine; it wants to be where you are, part of the party, not the center of it. An active participant for sure. Always well dressed and appropriate, like the Comtesse herself. Pure pleasure in a bottle.
Drinking at its prime, the nose is full of ripe blackcurrent. On the palate the fruit is balanced by good tannin with great complexity and a lengthy finish. This has really evolved in the last few months and is up there with the 1982 and 1986. It is a beautifully opulent wine, almost a throwback to the past, with a structure to stay here for the next decade. Just a short time in the decanter recommended. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
93..was hoping for something better after ready reviews. Mineral driven wine that was a bit light and lacking the concentration I like. Perhaps just not my style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Vertical Tasting with Nicolas Glumineau (Taberna del Alabardero): Aromatics I can only describe as "dark." There are also some of those Pauillac lead-pencil scents in there. Similar sensation on the palate -- deeply pitched black fruit with serious echoes of metal shavings on the back end. Later on in the night the aromas pick up an almost truffly character and the fruit complexion turns a brighter red. This was leaner than the 2000 but compensated for the smaller scale with its sheer piercing drive.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon Lalande dinner with Nicolas Glumineau (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): Very classic refined nose displaying singular black fruit, i.e. unison polished black fruit note, very floral and perfumed, cedar, strong lead pencil and crushed rock. Beautifully integrated sophisticate palate, silky and polished, cassis and lead pencil driven palate impression, very precise, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, silky tannins and a long mineral finish. I am a big fan of the 96, so classic, pure and energetic with impeccable balance. If you prefer the energy, sophistication and precision, this is totally ready.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smell: black and red currant, blackberry, leather, tar, wet earth nuance after 1h decanting disappeared. Palate: at the beginning palate was dominated by high accidity and bitter dry finish but after 1,5h of decanting wine became more approachable and sweet. Distingushed by excellent focus, medium body, fabulous concentration and strong tannins ( still after 20 years of aging). Severe style which is not liked by everyone, for true connoisseurs of Pauillac wines.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unbelievable nose jumping out of glass after pour... had taken bottle out of cellar earlier in day to get to room temp. Lead pencil/graphite and cedar. May be the tastiest Bordeaux I have had in years
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Our first bottle of any wine after a 4 week lay-off. Decanted only minutes before, it seemed disjointed and even bitter initially. But a combination of air and our palates readjusting to an old captivity, brought out the best in this bottle in the end. Rich but not sweet, some tannin still, satisfying.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet core with brick rim; screams gravel and green pepper, red currants, smoke and coffee; some fat on the palate more than the nose suggests, touch of Brett, still structured, grainy tannin, earth, Band-Aid, a bit disjointed for me but still quite noble; called '95 Lynch Bages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1st wine of a '96 dream tasting in Bourdeaux with our group. Done 2 separate times over 2 separate weeks. 1st week-medium garnet in the glass with moderate degree of bricking at the edge. Cherry and mushrooms on the nose, smooth entry with well integrated tannins, no dropoff at the end and good acidity maintained. Very feminine profile to this wine with subtle, soft fruit. 2nd bottle 2nd week diminished some-less mushroomy, still cherry, a bit tart, fruit a little more reduced. Bottle variance obvious from the last week's tasting but still good. I'd drink these now rather than later at the risk of losing, even more, fruit over time. Just my own personal taste profile.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine that started it all for me 15 years ago, and still going strong. Great, classic Pauillac nose. A masculine wine (higher proportion of Cabernet shines through), with plenty of dark fruit, but the tannins have really begun to soften and the wine is integrating nicely. Long finish that lingers seemingly for minutes. For today, it's the tannins that stand out: sweet, much like the '82, though this wine lacks the depth compared to that legendary wine, at least at this point. Love it!
Decanted for 3 hrs, dark ruby, dark fruit with just a whiff of tobacco, mod. tannins, long finish; still opening up when tasted (seems like a very young bottle), less open, darker & more tannic than the 96 Baron. Delicious, but just starting to drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my second favorite all-time vintage of PLC next to the 1982. While this bottle was excellent, it was not nearly as good as all of the prior bottles I've had. I don't think it is fading, I just think this bottle may not have been perfectly stored for its 20+ years of life. Straight out of the bottle, it seemed tired with strong notes of cigar box and leather, but lacking fruit. However, it got better with about an hour of air and began to strut its stuff with classic Pauillac notes of cassis, black currant, black licorice, and very silly smooth / round tannin. Strange tasting experience as rarely does a wine show more fruit with a slow oxidation. Nevertheless, don't let this rating deter you from this wine. Just make sure if you are buying it, you ensure a great provenance.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had some bottle variability with this wine - this bottle was great. Deep ruby in colour. A pronounced nose of black currant, cedar and forest floor. The wine is full bodied with high acidity and medium tannin. On the palate there are notes of blackberry, black currant, green bell pepper and leather. The wine has a long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generally I pretty clearly prefer the Comtesse to the Baron... on this particular night this bottle followed a '03 Baron which had just a bit more meat to it. Or maybe we were less drunk when we drank it. Remarkably similar flavors, though... plumminess, meatiness, some residual tannin and excellent acidity. Very drinkable and no jagged edges. No need to baby this wine: it is a plain delicious (if somewhat costly) beverage to be enjoyed with food! I would say no particular hurry and it could in fact improve with additional years in bottle. 15-20 more, even!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice wine that's entering it's drinking window. I would have liked it better if it didn't have a green note to it. No real faults but green olives don't appeal to me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking better than my last bottle. Compared to Las Cases which was slightly better. Very solid bordeaux with good depth and finish. Solid tanins. No rush to drink these.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle of six stored since en primeur purchase. Beautiful deep crimson with some bricking. Wonderful nose of blackcurrant, cedar, lead pencil and tobacco with touches of flowers, dark chocolate and mint. The palate is beautifully shaped with terrific length and a gossamer finish of finest tannins. There are plenty of classic fruits with a touch of herbaceousness which provides balance and interest. This is a classic Lalande that will now drink for years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose has pencil shaving, ink, sous bois, forest, black fruit and charcoal. Palate is very balanced with lots of stuffing. The palate is silky with round black fruit. Really impressed by the length and complexity. It kept evolving in the glass. Long life ahead. Classic left bank. 94-95
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Whilst I like this wine, I've never been as keen (or thought it as ready) as others. Same again. This really needs lots of air and shows more cabernet (and less merlot plushness). I actually think this is more comparable to the 08 Lalande, and less similar to the 10 than claimed by others (and had them all side by side to test). It has the 96 left bank 'freshness' which always reminds me of the 08s (a vintage in which Lalande is excellent imho). Hold to 2025. 95pts.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistently stunning, this is a beauty. The textures are pure silk, the fruits are ripe, sweet and complex, the tannins, sugar and freshness are in balance and the finish is sexy. Plus it is showing great today!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open and generous on the nose - lovely notes of dark fruit, spices, tobacco, cedar. Elegant and well balanced on the palate, soft tannic grip, great acidity, very good fruit. Ready, but no rush at all. Fine length. 92-94
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good but was actually out done by 96 clos du Val cab res. Really good bottle but just lacked advanced secondary flavors and texture on the palate to be extraordinary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted, got significantly better after 2 hrs, kept marginally improving after that. Perfect cork, excellent level, fresh color, clean nose upon opening. Good bottle. Overall good wine, still youthful. Will hold for a while, no rush. Fresh nose, quite complex, a lot of flowers, interlaced with earthy tones. Good mouth development, harmonious, slightly bitter (house style I guess), good length, energy. Solid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Folks, I am now more convinced than ever that perfectly stored 1996 Bordeaux (top chateau) still need more time. This is my 3rd bottle from an immaculate case and these puppies need, possibly, another 5 years. Perfect cork, fill, label, color, and also a ton of sediment, this still needs to flesh out some more nuance and tertiary flavor. Having said all of that, this is a blockbuster of a wine. The expression of cabernet fruit is exemplary and this is a massive wine. A little shy on the nose, but textbook young Lalande - hint of green (good), cassis, cherry, briar patch, and pencil. The palate is the star with dominating red fruit followed by light tobacco, that hint of green, cedar, and fine pencil. Significant tannin and a large frame, this should all come together over the next half decade. Currently, 89 Lalande is drinking significantly better, but the 96 has the goods to surpass it. For now, 96+ Pts
Still one of my favorite vintages from this producer. It's slowly evolving and becoming more interesting. A really complex nose of cassis, coffee, horse stable, green pepper, and violets. Dense and layered on the palate, it's hard not to like this wine. Tannins need a bit more softening. A gorgeous earthy finish with impressive length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened, decanted, and poured almost immediately. Cork broke a bit, but wine was in great shape. Right in the drinking window. Very classic Bordeaux with lots of cigar, tobacco, leather. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft and unobjectionable. Quite green on the nose and palate: cedar and tobacco just on the cusp of being herbaceous. Some gentle red fruit. Short finish. Not bad, just not much to the wine. Not nearly as good as the bottle I had a number of years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby red. The Pichon Lalande starts off with powerful notes of cedar, green pipe tobacco, melted dark chocolate and red raspberries. Medium-bodied and elegant in the mouth, with red cherries, black plums and a trace of mint leading to a long, long finish that gently grips the gums. This is firmly in its early drinking window and quite enjoyable now, but will certainly last for some time. A lovely, complex Pauillac! 95.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looked and drank quite young Telltale PL green on the nose and slightly on the palate, but for me anyway, in a good way. It's herbal rather than green pepper 93-4 but tough side by side with excellent '95 Schrader
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love Pichon Lalande and this is a tremendous example of the wines of this Chateau. Pepper, flint, ash and dark fruit are all there on the nose. The palate is highly flower with some more of that dark fruit, but beautifully well-balance with vibrant acidity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has really developed in the last 6 months and is entering its optimum drinking window where it should stay for years. Now a typical robust and rounded Bordeaux, the nose is big and fruity with blackcurrent and cassis. The tannin is good and firm but not overly harsh and there is good depth on the palate A good balanced finish but it does end rather abruptly. This is now more advanced than its older siblings of 1995 and 1986.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
open for several hour, decanted for 1. Drank over 2 hrs. From the beginning taste this showed everything, didn't change much over the drinking of the bottle. All the elements of the grape varities were in evidence, from the casis, graphite, cedar box, green leaf tobacco and minor amounts of cherry. Truly a fine bottle and holding, basis on previous tastings. Tannins totally in check.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A savoury Pichon Lalande. The nose has a distinct herbaceous streak mixed in with blackcurrant and forest floor. The palate again has blackcurrant, crushed herbs, lead pencil and leaves. It is drinking well 20 years in but I am in no rush to drink up other bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brick colored. Unexpectedly closed bottle. Some plum in the aroma, but restrained. The tight wine mellowed out after 45 minutes in a decanter, showing mocha, coffee, smoke, leather, smooth and melded tannins. Quite good. After two hours it tightened up again, with acidity coming forward. This was an odd bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From first pour, perfection. Straight from the bottle beautiful complex earthly herbaceous, dark delicious layered fruit. An almost heavely layered earthy dark fruit explosion. And then the transition at the one hour point... the wet forest floor dries out to reveal the viscous intensity of a mildly medicinal thick layer up front which when dived through, like a swimmer in a pool, into a deep dark delicious, viscous remedy of all ills. Perfection.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dried cherry, plum, dark fruit, graphite, good but past peak for my taste in the sense I liked the bottles I had 3-5 years significantly better. Did the wine change or my taste? Still killer, don't get me wrong. Grilling herbs, color is bricking. Expected it to be WOTN, but was least thrilling.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours. Drank along side the 90. The 96 was much more youthful. Still dark and zero bricking. The 90 was much more advanced, lighter in color and had more earth vs red fruit. The 96 was, IMO, in the perfect spot. Well aged and very nuanced but still powerful and totally balanced. Nothing out of place and a wonderful harmony of depth, flavor, persistence and complexity. 95+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Bordeaux Blind: Good nose, classic damp earth but juicy and sweet red fruit, red cedar as well. Big tannic structure and souring acid through the finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We've had two of these lately and all I'm gonna say is, it is soft, unobjectionable, agreeable, goes great with food, give pleasure... a true classic, delicious and unobtrusive. Everything a classic second growth pauillac should be. !
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Third bottle tasted this year. All the same quality, classic Pauillac - decant two hours, then enjoy a well balanced, well structured, elegant bordeaux with food.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. What a bruiser. Lots of black fruit and cedar, gun powder, pencil lead. Quit alcoholic, feels 'new worldish' and young - would have never give this 20 years of age. I think this needs more time or serious decanting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5th of 25, decanted 2 hours, perfect cork and level - much as my May 15 note, these 96s seem to be regressing into their shells and are currently hard work, despite their underlying qualities, hard currently to rate above fine (17.5), though I'm sure the underlying wine is at least VF (18.5), but when.....technically similar to the 86 which took time to show, though the quality of tannin and fruit seem better in 96?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Potential for upside is tremendous. Think of the 1982 vintage being tasted just after turn of the century. This '96 vintage is not far behind. Delicious pauillac juice.
94 for now. Re-try after 2020.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful and expressive luxurious bouquet with dark forest fruits, tobacco, cigar box, graphite, smoke and some mint. On the palate a slightly sweet start and all the beautiful elements of the bouquet are there as well. Beautifully fresh acidity and round tannin with a soft and delicious bite. Overall a great, complex and elegant wine with good finesse. Entering its maturity stage now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is not bad at all, on its own. But on this night, it was opened beside a resplendent 1996 Mouton, so it was somewhat overshadowed. The nose is very Pauillac alright -- cassis, toasted cedar, sculpted with a fine chisel. But there was just a very faint green note, which I might not have caught if it weren't for the Mouton right next to it, which accentuated the Pichon's lightness in comparison. Having said that, the wine does tend towards medium-body, and is almost mature and most drinkable -- especially after a 5 hour decant. 5 year wait rather than 50, definitely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple and full-bodied with richly ripe and textured, this a pleasure to drink. Decanted for three hours and this beauty drank perfectly with a crusty and rare tenderloin. Could drink this wine over and over with its balance and elegance from mid palate to finish. Spice, rose mallow and Calycanthus flower aromas, a basket of blue and black fruit, mulberry and dew berry, a hint of licorice, toast, and bit of dried tobacco leaves. In perfect form and will remain for five to eight more years. Opulent and concentrated, a winner.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red with a nice lustre. Rich, ripe dark berries, distinctly cedary but in a smooth balanced style. Slippery, elegant style, very refined tannins. Flavours well aged, fruit has softened and perhaps faded. Lovely cedary, mulberry, tobacco leaf, cassis flavours. But on the downhill run.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1st of 12. A beautiful wine. Elegant and silky with warm berry fruits, supported by an underlying minerality. More undergrowth as it opened up. Well balanced and with good length the wine is drinking very nicely now but still has future development potential. 5/5
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite a youthful colour. Very full, ripe nose with poised black fruit. Very youthful palate. Lots of juicy black fruits give it an inky black texture. Fairly integrated tannins though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just starting to enter its drinking plateau. Full of blackberry and fruit but austere, checked by a steely harshness, this is developing into a blockbuster of a wine. OK to drink now but will certainly continue to improve
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely mature Pauillac. It opened a little muted but several hours later at the end of the evening it had gained concentration and complexity in the nose. Very nice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After a great bottle almost a year ago (Papies 95 after a few 92-3s in the years before) this was back to a more muted and almost closed bottle at times. We decanted for a good 2 hours as well but sort of never felt to be kicking off, the nose had still a fair amount of oak residue and although a very enjoyable wine was in no way up to standard with what we expected. was no better than a 92-93 this time unfortunately.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine, an archetype of a mature medoc in a great vintage. Dark crimson robe, aromas of red berries, blueberry and cassis, and hints of cedar. It is very well balanced, has smooth and slightly melted tanins, and is medium to full-bodied. Powerful and elegant at the same time. I very much enjoyed it and thought this can still age for 15/20 years from now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle #3 of 3. My son came into town unexpectedly, and so I let him choose whatever he wanted from the cellar. After much deliberation, he chose this. Chip off the old block! Very orange, almost brown, hue to the plummy purple red. Worried at first. Then the nose on opening - stupendous - put my fears aside. Double decanted for an hour, and enjoyed over two. Fading a bit at the end, but strong throughout otherwise. A distinct lavender or thyme underpinning to the plummy, bright, deep and fully mature fruit. An almost sweet thread (someone called it honey, which isn't quite it for me, but I can relate), beautiful green note (96 vintage), perfect acidity and detail, and completely resolved tannins. Beguiling, and profound complexity. A beauty. Only Lalande I've liked better was the '82 in the mid 90s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The ‘96 Pichon showed a beautiful mature bouquet with earth tones up front leading to crushed red fruit, dried flowers and spice. On the palate, I found saturating dark red fruits on broad and fleshy frame as a bump of brisk acidity provided lift. It finished earthy yet fresh with hints of savory herbs and olive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had this wine before a couple times, a few years ago, but this is the first time the wine seemed fully ready to drink. The nose was very feminine with elegant black fruit, a 1996 Left Bank style greenness, some floral notes, and what I'm deciding is the tell-tale Pichon Lalande honey/caramel note. I've caught this honey note on the 1982, 1997, and 2002 and I'm beginning to think it's a particular characteristic of this Chateau. My friend used it to pick out the 1982 blind in a tasting of 8 wines. The palate was smooth, fruity, and silky and a pleasure to drink. It's an excellent wine, but based on its reputation, I was hoping for a more explosive nose and more intensity and flavour on the palate. Perhaps these key features of an outstanding wine will develop with more time. At the moment, this wine ranks behind the 1979, 1982, and 1989 which I found amazing. It ranks ahead of the 1986, 1990, 1997, and 2002 for me.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon Lalande Tasting: Dark and deep, some minerals, complex; Surprisingly big bodied. I have drunk a few of these earlier, and this bottle was far more mature than some bottles just a few years back. Rich wine, vey CS dominated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Killer, killer young Bordeaux. Most folks didn't seem focused on this youngster, but I was enthralled and it just got better and better over the evening.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely nose of gravel and sweet tobacco. Fine, aging claret in a somewhat firm style for the estate. Beautifully integrated with sumptuous flavors of gravel, tobacco and earth along with sweet smoky black fruits. This vintage of PL is going to be long-lived but is finally drinking well now with nice secondary flavor development and firm but supple tannins. Medium-bodied and very fine. 94+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An emotional little wine. If Jesus had a nanny this is she.
Puckered fun up front. Thrilling tension... Zingy fireworks up the side, business down the middle.
Two sips in and it's business time. The kimono opens to reveal plush dark fruit... Sour cherries, black currents, and a hint of wet stone.
At the one hour mark its Ship Ahoy! She set sail into a brooding stormy sunset of plush velvet currents, crushed violet and a good fistful of iron filings scattered across the deck.
At the two hour mark its goodnight nurse. Time for the medicine cabinet. Fattens out to a syrupy liquid elixir, reminiscent of losing ones virginity in a field of liquorice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second Sunday Group: 1996 Bordeaux (high end) (Marty's): Opens with notes of green, herbal qualities with black fruit underneath. Has some structure and tannin, but it's balanced by the fruit and feels appropriate. Flavors of red fruit and herbs, green tobacco and iron. Finishes with greater length than the first couple of wines and seems more accessible overall. This doesn't change much during the course of the tasting, but everything just becomes more amplified as it sits. Excellent. 94 pts.
Double blind: My #2, Domino's #8 Group #6, 54 pts
Single blind guess: Lafite- more due to process of elimination, as I have very little experience with Lafite and don't have identifying characteristics in my taste memory.
Outstanding Pauillac! Perfectly paired with lamb chops, thoroughly enjoyed this "classic style" bordeaux. Decanted for an hour, however steadily improved over the next three hours of tasting. Great nose and structure, long finish. Love it. 96
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color with a brownish rim. The nose is full of black currant and black cheery intermixed with toasty oak, ceder, black pepper and green bell pepper.It is medium body with refreshing acidity and velvety tannin. Long finish. Very good quality wine.
Recommend to open and decant 1.5 hour before drinking.
Food pairing: Beef tartare, pan seared pigeon check with red wine sauce
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow o'd for hrs then double decanted, garnet with no brick, nose of tobacco & dark fruit, taste of dark cherry with soft tannins, long finish, outstanding & ready to drink, but no rush (just entering plateau, IMHO)! Bordeaux at its best!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
If you're looking to catch an elegant, text book Pauillac in the perfect place, pop a cork on this beauty if you have a bottle or two stashed away and be prepared for a beautiful nose of tobacco, forest floor, cassis, green olive tapenade, (but in a good way) and spicy cherries. Plush, polished and sensuous, the silky, fresh, sweet fruits and black cherry liqueur in the end notes feel great while they linger on your palate. Decanted 30 minutes before serving brought it right where it needed to be. Additional time in the glass did not add much.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well, sh&t, I guess this is why people like Bordeaux. Amazing nose, palate not far behind. Secondary development but seems younger than its nearly 20 years. Decanted for about an hour before we got to it and it was totally open.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am amazed at the consistency of scores and tasting notes on this great wine, a testament to how good a chateau this is. I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, a classic left bank work of art - medium dark colour out of the bottle with a telltale nose of earth, hay, cedar, tar, secondary notes of petals and cherries. As others have suggested, the nose itself is an amazing experience. The tannins are beautifully in balance here, I'd say this wine is peaking right now and I still think it easily has 10+ years left in it, perhaps 20. The complexity will only get better on well stored bottles; worth noting this vintage can often be purchased at auction at cheaper levels than current releases, an absurd bargain.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnificient! I would never stop sniffing, the nose of this wine will stay in my mind forever. Leather, hints of cacao, dark berries, cassis, faint vanilla, very complex. Mouth is super well integrated, balanced and lingering, very long, tanins are still present, but light and not dry. I am mouth watering while writing this. This wine is in my top five best wine ever! Man I would like to have more...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very masculine wine, a textbook pauillac in the making. A wine of great depth and flavors. Complex aroma of dark fruits followed with hint of leather and smoked wood. Excellent balance and purity. Will continue to improve and be a great dining companion for many years to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Uncorked 2 hours in advance, the wine might have suffered from travel. It took 15 minutes in the glass to start showing . Nose started to show red and black fruit. On the palate balanced but restrained, now giving it all now. While I enjoyed it after a while in the glass, this bottle suffered from travel and can be much better, 92 now, more later I hope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine-Nona post-Bordeaux trip meeting (Messa Restaurant, Tel-Aviv): double decanting 2 hours prior to consuming dark opaque red-purple with a bit of amber rim fine dark fruits tertiary aromas with earthy-leather notes medium-full bodied, soft integrated silky tannins, excellent balance & harmony, rich savory flavours, well structured, delicate complexity, still feels quite young and can age for another decade or so. Very long aftertaste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 45 minutes. Stunning nose. Buckets of violets, leather, sweet spice, tobacco box with black cherries and almond notes. Palate is full with medium, fine tannins & a good zip of acid to create real balance. Ripe black cherry fruits and very light forest floor. An excellent wine which unquestionably is drinking now but has a number of years ahead of it. Now-2030.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chateau Cos d'Estournel Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago IL): Popped-and-poured. Black berries and espresso, with very good density. Acidity and tannins very pronounced right now, but the length and power foreshadow great potential here. Last bottle I tried provided more pleasure and had been decanted an hour or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml... Dark and deep, the merlot seems dominant right now. Impressively balanced and seamless without a harsh note. Not hard and closed at present, but this is quite subdued and only offers brief hints of what it is capable of. I'm withholding a rating today, as it seems out of sorts. I expect that this just needs more time for its inner flamboyance to emerge.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1990's Cali Cabs vs Bordeaux tasting. Best of the Bordeauxs. Runner up for WOTN. Nose of spice and cedar. Black cherry compote, grilled beef, minerals, and a medium finish. These were tasted blind. The winning Dalla Valle had a little more depth, fruit, complexity and finish. This was very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet. Even after a four hour decant this was still relatively closed. Showing massive potential with Latour-like fruit power backed up by rich earth. Eased up towards the end of the tasting giving off tea leaf notes and also some Lalande cedar and coffee. A bit of a brute outstanding from the otherwise very pretty Lanande house style. Going to be an excellent bottle with just a little more patience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted and let sit for 5 hours, then consumed over the next 2 hours. Classic Old world nose of cedar, lead pencil, currants. The palate showed a little closed, but was silky and had an awesome texture that was expressive and at the same time deep and brooding. Served next to a Ridge Monte Bello from 96, this came across as more complex and age worthy.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is still closed. Decant for 90 minutes. Quite good, balanced and deeply saturated flavors. Could do with another another 3-5 years in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured due to lack of planning on my part (fully intending to open the bottle that evening.) Excellent Pauillac with lovely fruit, earth, tobacco, and a touch of bell pepper. My favorite wine of the evening.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and decanted 30 minutes table side..Cedar and lead pencil nose right away, the wine was beautiful on the mouth and drank well for the entire dinner. Very classy Bordeaux.. probably near peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle showed a lot of bell pepper flavors along with smoky black fruits and a slight note of roasted peanuts. On the leaner side but with a very fine complexity developing on the finish. Still needs some time to fully flesh out and I must say, somewhat surprisingly, that I'm beginning to prefer the '95 to this as more time passes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a masterpiece (easily the best bottle we have had so far in e attempts overthe last 6 yrs - Papies 92-93) and really a young wine still albeit with a lot of secondary characteristics. Double decanted (a bit of fine sediment so one needs to be a bit careful) and took to The Beast, London. A good 1.5hrs from open to consumption and by then the wine was singing. A beautiful, classic nose (present from th epop of the cork), leather, light pepper, cedar, maybe tobacco at times. Open, very expressive nose and justa joy. On the palate it is still just about entering its drinking window and the wine has many more summers to live through. Stilll even not at peak, it has pretty nice fee, tannin is on the silky side and def has shed that 1996 wall of tannin feel. A few dry spots on the finish do jump out but this is a true classic. 95.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th of 25, decanted an hour, perfect fill, previous notes very good to very fine - bright, deepish garnet, little development; classy bouquet with secondaries now developing, cassis, bramble, tobacco and a whiff of violet; medium full, promises more than it delivers as pinched but still long and grippy, my first bottle in 2011 was best (VF) but very primary, since when it has retreated to its shell and is just beginning to re-emerge on nose with more to come on palate. At present fine plus (18/20).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A victim of it's own success, I think - backwards and still reticent probably because it has been so well kept (the fill is up to the foil). Opens over 4 hours to show beautiful powdery black currant, cedar, violets, and with more air, pure white flowers. Very much like a younger version of the 89 with not only the aromatic profile but the silky smooth texture and perfect balance. I think Clive Coates wrote about this wine, "O joy to come!" - how I agree. Needs 5 years at least from a bottle like this.
Montmartre on a sunny Spring day.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Landmark Hotel Decanter Masterclass with Nicolas Glumineau. Sweet ripe fruits, dense and lush, completely resolved tannins and enough acidity to enjoy this wine today and a few more years to come. An interesting contrast to 1995, which was a little more angular, perfumed, black tobacco, cedar and capsicum. Graphite and mineral finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With the 2010 the best wine in this vertical. Nicely evolved in colour, very healthy and glowing. Fine nose with dark fruit, pencil shavings, leather, spices, earth. Wonderful texture, open, round, but with a lovely bite to it. nice acidity and spiciness - all very well integrated. Very good finish. No rush drinking this, but delicious now. 93-95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P & P, half bottle. To follow a sublime LLC 1985 (very unfair). Shows its relative youth. Reticent nose. Still slightly sharp, not yet fully integrated. But a lovely wine in the making, smooth and long. Another 5 years required.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Plummy red nose, leather, starting to develop nice old bordeaux scents. Rich fruit is somewhat outpaced by forward acidity. This picks up more nuance with time in the glass, earth, spice and cedar begin to emerge. Should get better with more rest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stupid to PNP late in the dinner, but still outstanding wine...dark and full but plenty of fruit that would surely have blossomed with time....very nice wine and years to go. Strong cassis and graphite and some darker fruits that were just beginning to show...looking forward to remaining bottles
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Couldn't hold off from this after trying it recently with the Coravin. Cassis, leather, graphite, and coffee grounds. Solid mid-palate with nice mouthfeel. Fine, structured tannins. Lengthy finish. Very, very nice. A standout. Agree with previous score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Here we are again my beauty !!!!! You are gettin better each time we meet . We know eachother for so many years and i hope we ll meet again as soon as possible. A magic bottle of Bordeaux . Lovin it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking wonderfully. Rich Bordeaux nose with casisis, leather, graphite and a small dose of poop. Long lingering finish with enough tannic bite to say that this will continue to evolve for many years. The tiny bit of what I assume to be brett is the only distraction to an otherwise harmonious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
60th Birthday Dinner (Our Place): Double decanted for two hours before serving. Served with Barolo Braised Beef, Polenta, Braised Greens with Olive Oil and Garlic. This suffered alongside the juggernaut of 96 Scavino Annunziata. A poor pairing and my bad - live and learn. This was just too subtle, light, green, young and subtle to pair this way. I loved it, but I really will have to taste this again in more favorable circumstances. Judgement deferred.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Coravin. Developed in glass over 1.5 hour. Nose of plum, dark fruit, earth, leather, graphite, and cola. Full-bodied, silky, and very polished. Round tannins, obvious structure. Lengthy finish. This appears to be firmly in its drinking window, where it will remain for at least a decade. Has the obvious structure for the long haul. Look forward to drinking this in the upcoming years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the right time to be popping corks on this beauty. With a short decant, tobacco, cassis, forest floor and cedar chest notes were all over the place. The texture is silky, slinky and the finish, leaves you with flavor, freshness and silk. The wine was produced from a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slowly aired in bottle. Clear garnet in color. Classic nose of Pauillac, very black currant and cedary, hint of leather and wild flowers too. Still young in mouth, refreahing fruit and acidity but tannin givea a bitter aftertaste, probably lack of ripe sweetneas here. Shoulder continue to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, followed approximately two hours. Deep garnet in the glass, with perhaps the faintest bricking at the rim. The nose was fairly expressive from the get go, with notes of currant, pencil lead, tobacco, cedar, fresh herb, earth and light florals. On the palate, still quite structured, but well polished and in near perfect balance. Moderate unresolved tannin, medium acidity, and a long finish, accentuated with tastes of currant, blackberry, graphite, cigar, earth and cedar. Lovely wine. Textbook Bordeaux, with a ton of potential. From a well stored bottle, I'd give this another 5-8 years before this hits full maturity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Horizontal Tasting (David's House - Kitchener, ON): This is so typically Paulliac.... Pencil lead, graphite, pyrazene, casks, tobacco, mineral, and cedar. Palate is lush and polished with everything in order. Pure fruit that is augmented by leather, cedar casks, tobacco, mineral, pencil lead, granite and most importantly....liquified love :) Finish is long, layered and lush. wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Wine Nerds do Christmas Dinner (Dave' Place - Kitchener, ON Canada): Quite a classicly styled left bank Bordeaux. Not surprisingly I did find this to be very youthful, but I like old wine. A great wine today and given the trajectory of other Pichon Lalande's I've had I would expect this to be in need of 10 more years to be at peak for my palate. Nose is of mixed herbs, sweet cedar, plum, dark cherry, currants, graphite, dusty old furniture, cigar and toasted bread. All in all still quite young, though enjoyable today. The palate is so perfectly put together with optimal acid and tannin and loads of lovely berry fruit fruit on the finish. Medium plus finish in length. All the pieces are in the right place for this wine to age gracefully and perhaps pick up a point or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simply stunning left bank just approaching prime. Showing lovely complexity with graphite, green pepper, cassis, tobacco, and cedar. Amazing balance between lush dark fruit and gracefully aged pauillac character. Still on the upswing but must be approaching its peak. What a treat indeed. One of the best pichons I've had
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is getting better and better with every passing year. Textbook Pauillac... cassis and cedar.This is the best Bordeaux I've tried outside the first growths (just edging the '89 Lynch Bages). God only knows what this will taste like in 10-15 years. I will try and be patient with my remaining 9 bottles.
Really enjoyed this wine, it was brimming was potential but had tons of dark fruit, nice texture and solid structure with plenty of acidity and balance. It's still filling out its frame and has a ton going for it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork on this bottle was a bit disintegrated, and I'm not sure how well it was earlier stored. That said, and assuming this one was a bit dried out, it was still an excellent, silky and smooth Bordeaux, and I will have a hard time waiting a couple years to try a second bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! From impeccable storage and with perfect fill and cork, this is the second best Lalande that I have ever had, trailing only the immortal 1982. I still contend that the 1989 is currently in a better place, but the 96 is clearly the better wine and will be mind blowing upon full maturity. Based on this bottle, well stored examples should sleep for at least another 5 years. That said, this is textbook Pauillac and just beginning to show secondary notes. Screaming nose of black cherry, cassis, cedar, briar, menthol, and pencil. Swirling brings out hints of earth and tobacco. The palate is rich and lush, and clearly representative of the high percentage of cabernet used in the 96. Fruit driven currently, with all of the flavors of the nose, your palate is immersed with sensory overload. Long and layered, this is a Lalande that you will not soon forget. I was amazed at how fresh this was. 97+ Pts.
HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): No discernible flaws on this bottle, but it clearly wasn't very good. It's like this was moving towards secondary characteristics, but the fruit had been abducted by aliens. Leather and brown spice, but absolutely no sign of anything else. The palate was similarly austere, with tannins that were just a bit too chewy. Probably an off bottle, but I'm not sure how or why it's off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich dark brooding fruit aromas. A large scale showy wine with a ripe and dense flavor profile, chewy sweet tannin structure. Perhaps just a tad hard and still comes across quite young, but so nice. 95 with some possible upside. Yummy stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande / Pichon-Longueville Baron Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago IL): Open/ decanted 1 1/2 hours before serving. This wine keeps improving with more cellar time and continues to evolve in interesting directions. Dense black fruit everywhere with some cigarbox and leather. Some mushroom hints. Long and powerful, this is still slightly backward and should continue to pick up more complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
unfair as I had this next to the 96 Mouton. despite that it was very very good. more pencil lead in the nose, more tannic and finish less seamless. but plenty of heft and a great bottle with a steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Judgement of Sydney Blind Tasting: The most "classic" Cabernet of this flight. Red currant, iron, chocolate, cedar and some olive and undergrowth aromas. The acidity is fresh and the fruit is lithe, resulting in a palate that is the hallmark of restraint. The fruit could probably use a little bit more body to take it to the next level but this was very fine regardless.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for sediment, followed in the glass approximately 3 hours. Garnet in the glass with a very faint brick. Beautiful nose of black currant, black cherry, celery seed, graphite, tobacco, florals, earth and cedar. Surprisingly expressive at this juncture, as I was expecting this to be a little closed, but it was very open right from first pour. On the palate, this just screams class; incredible purity of fruit, medium acidity and silky tannin gripping slightly on the long finish, accentuated with tastes of black currant, cigar, bell pepper, mineral and cedar. While I think it is no crime to open this today, I think this will be even better in 5 years time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
More open than the '89; cedar, berries, smoke, and a good hit of green bell pepper that keeps my nose in the glass. Lots of acidity, moderate tannin, more classic than the '89, too. Some thought this was backward but I loved it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With a decent amount of aeration time, this beauty was singing at full volume. Harmonious, balanced, elegant, mesmerizing are all the quality aspects you can put forth on this impeccable wine. The seductive bouquet is blossomed with currants, cedar, lead pencil, incense, spice and some licorice. Still young and vibrant, expansive on the palate filled with sweet berries and cigar smoke, the long finish will have you smiling and salivating for more. Simply outstanding!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cool minerals and cherry notes, linear and precise but at the same time dense and powerful on the mid palate, lead pencil, earthiness, cedar and minerals, still quite tannic and youthful. Still on the upslope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Home Still very youthful with a rich nose of berries, cedar, earth, spice and vanilla. Complex, mouth coating palate with a medium length. This is wonderful stuff and is up there with the greats of the '96 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another half bottle. This is still on the up. P & P, would have been better decanted. The last half glass was the best. Very full, rounded, classic claret on the palate, but nose a little reticent tonight. Not a typical Pauillac, seems a bit nearer to a St Julien. That may reflect the lower percentage of merlot than usual. Lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fully mature, slight tart notes, lengthy finish, the merlot not as apparent as in past, and not as hedonistic as this wine sometimes is, revealing its Pauillac roots. Suspect it's as good as it will get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monopole: Forest floor, moss, sour cherry, tea, herbs, and cocoa and shrooms in the nose--quite pretty; on the palate the acid is very high, it is ripe but still with sour red fruits, low in tannins, and a bit tart and thin. This has seen better days.
Just beautiful aromatics here with notes of graphite minerals, charred tobacco grilled nuts. Quite open for business with less fruit than the '95 but more refinement and elegance. Delicious mature flavors of dark fruits, tobacco and graphite minerals lead to a finely elegant and complex finish with notes of grilled nuts and complex spices. A good backbone of smooth tannins and acidity suggest this will keep developing with time but I very much like drinking it now. 94+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wonderfully majestic nose of blackberry, cigar box, tobacco and bell pepper lead way to much of the same on the layered palate with ample acidity and a long finish.
After having been open for 5 hours in bottle and without food, the wine morphed into greeness in spades which is going to stop me from rating this even higher.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A striking, lush and open wine. Aromas of roses, cedar, and tobacco. Aromas all come through in the taste with mocha, anise, and umami. Long on the palate. The flavors go on and on. Decant 45 minutes before serving. This bottle wasn't as good as previous samples, but I think that is because it wasn't decanted. This needs time to open up: a superb wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simply textbook Pauillac. Tobacco, smoke, and freshly tilled earth. The palate is pure silk, dancing with juicy cherries and nice, faintly herbal hints of Oregano. Saline and mineral, vibrant. Yum, this is just fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very elegant wine. Best of the 1996 tried (Chateau Palmer & Chateau Leoville Barton) on that day. Silky, lusciousness in a mouthful. Great balance, fine tannins. Earth, leather, dark currants. Yum
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lunch at Stovells (Stovells, Chobham): Smooth, beautifully mannered mature red that had everyone cooing over it. It made the burgundies that preceded it seem exceptionally callow; unsurprisingly given their relative ages (and of course prices). Really very fine. My only slight issue with it would be that occasionally I detected an overtly vegetal note that marred what was otherwise an impeccable claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simply stunning wine - THIS is what good Bordeaux is about right here in this bottle. Classy, elegant, refined, reserved. Do yourself a favour and get a bottle. This has everything you could possibly want in a Bordeaux - lots of leather, dark fruit, lightness, persistence, some soil, violets, cedar.....just pick all the cliches and wrap them in silk.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
30 min decant for first glass. Closed at this point - green and earth. 3 hours later and the was drinking beautifully. Classic PLL - leather , cigar box, earth , graphite with equal amount of fruit. Tannins smooth after long decant. I don't see this getting better if you like fruit, since it is in the background now. Lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vegetal. At least on opening and for the first hour in the decanter. Oddly that changed and the fruit began to show. It's a lovely wine but perhaps going through a mixed period in its development. Length is good and it continues to improve with more time. Drinking through 2020+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened up with attractive pauillac nose and character but the vegetal notes of 96 really kicked in and it was a little light and almost vinegary ... But was drinking her in summer so not really fair as a bit warm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
While previous notes apply I am a little concerned. This particular bottle seemed a little closed and not expressive as previous bottles until day two when it really blossomed into the 92-93 point wine that it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 90 minutes, followed over next 90 minutes. This performed even better than the previous bottles. Absolutely singing. For me, this has everything. Wonderful nose I'd be happy to just sniff all night, intense, seamless, complex tapestry with plenty of fruit, yet it is also graceful and weightless. Absolutely delicious. Beautiful wine with plenty of life ahead. 97+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted three hours, consumed over next 90 minutes. Beautifully developed, extremely complex, seamless, integrated, balanced, intense yet weightless, like a ballet troupe dancing all over my taste buds followed by a lingering, memorable finish. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted four hours beforehand. Very elegant nose and mouthfeel but was expecting a bit more fruit expressiveness on the palate - this felt more developed than I expected. Maybe it hadn't had perfect provenance. Very nice experience still.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
from magnum. 2 hr decant. grunty and powerful still... herbacious 96 character alive and well... + typical pauliiac pencils and plums... with hint of olive. i've enjoyed lalande more in other bottles, this didn't quite sing. i thought it had reached peak, other notes suggest it is yet to hit full potential.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh my! We opened a bottle of this last year that had a crumbling cork and showed some age. I was a bit nervous about this bottle but... Oh My! It was wonderful!
A light, ethereal, but glorious bouquet announces this wine is to be respected. The colour was lovely, barely showing any tinges of brown (as opposed to the previous bottle). Silky, smooth, glorious balance. Dark fruit and lovely, integrated tannins. This bottle was near its peak IMO. One of the better Pauillac's (quality and age) I have had. Loved it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5 Decades of Chateau Pichon Lalande, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): 3rd time we have come across this and with consistent ratings. Still quite a lot of colour here and no sign of age ( byt this time we think it is a PL trademark to hold it colour). Lovely peppery nose, light on the fruit, no secondary notes either. This is a very young wine of potential and to us at this stage it is in waiting mode (especially vs the 1995). We are big fans of 1996 left bank and this wine goes a lot way in proving the potential of the vintage. Vibrant, firm, lots of depth and good balance which just make it perfect to age. At the moment it’s a 92-93 from us but give it 5yrs and this will be in the high 90s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opulent nose, very complex and rich - very impressive. Superb balance, smooth and silky on the palate, complex, fresh. Really, really long. Outstanding.
Bellingham Grand Crew Dinner (Lars' & Carolyn's): Decanted 4 hours, still needed an hour in the glass to really shine. Blackberries and currants, earthy leather and tobacco, tannins fine but still prominent. I'd hold them if I had some.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NYC Dinner with Peggy, Jim, Jacques and Jill (Jacques and Jill Levy): Dark red core, lightening at rim but no bricking. Fabulous nose of cassis, mushrooms, earth. Medium-full-bodied, cassis and fresh earth follow the palate, some beginning tertiary notes, tannins resolved, great balance, entering its plateau of maturity, should continue to drink well for many years. Outstanding.
Also drank the '96 Cos and Leoville Barton. This had the best nose of the night.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Half hour decant before 1st glass. Drunk from a magnum. Not a lot I could add to reviews is a wine like this other than it's very polished and ready to go. Dare I say it had reached its peak after 1.5 hrs? Maybe it's time to reap your reward on this one. I'm no Bordeaux man but this was great
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This opaque garnet wine was tasted in double-blind fashion, with the bottle kindly provided by K.J. It has an intense and complex nose of plums, pencil shavings, walnuts, lavender and leather. Medium-to-full-bodied on the palate, it shows similar flavors as for the nose. With medium acidity, medium fine-grained tannins, nicely integrated alcohol (13%) and significant length, this mature Bordeaux is easy to drink and easily identifiable as Pauillac. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years. Drink now-2025.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice bottle of classic Bordeaux style wine enjoyed over a dinner at Carelia, one of our favorite "wine restaurants" in Helsinki. Very nice, matured, multi-dimensional nose. The palate was, however, a bit less exciting but still very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just beginning to approach its plateau of maturity, the 1996 Pichon Lalande is a deep ruby, with some slight lightening at the rim. Some tertiary notes of cedar wood, bay leaf and espresso roast complement the vibrant bouquet of sweet ripe blackcurrant fruit. Layered and opulently textured, with superb balance and density, this wine is a classic specimen of Pichon Lalande. Like most of the northern Médocs from 1996, this wine is still youthful and shows some unresolved tannins on the end palate, but they will soften with more time in bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice treat. A bit closed at first, but 2 hours after decanting drinking quite well, and quite a bit more evolved than other 1996 Pauillacs or northern Medocs over the past year. No reason to wait?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux at its best. Deep dark red with a brown rim. Silky texture with lots of cedar, oak, vanilla, roses and a long mineral finish. The bottle was in perfect harmony.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Everybody immediately identified this as from Bordeaux. Dense black fruit aromas with tobacco, leather, earth hints. Leaner on palate, seemingly slightly shut down for now. Just starting to evolve. Needs another decade+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red with lighter purple edges in the glass. Sweet nose of saddle leather, cherries jubilee and black licorice. On the palate the wine has both red and dark berry flavors but in total harmony. Still plenty of structure and tannin to balance out the abundance of fruit. This wine has a long life ahead of it. Long finish. Outstanding!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at the White House (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Decanted rather hurriedly for an hour before serving with cheeses. Plush velvety red colour that has an unctuous visual texture....young and probably needed standing for a day and decanting for a lot longer. Nose is gosh!.......rich red currant fruits...some black fruit in the background....very deep and alluring across the whole spectrum of the nose......a tiny hint of white mushrooms secondary development at the back. Palate is lees evolved and still quite tight red and black plum fruit. High tannin and high acidity. Not balanced yet.... but will harmonise wonderfully in the future. Needs 5 more years before trying again but could easily develop into a 95-point wine for me. On the night, it suffered in comparison to longer-decanted Ch. Lynch Bages 1989 and Grange 1993.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing nose , At the beginning little green note but with time change to fruits , leather , cigar box, earth , graphite. I wasn't able to stop to put my nose in the glass. Great also on the palate with smooth tannins , in a perfect window now but can go for more years. Medium to full bodied
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super Bowl 2013 (Cumming, GA): Wow! The nose on this was amazing. It hits you like a freight train of sheer power and 1st Growth quality. Rich fruit, iron, blood, cigar box, mahogony, earth, stank, and leather. I just wanted to smell this all day long. Also a rich wine on the palate with fruit, chocolate, and a little green note. I thought this was Latour. Others thought Mouton. A great bottle for sure. Won the tasting ('82 won last year).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2013 - New Year Gathering: Alcohol :: 13% Decanted for 60-90mins. Dark core with light rim. My first impression on this wine was earth, smoke and tobacco which lead me to St-Estephe. However, the aromatic profile turning into pencil shaving, graphite, blackcurrant and plum fruits which leads me to Pauillac. Complex and sweet, with seductive violet scents. This doesn't possess the structure from the 1996. Well integrated tannin but somewhat the fruits are quite shy at the beginning. I'm glad that the fruits have come forth and show really juicy, delicious sweet complex flavors. Good class and poise. Still a bit tight and austere at the end of the very long finish which suggested that this wine will be benefited from another 3-5yrs of aging. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic nose of mixed black and red fruits, graphite and cedar. A round fruit mid-palate with black cherry, black currant and chocolate. This is drinking well, only concern is that the oak is showing a bit more than I would like. Still, very good and classic in all facets.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful mature Pauillac nose of grilled nuts, black fruits and graphite minerals. A classy, regal PL with an elegant silky texture but made in a vin de garde style with firm acidity and tannic spine. There is gorgeous fruit flavors underneath with notes of black currants, cassis and graphite minerals. Still young and fairly primary but finally beginning to drink well and I think this is poised for a lengthy and fantastic evolution in bottle. 94+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From the 'Christmas Wine' list at O&C, London. Deep ruby, with just the slightest hint of evolution at the rim. Blackberries, cedar still fresh on the nose. Beautifully in balance. Tannins softening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind. Allowed to slow-O about four hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, berries, cherries and plums. Flavors of berries, plums and raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Slightly clipped finish and not as full and expressive on the nose and palate as expected so no rating. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Slow-oxed for 4 hours prior to initial taste. Beautiful garnet color with a slight hint of bricking. Nice nose of cassis, green peppers, violets and cedar. On the palate it has cassis, blackberries, tobacco and a hint of smoke with some nice tart fruit just before the finish. Disappointingly short finish at this stage with some mint, sour cherry and tobacco. Medium-firm tannins. Definitely accessible now but hopefully will continue to integrate with more time in the cellar. While the components are there, they aren't in harmony yet.
Pichon Baron & Lalande (The Medlar, London): Dense ruby. Very fat in the glass. Lots here. Tannins all present, possibly a little green, but lots of oomph. Harmonious and balanced, a little less rich than the Baron and a bit more grip. ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Red Bordeaux (Medoc) , with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Soft on the nose, herbal notes, soft fruit, quite the elegance ne expect from lalande. On the palate it is uninspiring unfortunately and although there is nothing wrong with it and all the elements are in balance and sync still it lacks the magic we were looking for. A bit soft on the finish too. Don’t get us wrong this is a solid wine but we were expecting so much more. 92 and can be enjoyed now but still with a lot of life ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Right away a beautiful nose of cedar, blackberry and the perfume and flower of the terrior; elegant texture presenting sweet blackberry; outstanding structure and balance with perfect harmony; soft supple palate presence with a pleasant opulent round light licorice cherry-blackberry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Previous notes applied. Classic Bordeaux as described by Nutty08. Needs more time in bottle. Still quite young surprisingly. However, learned a valuable lesson in terms of decanting and breathing. Previous bottle opened at 4:30 for 6:30 dinner. I brought this bottle to the restaurant early but they didn't open until we arrived. It took through at least 1/2 of the dinner approx 1.5 hrs to start realing expressing its greatness. Very complex with allot different aromatics of cassis, tobacco, some herbal notes. Looking forward to more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine, but I was disappointed. Nose was active and almost aggressive (in a good way). But palate was flat, and finish was clipped. I didn't let this breathe. Perhaps that's the problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge tobacco nose, great extraction with some fairly strong tannins left. I would wait a while longer before consuming, but wow it's good right now with a good decant!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted. Really very hard to top this wine at this price point. Drinking beautifully now but in no way approaching it's peak. Elegant, supple, balanced, long finish. Pronounced fruit with subtle graphite notes, berries, and spice. Just delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Bliss San Antonio. Opened and let breath at 4:30 for dinner at 7:30. More to come. Unbelievably great wine. Perfect balance of fruit, acidity and tannins. Jeff Leve nailed it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature Left Bank Bordeaux (semi blind) (Amsterdam Wijn Antiquariaat): Yes this is one of my favorite Bordeaux in this excellent vintage. Very complex, elegant, pure AND well lineated nose. With thick-young-dark-ripe multi layered fruits, berries, cassis, olives and some lemon zest. Beautiful elegant, super balanced long-distance runner with long supple finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Pichon Lalande is one of those rare wines that has never shut down. It’s been delicious since it was bottled and it has improved with age. Rich, sensuous textures, complex aromatics and a fresh, pure, long, expansive finish are all found in this beautiful Pauillac. Drink it now, or hold it for another decade or two!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Killer Bordeaux Tasting (Kevin's House (Minneapolis)): Decanted 2 plus hours. Coffee, ripe berries, mint, tea leaves and spices. Extremely young wine and tannic. I would not recommend popping one of these til 2018 if you can wait. Medium and concentrated finish. 94-96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Over dinner. Really deep nose of blackberries, currant, graphite. A heavier cab PL, with the power of Pauillac, but maintaining a delicacy of many Margaux wines. Nice, extremely smooth black fruit and cassis on the palate. Day 2 the tannins receded further and additional smoke notes appeared. One of the best Lalandes I have had, besting easily the recently tasted '03.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially quite closed, really needed about 4hrs to open up. Great nose of mocha, touch of leafy herbs, tobacco, cassis, and currants. Palate was still quite tannic, but fine and very polished, with a great core of currants but overwise rather primary.Still young. Tannins in the forefront, with prominent acidity. Elecgant, balanced with great nuance. Finish shows flint and cedar spice. As good as it is, it probably won't peak for another at least 10yrs. Interesting that the '03 tasted recently may have been more advanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big Bordeaux III - Kickin' Ass & Takin' Names: Stunning Wines from 1986, 1990, 1996 + 2002 Cristal (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red color. Slow ox for 3 hours followed by a 3 hour decant. Another fabulous nose, perfumed, floral, spice, earthy, smoke, cedar, pencil shavings, mushroom; big fruits of blackberry, cassis, and blueberry. Rich and full bodied, big black fruits, tobacco, briar, cedar, tea. Amazing structure on the palate, prominent acids and round velvety tannins follow the prominent spices on the very long finish. Another wine I had to upgrade a point after 60-90 minutes in the glass. This wine had 3 votes for #3 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dinner @ ann colgin's home. a little rough around the edges, but a very distinctive wine that shows power and a forward profile for the vintage. drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"The Dinner" Featuring Six Bordeaux Luminaries (Ann Colgin's and Joe Wender's Home): Dark ruby color. Aromas of blackberry and currant. Firm chewy tannins. Nice freshness and acidity. Very nice depth and complexity on the finish.. Still quite tannic. Way to young. Needs time and has huge upside potential. Showed better 3-4 years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Dense and backwards. Deep nose of smoke, tobacco, lead pencil and some dark fruit. Silky texture as usual with earth, sweet fruit after a couple hours and a bit of green pepper. Decent tannin. The only knit is a touch of bitterness on the medium finish. This is well constructed and balanced and needs more time. I will try this again in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Out performed the '86 - just more fruit, life, extraction and intrigue, balance - really everything. Sporty lively fruity black black cherries, elegant flowers, new leather. Some tea leaves and prunes. Moderate acidity with nicely resolved tannins. No alcohol noticeable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Various Wines @ Salil's (Vernon, CT): This wine is well on its way to being a fabullous Pauillac. Some secondary flavors are creeping in but this is so loaded with dense primary fruit that this just seemed too young to drink. Rich, yet this never loses its sense of elegance. Very deep, very long, yet very young. The proverbial "legend in the making".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful stuff. Still very youthful with a core of fresh dark fruited flavours tinged with cedar, graphite, tobacco and that PLL greenness. There's a lovely purity and finesse to the flavours and with air it keeps unfolding aromatically and revealing more depth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Too much wine, too few notes (SBs): Seems torn between a masculine, fruit-forward, rich wine and a more feminine, silky, elegance, but the contrast is quite interesting. Changed remarkably in the glass; complex and long. Beautiful wine that will benefit from further age. In my top 5 of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pauillac tasting soiree (Wine-Bar, Nahalat Binyamin, TLV): dark red-purple with a bit of amber rim rich deep & seductive secondary & tertiary aromas that last for very long excellent balance & harmony, rich savory flavors, still feels quite young and can age for another decade or so. Very long aftertaste. Highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another very classy half bottle, nudging 95 points this time. Limpid. Intense nose of dark cedarwood, spices, rocks and fruit. Very long and satisfying. Not much deposit, so a good two and a half glasses from 37.5cl! Performed very well with rib-eye steak, but even better on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still needs another 5 years to hit its full stride, but if you drink this now w your eyes closed you'll be transported to a different era. Think smoking jacket, dark wood panelled clubhouse with menthol wafting through the air. This is a masculine brute, but tameable with time. Really delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a half-bottle. Popped and poured at Girardi's Osteria. Garnet-purple color. Nose of cedar, menthol, pine forest, tobacco, and black currant. Captivating flavors of smoky dark berry, cassis, leather, and currant layered with a deep herbal note transitioning to tobacco thankfully instead of green pepper. Acidity still youthfully prominent, tannins structured but beginning to soften. Lots of sweet grip and a bit of mineral on the long, flavorful finish. Beautiful showing for this wine, which will undoubtedly develop even more complexity with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): (Blind) Dark with relatively long brim; Fine earthy smell, some flowers and dark berries; moderat body and length, tannins most present, dry and tight. A good wine, but demanding. Guessed Pessac-Léognan mid 90’s. 92+p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
AWSEC French Connection (AWSEC, Hong Kong): My favourite wine of the tasting. Some signs of age with slight bricking but dense core still. Concentrated sweet fruit on nose with vanilla and sweet spice. Medium acidity. Still plenty of tannins - probably what preserves the colour so well. Great length - smoke and spice on finish. After an hour in the glass, more graphite on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An exquisite half bottle. Complex, rich, but probably only at the start of its drinking window. Still a touch of youthful caramel, but tannins now fully integrated. Already a wine to be sipped and savoured, not quaffed. Best without food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
CdBaH 81st (RDG): Outstanding. Still young, but I believe this wine has finally turned the corner. I had this same wine exactly one year ago, and the tannin has since softened enough to yield to the core of wonderful fresh fruit. No signs of developing any tertiary aromas and flavors yet. Still full of pure Cabernet typicity. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had this wine several times and was never truly impressed as it was still closed. This time it's drinking quite different and it seems to have reached early maturity. Very nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tobacco on the nose. Very strict on th palate, the firm acidity is clearly prominent over the fruit, btu the fruit fights back in a rather overwrought way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker Merrall 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux Dinner (Balsan - Chicago IL): Ripe black cherry and black currant on nose with cassis tones as well, accompanied by some good oak spices. A bit tart at the beginning, the flavors unfolded from the middle to the end nicely. Like almost every 1996 tonight, this needs more time but this is on a really good trajectory, perhaps worth opening seriously starting around 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous nose of cedar, black fruits and spices with herbal notes. Really pinpoint and very structured at this stage and it actually closed down some after decanting. Very fine mouthfeel and a wonderful graphite minerality on the finish. If anything, a bit thin in the middle but I would bet this performs along the lines of the '86 but with better balance and smoother tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of maturing dark fruit, bit of green pepper, saddle leather and cedar. Long finish of well integrated dark fruit, forest floor & saddle leather. This wine is probably just now entering a long window of drinkability. Very nice and I expect it to taste even better in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awesome bottle of wine. Decanted for two hours. Great Bdx, herbally nose. Probably two years from peak, drinking wonderfuuly. Still has the thick fruit of youth, but has the finesse and aromas of 15 years in the bottle. Great wine with grilled rib-eyes....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Truffles, cigar smoke, dark berries, cassis, cedar wood, spice, tapenade, anise and damp forest scents open to a suave, rich, full bodied, silky, fresh, polished, sensuous wine with multiple layers of ripe, black fruits. The long, clean, black cherry finish with sensations of velvety tannins remains in your mouth for close to 50 seconds. At 15 years of age, this is starting to its true character. It seems to get better with every tasting. Drink this delicious Bordeaux wine now and over the next 20 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
AWSEC Great Bordeaux Tasting (AWSEC, Hong Kong): Some age evident but not a lot. Perfumed nose with violets. Graphite and savoury flavours on the palate. Riper in style than the '94. Great length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon Baron vs. Pichon Lalande @ Palena (Washington DC): Crushed blackberries and blueberries, lovely flowers perhaps lavender, crushed rock and cedar. The palate displays excellent concentration, round fruit and silkiness. It has long finish and seamless from the start to the end, great core energy and precision. This is a really floral wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon Dinner - Lalande vs. Baron (Palena - Washington, DC): Lovely nose of graphite, blackberry, violets, and charcoal. Palate was really impressive with silky texture, plush deep tones of black fruit, sweet tobacco, dried herbs and dried florals balanced with nice acidity. This Lalande is a great example of the power and finesse this wine can exhibit. Performed very well this night, but there's no rush at all to consume this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking beautifully now (was not a couple of years ago). Great structure, intensity and length. Sweet tannins, well assimilated into the deep black fruit. Smokey finish but in an entirely elegant fashion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Faint signs of seepage under the capsule. Medium deep color, faintest hint of garnet at the rim. Nose and palate were initially full of menthol, talc, fines herbes, and funky bell pepper and horse stall shavings, but an hour of air blew off most of the unpleasantness and revealed a charming, fruit-driven, perfumed wine. The fines herbes and talc remained and lent a beautiful complexity, along with pine needles, tobacco, and pure, sweet, grapey fruit. Nicely balanced alcohol, terrific acidity, and tannins that built through a wonderful and seemingly endless, juicy finish. Superb and classy bottle. I like the structure of this wine right now, but it will surely show well for many more years. Give this a generous decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A roller coaster ride of the flavors of Bordeux. Vanilla and spice. Jalepeno. Touch of funk. Full bodied. Full bodied. Bit of green. Long finish. Lots of fun.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Too much jalapeno on the nose for my taste. Nice fruit and well balanced, it's aging well except for that hot pepper smell. It would have gotten a 94 without that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking extremely well right from the open, but it benefits from a couple of hours of decanting. At a tasting of a 97 Leoville Las Cases, a 95 Pichon Baron, and a 98 Pichon Baron, this was the star. Great nose right from the start, very full fruit taste with a long long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First half bottle from a case of 24 purchased Nov 2010 ex chateau; not decanted. In perfect condition. Deep limpid colour, no edge. Complex nose, a little sharpness. Full & complex in the mouth, fruit is there, but this is still not ready. Some tannin and acidity evident, and still sharp, but a fine wine for all that. Very little residue, consistent to the very end of the bottle. Still needs time to get to its apogee, but better from 37.5 cl than from 75 on strength of recent tastings.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still up pup but was drinking very well now. Typical pencil and graphite wrapped around a core of deep red fruits, tobacco, hints of dried herbs and mocha. Tannins still quite prominent but the acidity gives the wine a great palate freshness. Glorious wine and can't wait to see what it looks like 10 years from now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely not as good as the last one I remembered from several years ago. Tonight this one seemed to be lacking any sweet fruit and instead was much more restrained or, quite honestly, flat. Pronounced menthol notes on the finish. Right now I would suggest that the Poyferre of the same vintage is drinking much better. I am really becoming increasingly convinced that most wines should be consumed much younger than some of the professionally suggested drinking windows. Tonight this felt "was great" but isn't currently great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby and purple hue, slight bricking on the rim but still deep and opaque at the center. Lots of blackberry, black currant, sour cherry on the nose with notes of vanilla, tobacco and pencil shavings, wrapped around by some meaty and nutty bouquet with barnyard manure and ginseng overtone. Fruit richness, but not like the new-world forwardness, characterizes this full-bodied wine, not just on the nose, also on the palate: ripe cherry, blackberry, cassis and lots of plum showing right away on the attack, amid the firm and velvety tannin as well as racing acidity, which forms a solid backbone structure on the mid-palate. Long finish, which lasted for a minute and a half, with a ton of fruit, cedar, licorice and other exciting nuances in perfect harmony, giving a very complex and enjoyable aftertaste. This is an overall more expressive and approachable wine than the 1995 vintage, yet with huge potential to age gracefully and develop more depth and complexity. Drink now or before 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Goedhuis Pichon Lalande Tasting & Dinner (Hibiscus Restaurant, London): This wine is in an awkward phase. It was so delicious 5 years ago that I bought 4 cases after a tasting; at that time it seemed likely to be ready within just a few years. But tonight it still seems to need quite a bit more time. The nose is relatively dumb, a little cedar & lead pencil, but not much. Sharp on the palate, definitely not open for business. Not particularly long. When last tasted in March 2006 there was a preponderance of fruit, but not tonight. Then tasted tonight a second time with food (simple roast halibut) -- very much better, the fruit is there but in hiding, the tannins and acidity more in evidence. It reverted to dumbness afterwards. Leave for at least another two years, probably longer, but I am confident it will turn out very well in the end. [Thomas Do Chi Nam: unusual blend -- normally we use around 30% Merlot, but not in 1996. This wine is 75% Cab Sauv, only 15% Merlot. So it is predominantly cigar box & more classical. "Silky, tense, tight."]
Probably didn't let this settle enough although little sediment as it was a muddy deep dark ox blood red. Initial nose was stinky but an hour helped and the longer it breathed the better, so decant. Even now there's a whiff of veg but this is backed up by the lightest whisp of autumnal smoke. Further back are the remnants of the cassis. Palate is more pencil and graphite, lean in a defined way: no fat. Finish is good and finishes a lovely wine with an element of class
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Vertical Dinner (The Marine Room, La Jolla, California): This wine shows a youthful ruby/red robe with red rim. The nose shows black plum, fig, graphite and lavender. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big sweet tannins. The flavors are in line with the nose and the full middle palate leads to a very long, smooth finish. This wine, while pleasant now, will undoubtedly benefit from some additional cellaring. Drink 1/13-12/30.
I've only had the '75 PL prior to this one, and though the '96 was younger and felt more modern, it still evoked fond memories of my experience with the '75. The nose was sweet and fragrant, offering cocoa, licorice and black fruit. The palate was restrained with tart black berry and leather notes. This was a solid wine, though something was lacking; I didn't feel the wine showed much complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank a 95 and 96 side by side. The 96 was more forward, the 95 more sophisticated. Didn't get the green element that previous bottle had (a good thing).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent stuff. Very smokey, beautiful nose. Decanting is essential for this one. This was completely closed down after the bottle was opened, but after about an hour it was quite approachable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic adolescent wine. Decanted 5 hours. Superb aromatics and balance, with strong but smooth tannins controlling the long finish. At least two decades to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of half-bottle. This is such a structured vintage for PL but with lots of air it finally begins to open up to reveal a wonderfully deep, dark-fruited wine with classic notes of graphite minerals. The tannins are strong but unbelievably suave and elegant. Still needs 5+ years to begin to develop some secondary flavors but this looks like yet another amazingly long-lived and classic left-bank wine from the '96 vintage. 94+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of pepper, and more green than I typically appreciate, but this was somewhat beguiling. Definitely has legs, and don't be in a hurry to drink up, but go ahead if you want.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted. very four square bordeaux with good minerality and fruit displaying secondary character. tannins are melting. this is in my wheelhouse because some primary fruit lingers. nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Easter dinner at home; 4/4/2010-4/5/2010 (Home): Evolving nicely. After 4 hour in the decanter it outshows the 98 Mouton tonight. Color is in transition less purple than last year. Nose of cigar box peeking through. Classic PL on the palate. A nice bottle that will continue to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitive Bordeaux (Mirabelle Restaurant Austin, Texas): Tasted blind as a first growth candidate, this indeed made the grade. The best Pichon Lalande since the 1982 (IMHO), it was the most fragrant wine of the flight. Its aromatics had smoke, cedar box, bell pepper and it had pronounced mineral, leather, and red fruit flavors with some spice, pepper, dark currant, and tobacco notes. It had earth, slate and plum flavors at the back of the palate with well balanced tannins-- a nice food wine. "Ethereal," proclaimed a taster. It was the second favorite of the flight, and was readily identified as the Pauillac. First growth quality in a first growth year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Bernard Burtschy (Taberna del Alabardero): I loved this wine. Yes its young but it was a real treat to drink. Great concentration of fruit, good acidity with the development of secondary characteristics. I picked up cedar and tobacco with some baking spice and maybe a tinge of brett that added to its wonderful complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
French Wine Tasting in Lavandou Restaurant, Washington D.C. (Lavandou Restaurant, Washington D.C.): Oh boy. I am a proud owner of just one bottle of this stuff. Just one. Randy brought a bottle of this a couple of years ago for a Lalande vertical at Lavandou and it was the best. I enjoyed it one week before in New York on 22 January at a double vertical blind with Pichon Baron. As winemaking director Thomas Do Chi Nam (who subsequently went to Margaux) said, the 1996 is their star vintage from the 90s and you better believe it is. Complex aromas of charcoal, cherry, cassis - and I mean crystallized focused fruit flavors - beguile your better wine senses. There is a freshness here that keeps you coming back for more. With a somewhat typical orange lift on the finish that I get a lot from Lalande. Happily, the greener tobacco that one can obtain from Lalande remains tobacco and does not veer to the green pepper variety (as in the 1990 or, to some extent, the 2000). This is a great bottle of wine. Almost wine of the night, but wait... there is more! WOTF and second place for WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon vs Pichon NYC (New York, United States): A more lush palate, with greater opulence and yet very nicely structured and not as tough. Interesting that 1996 was the year when Lalande used one of its highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%). Clearly this seemed to be the Comtesse, and it was!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 4 hrs. Needs time. You have to be patient. Once it opened it revealed incredible aromas of eucalyptus and black berry. Beautify balance with well integrated tannins. A beautiful wine. Give it time to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux 95 vs 96 with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Side by side 95vs96 @ Handfors's Tasting with Richard Brazier. The high(er) merlot (not as high as usual vintages though of PL) content makes it def more approachable now than the Cos,Ducru,Palmer,GPL that we had side by side this wine. Mild nose , elegant and sofeter tannins. Well rounded wine with underlying sweetness. Dont get me wrong this wine need lots of decanting still and would definitely benefit with time (5yrs?) and will easily last anothe 15 but even now its a joy to have. For the Record it was difficult to pick a favorite between 95 and 96 but the 95 feels better at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great Bordeaux, but still tight and in need of bottle age. Reminiscent of the '86 10 years ago in evolution and flavor profile. Hold for another 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very youthful color – almost black in the center. Gorgeous nose showing classic elements though still youthful and “clean” – not yet explosive. I was a bit disappointed in the palate – not that it was bad – it just did not excite. I was expecting more depth, more mouth coverage and a longer finish. I did feel some tension in my mouth suggesting that we caught this bottle at a weird time. Hopefully, much better things to come with 5+ years in the cellar. (89++?)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
purchased ex chateau. decanted. dark and brooding. nice bouquet, but tightly wound and not giving up much, tannins and acidity haven't come together. I also felt the " sur-maturitie" aspect of the wine left it tasting slightly oxidized, the finish was fairly long though. If this is the best this wine can do, I am profoundly disappointed.
try again in 2012
judgement reserved.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and slow-oxygenated for 6 hours before consumption. Dark, almost inky, ruby in color with aromas of small, dark berries, currants, tobacco and earth. On the palate a silky and supple sip with ample fruits and tobacco. Balanced with good freshness and supple tannins. However I get the feeling perhaps I caught this in its adolescence, or perhaps I slow oxygenated it a little too long - it was a solid bottle of wine but really lacking a wow element from a wine of this caliber and vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened for 3hrs and drunk over next 3hrs. Perhaps should have decanted. Nose began with dusty leather but progressed to something much more floral (though hard to place what flowers). Dark berries on the attack, with a powerful midpalate. Long-ish finish, but much more tannic than I expected from others' notes, and not a sweet tannin. Impressive and noble wine, but I will wait a while before trying another.
ETA: Revisited 2nd night after 20hrs under nitrogen and the tannins were much less bitter. Fruit was still going reasonably strong. Definitely should have decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sotheby's Pre-Auction Tasting (Sotheby's, New York): This was my favorite wine of the tasting, followed closely by the 1982 Gruaud Larose. Chelsea chose the Gruaud as best, followed by the 1989 Pichon Lalande and then this third. We both agreed that the 1990 Cos D'Estournel finished fourth. It is worth noting that the 1996 Lalande is still a bit tight, and therefore has room for improvement, whereas the 89 and the Gruaud are ready to go and probably can't get any better. Ultimately, this is why I chose the 1996 Lalande over the Gruaud, even though I think they are both 93-94 point wines today.
The color was a dark purple, still very youthful and no bricking. There are aromas of black fruits, flowers and leafy hints but not much in the way of tertiary smells. Although this description of the nose does not sound unique, there is something idiosyncratic and enjoyable about how a good vintage of Pichon Lalande smells that distinguishes it from other wines. The palate has a wealth of fruit, especially blackcurrant and cassis, and is light in the mouth despite being medium to full bodied. Hopefully this will fill out and put on weight with a little more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is in transition from its lovely fruit driven youth to a lovely teenage wine. Tertiary aromas are just peeking through.Tannins are loosening after 3 hours in the decanter. Dark full color. long sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tomamos Régis e eu no Due Cuochi em fevereiro 2008. Excelente. Aromas ainda presentes de frutas vermelhas. Muita baunilha. Elegância impressionante. Persistência enorme. Excepcional vinho.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sophisticated, sensuous, and yet somewhat coy -- a wonderful combination of power and finesse that stood up to roast lamb and yet could be drunk on its own. A very nice wine, unfortunately somewhat expensive if you (like me) didn't buy it on release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
ending the year with bordeaux (ward's apartment, chicago): nose: very rich and elegant nose filled with cassis, cranberries, cedar box, spice box, red cherries, and a good bit of cigar wrapper lying underneath. Lots of depth that melds together with beauty and class
taste: great earth tones strike right off the bat with polished tones of cassis, cranberries, red and black cherries, cedar, and bits of spice box tones flow well across the palate with a deft medium touch. A lot of class and polish on the palate with still very good tannins that are just starting to ever so slightly shed. Still very much in a primary stage as there is a youthful quality to this wine
overall: classy, beautiful, and elegant. I thought this for LaLande or Calon Segur when it was blind. This bottle didn't seem to scream like the bottle back in feb. More polished and round this time with the ever present LaLande feminine touch that I love. Very round on the palate, this still needs some time to fully come together to reveal the inner beauty that this wine definitely has
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fragrance factory seems to have exploded in the glass when this Bordeaux is poured. Black fruit, olive tapenade, cedar, cassis, licorice, chocolate and spicy tobacco make this a wine difficult to stop smelling. But the intoxicating perfume are only a prelude to the joy your palate senses as the wine flows over your sense receptors. Dense, concentrated and rich with a seemingly endless array of ripe, black fruit fills your palate. The texture is pure velvety, opulence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice purple colour, with some hints of brick colour. The nose was shows currant and plumbs but in a way a little bit shy. A classic Bordeaux in every way, with a powerfull yet laidback (semi-closed?) taste. This wine definatelly benefits from another decade in bottle. I will keep my hands of the rest of my stock of Pichon lalande '96 for at least 5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purplish red. Lots of cedar, lead pencil and spice box on the nose. Berries and a lot of cassis delivered with supple tannins and an exceptionally (minute plus) long finish. A little primary now, but this is delicious. Improved through the evening; a three hour decant is needed to do this wine justice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fourth up was the 1996 Pichon Lalande Pauillac, which had shown extremely well when tasted about seven years ago. Well, the performance was repeated here as the wine slowly evolved over the course of the evening, gradually expanding and unfolding to reveal new layers of complexity. The distinctive Pichon Lalande nose, which Lou Rittenhouse was able to recognize, only emerged clearly after about 45 minutes in the glass, appearing almost magically as if from some great unseen depth. I can only describe its nose as floral, although I cannot for the life of me think of what flower presents these rich, slightly green aromas, but it is very different in style from the green leaf aspect displayed by the Pontet Canet, for example. While the nose was slow in emerging, the power and finesse of the wine on the palate was apparent immediately, with the considerable but quite fine tannins buffered by a great depth of material—no bottom to be seen here. And its depth was matched by its length, with the half life for decay of the finish longer than some of the radionuclides targeted for disposal in Nevada. Yes, la Comtesse still rules…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pichon-Lalande Vertical (Harry's Steak): Scents of sweet cocoa. The fruit here is dark and rich, almost meaty, far inkier in mouthfeel than the more restrained '95, and buries whatever tannin remains. But as sweet and rich as it is it is also a little bitter. A very different personality from the '95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
HDH 95/96 Comparative Tasting (Newberry Library, Chicago IL): nose: big and luscious nose that is filled with blueberry, leather, cassis, toasted oak, and earth. it then also gives off some truffle and spice box notes too. extremely deep nose
taste: beautiful amounts of blueberry, black berry, leather, cassis, spicebox, and truffles
overall: just gorgeous, extremely gorgeous. Pure finesse and it leaves you with a beautiful and long finish of bluberry and cassis
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Otto (Backstreet): Blackcurrant, black cherries,leather, graphite and blueberries with a touch of green bell pepper. Good balance. Smooth elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is fabulous, great, awesome bordeaux. Such a complete, round wine. Do not take my score lightly as I only give >95 to wines which are bordering on 'religous experience'- a wine to remember forever. This PL is one of them. It reminds me of the 82 PL which is one of the most 'perfect bordeaux' for me. It is so pleasant now but will likely develop for many years to come. This and the 82 PL are the best PL's I've ever had. The best part is I have 5 more for the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Angelus & Pichon Lalande wine dinner @ King Power (Bangkok, Thailand): My WOTN, Decanted for 2 hours before served, but the best glass came from the bottle that opened for 4 hours ; Deep ruby red, still look young very well structured. Full nice scent of caramel, cassis, berries, very complicated. Extra long finish approx 1+ min
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Already open and offering much of its future charms, this beautiful wine is filled with rich, ripe, sexy fruit and coats your palate with pleasure. It has aromatics and a finish that is a joy to feel on your palate. I hope and believe the 00 might be at the same level in a few years, but the 96 is stunning!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
drank at dinner with in-laws (Boa LA) - this wine is wonderful. I understand it's suppose to improve with age but that's hard to imagine. It is quintessential bordeaux with just the right blends to accent food: caesar salad, escargot, steak w Bernaise, just fabulous. Reminded me of the 1986 that I tasted some years ago. Smooth wine, flush with dried berry, tobacco, excellent texture. We compared it to 2003 Opus and it was a big winner. Parker rates this high and he's right again clearly going through the 95 rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark color. Potent nose of strong tobacco, blackish cassis and Asian spices. Still a rather young and "high-toned" wine not yet showing the classic sexy smoothness of PL. Intense and tannic with strong flavors of tobacco, black fruits, graphite and spices. These half bottles I bought from Zachy's have never been as good as the bottles I've bought elsewhere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color is medium dark garnet. Nose shows cedar, currant, and a hint of leather. On the palate, cassis, roasted wood, and leather mingle with still firm tannins. This is a beauty and will only continue to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted and served blind with 2 other 1996s. Classic Old world nose of cedar, lead pencil,currants, spice and oak. Bill immediatedly guessed 1996 Lafite even though the wines were served double blind to him. The palate had a perfect weight to it, and was extremely sexy and had an awesome texture that was very expressive without being overdone in any way. Open from the get go, it just continued to improve after a couple of hours. Consensus #1 of the night against Shafer HSS and Pontet Canet all from 1996.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Union @ Seattle, WA): This wine had a very noticeable green streak running through it. It was strong but not completely overpowering. Under all those vegetables was some nice fruit, cedar, and tobacco. Medium to full body and shows good balance. The finish seemed too short though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Ember at the firm's inaugral wine night, part of a flight of four other wines. This one blew the competition right out of the water. We decanted for about an hour.
Dark purple in colour, with a subtle, but extremely complex and inviting nose of cassis wreathed with spice, minerals, leather and cedar - classic Paulliac, with just a touch of softeness that is rather characteristic of the Comtesse. The palate and finish were gorgeous and supple, with fruits slowly unfolding from a smooth wrapping of spice, wood and gentle vanilla. So, so many things going. Tannins have softened, and a host of secondary flavours have already developed, but there is enough to go on for some time yet. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House): Another great showing here, my WOTN and one of the tops for the group. Typical nice PLL nose with black fruit and green pepper notes. Big rich black coffee fruit on the palate. Rich but balanced. Will certainly improve with another 3-5 years, but fine for drinking now with a nice decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House - Chicago, IL): A fantastic effort with an elegant, effusive perfume of red currants and spicy green herbs. More elegance in the mouth with richly textured, pure currant fruits that are in harmony with suave tannins. Complexity, balance and length. Very classy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is incredible. Everything you could want in a Bordeaux. Earthy, gamey, rich and dark. Large tannin and good balance. Graphite, leather, etc. Long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed this wine...even though it was a little different from what I am used to. Did not let it decant enough before trying.....very tight with alot of cedar, mint, green, and alcohol on the nose. After I gave it 45-60 minutes...those smells were toned down a little bit. More fruit and mint emerged on the palate as the night wore on. Solid tannins with a nice long finish. Paired it with steak...very nice! A 90 only because it was a little different from what I was expecting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured into a glass from a 375 and left for 90 minutes. Rather dark garnet hue. Nose was spectacular, with black cherry, blueberry, cassis, and loads of cedar pouring out of the glass. The palate was a changing medley of black currants, damson plum, and even a bit of redcurrants from the admittedly low percentage of Merlot. Still, the tannins were a bit angular and there was a green streak at the end also. This is a complex, rich wine which will probably take another 4 or 5 years to integrate fully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OPEN...suprisingly so! I would not have opened any of mine but my cousin brought a bottle to dinner and after only 2 hours in the decanter was singing. Yes it will get better but wow right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really like the distinct Paullic flavors (give it a 93 for that ) of this wine but the structure and depth of fruit was so so for me. The aromatics were a little light and I was expecting a WOW but instead I got an Oh Okay why don't I open the 2001 Beringer Private Reserve in case people are dissapointed with this. The 1982 Pichon was one of my All time favorite wines..the 1996 was nowhere near that good. Fruit fading out?.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
(at Abacrombie – Baltimore) Wow – another winner. Tight as nails on the initial pour (wine was opened 3 hours before service). With time this blossomed beautifully. Classic claret with just enough wildness to make the wine truly exciting. Everything you want in Pauillac. From Chuck – wish I had some in the cellar. Needs 10 more years at least. (19+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine. Enjoyed at a restaurant for under current retail. Deep purple with no bricking at all. Aromas of black fruits in a cedar frame soaring from the glass. Still very primary and full bodied on the palate, but with only a hint of tannin on the finish. Tremendous wine, wish I had this one in my cellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showed well, but has room for improvement. Popped and poured. Opened up beautifully after about 90 minutes to reveal a very complex nose of red and black fruits, cedar, smokey green tobacco, and a slight hint of mint. Showed great balance on the palate, though I think it will develop a richer mouthfeel with time as the tannins are still showing on the finish. Glad my others are out of state so I am forced to keep my hands off, as this will get even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2.5hrs. Very dark color, no signs of fading color. Ripe dark fruits on both the nose and palate with a very smooth finish. Notes of cedar, graphite, and tobacco as well. Tannins seem to just melt away. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal: Complex, herbal, minty with some burnt wood. Started a bit tight, but opened up beautifully and just edged the Baron at the finish line. A/A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This Wine Rock's!!! I had the same vintage a few months back and the Wine seemed closed.I am never diapointed with ( Pichon Rock's Laland ) Great Wine for the $$ I can't wait to openthe 90,95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The most beautiful nose - I could sit and sniff all night. Quintessentially French, layer upon layer of complex flavors. The "Comtesse" is a personal favorite!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! Deep rich ruby color, some cedar on the nose. Smooth, rich, velvety texture. Taste of cedar, pencil-shavings, with a long 30-45 sec finish. Just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the moment, the wine is really really closed, not dead, but closed, smell nearly nothing here, the color is indeed healthy and young, the tannins is full of my mouth, hard to swallow the wine, glad that I only taste one glass!!! Needs 10 years of storage to see what will happen (15-20 years for a magnum), living in hope of course, judging by the healthy colour!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once again, awesome. This wine just doesn't disappoint. Had this from magnum at Tapestry Bistro in Los Gatos along with a magnum of Jones Family. I much preferred this wine. Subtle but complex with tiers of currant, mineral, and spice. Smooth tannins with a long finish. Years of life ahead, but singing now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, call it infanticide, but there was no crime in opening this one. Decanted for about 4 hrs and enjoyed over a leisurely anniversary dinner at Paley's (where the $15 corkage, excellent stemware, and attentive but unintrusive service were much appreciated). Even while decanting the aromatics were enticing--dark fruit, cedar, and earth. Started a bit tight and closed on the palate but was soon stetched out and opened up, with dense, primary dark fruit and layers of cedar, earth, graphite, smoke. Tons of extract and texture, but classically smooth and balanced without a rough edge or angle. Finish a little short/abrupt. While this'll improve over time I'm sure, it's drinking beautifully right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TN: OFFline: Pichon Baron VS. Pichon Lalande 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000 (NYC): The Lalande to me had some green stem notes that put me off after it was poured. Some of the heavier notes of green stems blew off - this wine was in need of longer decanting time. Slightly closed up this was vicious, thick and extracted. These two 1996's had the highest acidity of all the wines we tasted tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly subdued nose on opening. some tannins. Decanted for 3 hours, tannins mellowed and I thought it quite balanced however over all I was disappointed with its subtle nose and flavors. Nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems more closed than a year ago. Still with cassis and sweet red fruit on the nose. Less going on in the palate. Wait 1 or probably 2 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
oh heaven!! A wonderful bottle of the Comtesse ... it's everything you'd expect a superb Bordeaux to be. Deep color, earthy flavors, and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for sediment. Thick and rich deep plum in the glass. A nose of earth, and dark fruits. On the palate I was struck by the balance and finesse. Still predominated by the rich fruit, the fine tannins were melted into the background. Over a period of 3 hours the nose opened a little more revealing sweet dark berries, subtle earth notes and the finish is lingering with a mild spice component…just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Ken Johnson. Bright disc. Deep ruby/garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a moderately intense bouquet of coffee, plums, mocha, roasted herbs and black tea. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, medium sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. Very precocious at this point, quite surprising for the vintage (particularly considering the relatively high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage's blend).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tremendous heady nose of cabernet with that special smokey and dusky Bordeaux signature. Chewy, lush, and rich with firm tannins which bode well for a long life. This is a great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit of a throwback to the wines in the earlier Flights, with slightly earthy aromas showing up. But still showing luxurious rich fruit on the nose and great mouth-filling texture in the mouth. This will be a great or near great Claret in another five years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big nose of cedar, charcoal, olives, and black pepper. Palate with pine and sweet red fruit. Seems a touch soft first but finishes with a big tannic finish. Has all the elements to be big winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A heavenly night of Pichon!!! (Seattle, WA, USA): Right out of the bottle this was singing with gorgeous notes of tobacco and earth. Two hours later this has changed quite a bit and was floral, quite literally singing, with espresso and licorice. On the palate this is initially massive, black and brooding, but with time sweet and pure cassis comes to the front. Wow this wine is layered and voluptuous, truly silky, but still wonderfully earthy. The finish is huge and gorgeous, still incredibly primary with dusty tannins. While this was gorgeous, for me it doesn't show the same balance and finesse as the 2000, especially on the finish. I went and picked up a case of this from Zachy's. This is going to be darned fun to drink over the years.
Purplish red in the glass. Tea, leaves and truffle notes coming out of the glass. Great nuances, good focus and definition. Broad, dense and wide in the mouth. Strong, yet seductive and elegant. Nice long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red in the glass with a purplish core. Muted notes of roasted coffee, leather and dark berries and berry leaves. Spectacular mouthfeel. Brilliantly viscous and broad in taste, built into a huge structure and jam-packed with ripe fruit. As the wine elegantly sweeps through the mouth, the sweet and ripe tannins tinkle gently. A smooth and harmonious wine that oozes elegance and femininity from the word go. They say that PL is one of the first Great Growth Bordeaux wines to come around....well this wine is probably ten years away from real maturity, but the promise is certainly there. The finish is long and explosive in a refined way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love this wine. Mindblowing nose of cedar, violets, cassis, blackberry and black plum grabs you and lulls you in. On the palate, it is fantastically long, pure and complex, but still fairly tannic. Truly great young Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/26/2024 - dream Likes this wine: 97 Points
As good a bottle as I’ve had of this wine and it was showing everything you’d ever want in a great Pauillac with age. Black fruits, graphite minerals and a gorgeous silky texture which leads to a refined, complex finish with notes of grilled nuts and smoked earth. One cannot under-estimate the greatness of Pauillac and this is a classic example in every way.
96-7
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2024 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 97 Points
Savoury with a tremendous expression of cassis fruit sprinkled with spice and taking on notes of cedar and lead pencils. So fresh and elegant, yet precise and concentrated, with lift and complexity, finishing strongly. The epitome of a great claret and utterly superb. Life doesn’t get much better when sipping this! CHP 97 pts
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/31/2024 - mchern02 wrote: 95 Points
3 hour decant and drank over a few hours
Fantastic nose of cedar, tobacco, bright red fruit, and minerals. Amazing texture; evoked with great acidity and lift. Smooth medium finish. Awesome still
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2024 - Simba-wine Likes this wine: 99 Points
Happy Easter 🐣🐰🐇 wines continue and a very Happy Bordeaux Sunday Dear Friends!
I was hoping this could finally crack the 💯 but while it is an absolute stunner, the finish isn’t long enough for it in my eyes. Prior tasting notes are spot on.
Still absolutely beautiful with Chateaubriand!
Now until 2040
99p
Happy Easter all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/30/2024 - Winedad53 wrote: 96 Points
Exceptional right now so why wait? Well structured with soft tannins, notes of red berry, leather and sweet tobacco all finely integrated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2024 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to dinner last night at Lazy Betty’s—no liquor license yet in their new location means no corkage fee! Hooray!!
We brought the ‘14 Larkmead and a ‘96 Comtesse Pichon Lalonde. Turned out to be a great match with our multicourse meal.
Double decanted at home and then put into a decanter as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. A fair amount of sediment in the Comtesse so glad I had decanted it myself.
This wine was perfect, especially with the duck course. Everything you would expect from a Pauillac drinking at prime. Nose was probably better than the palate, with intense tertiary aromas of tobacco, leather and plums. On the palate plenty of compexity, blackberries, dark cherries, cassis. Nicely balanced. This will continue to evolve nucely but nothing wrong with drinking it now.
The ‘96 left bank wines are exceptional right now. This was excellent, but not as good as the ‘96 Cos right now which I would put a few points higher.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
3/9/2024 - APH Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought this bottle (which I received as a gift recently) to dinner with friends featuring Wagyu A4 beef (grilled to perfection).
The wine was a perfect complement - classic balanced Bordeaux with well resolved tannins, nose of blackberries, cassis, black currants. Plenty of fruit on the mouth, with delicious palate nicely coupled with the steak. A perfect evening of good food and wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/29/2024 - phynes wrote: 95 Points
Drank alongside the Pavie 2010. This was in a great place and a reminder that really good Bordeaux needs at least a couple of decades to hit its stride. Nice combination of soft tannins, but still a decent amount of fruit left to give it some bite. Might not reach the heights on the 1982 but a fabulous claret.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2024 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 95 Points
PNP at restaurant. Really hit its stride about an hour in and continued to improve until the bottle was gone. Excellent upfront bright fruit that leads into an impeccably balanced wine with a very long finish. Fully resolved tannins and a wine drinking in or near peak. There’s no reason to wait, but this wine will drink well for a very long time. Outstanding from start to finish. This was somewhat overpowered by Pompano livornese. Revisit 2025
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2024 - Simba-wine Likes this wine: 99 Points
Weinclub
Wine 11
Paired two stunning 1996 left bank with the dessert variations.
I adore this wine and this was a bottle I bought recently on the secondary and was really glad it performed like the last one.
This is on apex or very close to it. I had slow ox’d it for 4h and then decanted it for 1h.
Next bottle I will give a little less air but a stunning wine.
Now - 2040
99p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (5)
2/15/2024 - the player Likes this wine: 95 Points
Oh in such a great place now for this 28 year old. Opened and decanted, aerated for 90 minutes then drank over another 90 minutes. Beautiful crimson cloak, hardly any signs of bricking or evolution, dense liquid. On the nose lots of blackberries, black currants, perfumed cassis, gravel, earth, graphite, old leather, fully reflected on an amazingly structured palate, finishes powerful and long with tannins nicely integrated with the bitter chocolate spicy finish. Just tremendous and masculine for a Pichon Lalande but definitely my style of vino.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2024 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
A BYO in a restaurant, this delivered as always.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2024 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Such a different wine from the ’95 drunk alongside and this makes sense given the Cab Sauv percentage is 75%! This wine has more crispness and cut than the ’95 but perhaps lacking that wine’s suppleness and plumpness. However, the ’96 is a much more precise wine and more terroir-driven with classic Pauillac notes of earthy gravel, grilled nuts and graphite minerals. The tannins here are more “knife on granite” and the finish is fabulous. I vacillated between both wines but in the end the ’96 is simple a finer and more complex wine. At Commanderie Dinner, The Modern
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2024 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dinner at Foliage (San Francisco): Nice nose with leather and tertiary notes, underwood, dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco, cherries, and green bell pepper. Good acidity on the palate with lots of dark berries, cherries, leather, and more chocolate notes. Nice finish. A lovely wine that's drinking really well. There's a lot going on, but I felt the 96 Mouton next to it had a bit more depth and promise. I would drink this now and keep the Mouton in the cellar...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2024 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Herwig (Foliage, SF): Aromatic, youthful, capsicum, black fruit, leather; palate is medium-full bodied, complex, integrated tannin, medium acidity; long finish. Very lovely. 93-94
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2024 - Marc wrote: 96 Points
Absolutely textbook Paulliac, with utterly refined cassis notes, cedar, and graphite notes. Medium bodied, with as refined a palate and bouquet as I have come across, if not quite at the otherworldly level of Mouton 82. Without question at its peak of maturity, but based on balance, fruit ripeness, and perfection of structure, this will continue to develop, if not improve (though it’s possible)
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2023 - the player Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the most powerful and masculine Pichon Lalande I have tasted even more so than Baron 1996. Deep dark ruby red color, dense almost inky. On the nose lots of powerful cassis, some tar, asphalt, black currants and cherries, hints of leather. On the palate very concentrated, velvety, rich, inky, very round and structured, great lift and a long finish with tannins well integrated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2023 - palfr2 wrote:
Drank from own cellar, dinner at Stephane's - Paris. My first brush with this wine as the 1st bottle from my stash was mishandled during specific transport and heat damaged. This followed a most complete Latour 1983 which set a high benchmark. Unfortunately it was opened in the spur of the moment and thus not decanted. In comparison to the Latour this felt rather inscrutable but the quality of the matter was very obvious. A lot more coiled up. The freshness was evident, menthol and some subtle green pepper note. I look forward to revisiting in proper setting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2023 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
A fitting Christmas Eve wine, paired with mutton curry. We have fond memories of our visit to the estate in 2009 and a sublime bottle of the 1982 for our wedding anniversary (LOTB 97/100). Classic cherry and plush dark fruit. Green pipe tobacco finish. Youthful for 37+ years, best years are ahead. 94+/100 with upside.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/22/2023 - Mag357 Likes this wine:
An iron fist in a velvet glove, elegance, power, purity, grace, a feminine Pauillac that is drinking perfectly, so understated, yet it has it all, great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2023 - liber Likes this wine: 94 Points
10th of 25, opened an hour then decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, still remarkably youthful (particularly robe) and relatively primary, some bell pepper in flavours, otherwise much as last noted in Nov 21, upside, 20+ years. F+ (18)......slight mark down as my sense is that evolution is in the in between stage where the fruit is losing the attractive precociousness of youth but the tannins have not as yet resolved fully.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2023 - Blanc_de_Blancs Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fantastic Example of Classic Pauillac! Give a solid 2 hr decant!
On the nose lots of blackberries, black currants, cassis, gravel, earth, graphite, leather, amazingly structured palate, finishes powerful and long with tannins nicely integrated
Consider yourself Lucky Having This in your cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2023 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rubber and tar nose; tight and restrained; blackberry; short finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2023 - hargy Likes this wine: 93 Points
this is a lovely wine and probably my favourite young Pichon Lalande - still quite closed and has a long, long way to go
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/3/2023 - Sean Tay wrote: 94 Points
Mouton Rothschild Vertical: Pronounced nose intensity with notes of leather, toast, spices, black fruits. Medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
11/2/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Immediately recognised as a high-quality left bank claret from 1996 or 1988. It was 1996… Perfectly classical. Elegant, finesse, subtle, oyster shells, long.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2023 - jviz wrote: 95 Points
Decanted and followed over about 3 hours in a Zalto bdx, next to 88 Latour, 89 Lafite and 2010 Pichon Baron.
The 96 PLL shows nice richness and warmth. A more than sound bottle, it has some bricking at the edge of a ruby core. Some cinnamon stick and late summer red fruit, hints of tobacco and the only wine with any detectable pyrazine, which to me signifies the house. Long and improved in the decanter. My observation is that the gap between this and the WOTD 89 Lafite (in terms of quality) was very narrow
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2023 - the player Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Dark red and black fruits, earth, animalistic on the nose. Blackish crimson color, youthful, refined entry on the palate, expansive mid palate with good acidity and lift, some flowers, finishes long and slightly spicy. Medium bodied. I recommend to open the bottle and slow ox the wine rather than aerating in the decanter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2023 - SpitzNV Likes this wine: 96 Points
Two hour decant, but best after three. This wine is in an excellent place. 100 point nose. Classic Pauillac sousbois. On the palate, a bit less impressive but delicious nonetheless. Great balance, acidity, tannins and finish. Expect it to be great for the next two decades but amazing now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/12/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is the wine that made me fall in love with Bordeaux. I’ve been fortunate to taste this vintage of Pichon at least 10 times in my life. It continues to be my second favorite vintage of Pichon Lalande behind 1982. Tonight’s bottle did not disappoint. Fabulous wine that is fully mature but it will last for decades more. Great tertiary notes of green tobacco, black currant, cigar box, and a prominent black olive tapenade on the finish. I love this wine. Delicioso!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted annually, this has hit its sweet spot, and is magnificent. It still has a residual tannic kick, and I am unsure if this is a permanent characteristic of the wine, (as with the 1986,) or will it morph into the real deal as with the legendary 1982. I suspect it will fall between the two. That said, it is the greatest pre millennial Pichon Lalande after the legendary 1982 and goes head to head with the 1986 and the 1995. The nose and palate profile is evolving, and while still retaining a core or blackberry and blackcurrant, with forest floor, I am starting to detect the sage notes as observed by HKBob, and also the lingering flavours of sour cherry. I do worry the finish is on the lighter side and might not keep pace with the wine's development. It now only really needs a short decant.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/6/2023 - the player Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same as previous bottle. Decanted and aerated for two hours which the wine needed. Dark ruby red color, hardly any signs of aging. Masculine nose of black currants, perfumed cassis, some earthiness and aged leather notes, reminiscent of Margaux 1996 in its finesse. Medium to full bodied, great acidity and structure, took much longer to open up than the Cos D'estournel 1996 drunk alongside it, finishes long and profound with sweet tannins. Really in a good place and long life ahead of it.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2023 - hkbob Likes this wine: 96 Points
Clear, medium garnet with no signs of bricking. This was ready to go immediately upon opening so chose not to decant. The aromatics were money with fresh Cohiba, sous-bois, cedar, graphite, sage and a hint of sweetness eventually morphing to sour cherry. All the elements sang in perfect harmony with its medium body gliding effortlessly across the palate. Just a fabulous bottle that is really in the zone now. My only wish would be a bit more length on that glorious finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2023 - the player Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love 96 left bank Bordeaux and this bottle was open for business. Cork half soaked. Blackish crimson color, nose of black currants, leather, perfumed cassis, graphite. Delicate entry on the palate, very refined, a little more muscular given the vintage, decent power, dark red and black fruits mid palate, great acidity mid palate, showing secondary notes, finishes long and sweet. Medium to full bodied, opened really well following an hour in the decanter.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2023 - Papies wrote: 95 Points
Truffle Night at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): OH LALANDE, was Nicoletta's response when she tried it and this says it all given she is a tough customer to please.
We opened and left to rest for one hour but we chose not to decant as the wine felt on point.
Classic, elegant and very much alive, earthy, well secondary , lightest kiss of spice and frankly less austere than we expected this to be given a 1996 Pauillac. Bright nose too, cedar and light tobacco notes an a masterclass of classic and super well aged claret. 95 Easy and shame its our last bottle!.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/17/2023 - essenceofreal wrote:
So pissed off at this bottle. Have had this wine a few times over the years and it always delivered, stunning. Plush, velvety, accessible, outright delicious.
This bottle the opposite. Decanted for 2.5 hours and still tight as a brick. Damn. I mean really bad. Not open at all. Short finish. Everything else was fine, tight seal, high bottle fill, just not tasty at all. WTF!!
Gunna put it back in the bottle and grab a Burgundy for dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6)
7/29/2023 - luHar1423 Likes this wine: 97 Points
A real beauty and gem having its price. Another positive surprise at the blind "Summer of 1996 Tasting Event". This Pichon Lalande de Comtesse surprised with a never-ending and tasty finish, silky tannins, and its powerness, as this wine still would be in its infancy.
Will I add it to my cellar? Not sure yet, but it is definitely making it to my "Repeat and Threepeat wine Bucket list".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2023 - JLCFan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine, very intense fruit. Some pyrazine adds complexity. Still very structured
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine:
July 4th Mondo Event (Atlanta, GA): Tasted blind. A glass full of cigar box and sweet Virginia tobacco. Wonderful nose on this wine with loads of tertiary notes and a green herb finish. You can taste the high Cab. Sauv. % with the sweet cassis on the finish. I thought it was from the '89 vintage based on the level of maturity. This is my second favorite vintage of Pichon Lalande next to the '82.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2023 - alexbhurst1678 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank Sunday eve of the 4th; deep flavors; soft tannins and respectable finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2023 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 96 Points
Garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of forest floor, mushroom, toast, spices, black fruits, black currant. Medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin. Tannin is velvety. Full bodied and long finish. Dry and medium alcohol. Did not decant and will not improve with time. With good storage condition, it will last and be enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2023 - Romol Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 2 hours, which was perfect from my point of view. Wonderful to drink even if it still has a long life ahead of it. A really great Pichon Lalande. What a pleasure. 95+ pts. at the moment.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2023 - WineBandito wrote: 91 Points
Drank at restaurant Claude in East Village. Disappointing bottle as the wine didn’t fire to its usual potential.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2023 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Strong tertiary leather, assails the nose and palate along with that classic rose scented feminine perfume of Contesse. Bigger bodied than expected, this is really quite generous. Lots of oak on the palate. Behind the oak and leather there are great fruits of the forest on the generous palate. Structure now very well integrated and softening, though still proving grip and interest. Long and complex. Drinking now, will last an age, hope the tertiary and oak motes subside. If so this will merit a very high score.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2023 - Johnatanti wrote: 97 Points
Absolutely exceptional wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2023 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
An outstanding vintage for PLL. Hallmark bell pepper and cigar notes with richly textured plum fruit. Still youthful and gritty but nicely balanced. Early peak drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2023 - Ozen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep dark beautiful color, very mature and seems to reach the end of the window where its still fresh. Lovely complete and grand vin, rich, lots of dark fruit with sophisticated balance. I would not wait too long while at the same time this could be this bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2023 - Dionysos55 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Décanté deux heures avant dégustation.Très belle robe pourpre.Le bouquet est très intense et vraiment complexe,très typé Pauillac: tabac,menthol,réglisse,cèdre,chocolat noir,cassis....C'est magnifique....La bouche est très belle aussi mais un léger creux en milieu avec légère note de poivron atténue maheureusement la note finale qui aurait été sensationnelle sans cela.Superbe quand même !!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2023 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 94 Points
intense green peppers and tannins settling down eventually
did not decant so it took 1-2 hours to start showing it's stuff
wonderful elegance and potential for the coming years
The 1985 and 1986 at the same sitting were more mature with secondary notes not surprisingly
What a night with 3 chateau palmers in a second flight
Cassoulet was a delicious complement to these wines in Wilmette
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2023 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
The blend here is atypical for Pichon Lalande, since they normally use quite high proportion of Merlot, but in 1996 they made a strict selection of fruit for the grand vin and a smaller-than-normal amount of Merlot was selected for the blend, resulting in an atypically high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc seems to vary from one source to another, but most sources seem to say this wine was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Aged for 18 months in oak barriques (50% new). 13% alcohol. Tasted blind in a 1996-themed tasting.
Dark, slightly translucent and very deep black cherry color with a subtly evolved pomegranate hue. The nose is instantly recognizable for a Bordeaux with quite sweet and distinctively perfumed aromas of juicy dark plums and blackcurrant-driven nuances of sweet dark berries, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light spicy notes of sweet, toasty oak, a little bit of roasted bell pepper, autumnal hints of damp leaves and a fragrant touch of violets and exotic spices. The wine feels ripe, dense and - as is typical for the Château - quite lush on the palate with a full body and juicy flavors of rich plummy fruit and ripe blackcurrant, some mocha nuances of toasty oak spice, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a little bit of pipe tobacco, a hint of gravelly minerality and a herbaceous touch of cooked bell pepper and minty greenness. The wine is impressively high in acidity with ample yet very ripe and quite powdery tannins that contribute to the rich texture of the wine and slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is rich, juicy and gently grippy with a long and quite intense aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants, some woody and cedary notes of savory oak spice, a little bit of tobacco, light gravelly mineral notes, tertiary hints of wizened red plums and meaty umami and a touch of minty lift.
A fantastic, complex and harmonious vintage of Pichon Lalande showing the hallmark qualities of the Château (rich, almost exotic nose and lush, supple texture) despite the atypically high Cabernet Sauvignon component. True to its style, the wine is very approachable and accessible, not really showing any roughness or angular character, yet at the same time coming across as relatively youthful for its age. I immediately guessed this was a Bordeaux, but due to this softness, plush texture and ripe-fruited sweetness in the flavors, I placed my guess for the appellation in Saint-Émilion instad of the left bank. Although Pichon Lalande might usually be a bit too lush, polished and soft for my preference, I must admit that this 1996 is a very fine wine indeed - one that is drinking beautifully right now but will also continue to evolve and improve for years, if not for decades. Although I favored the slightly less polished and a bit more rustic 1996 Leoville-Poyferré in this tasting, this wine was not far behind. A very complete wine. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2022 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 96 Points
A most beautiful Pauillac from a wonderful vintage.
From the first opening the mesmerising nose took you to land of cedar, white flowers, pure blackberry with a hint of mint and pencil shaving. The body has soften but it has power and depth telling you that life is still good and the bottle is just entering its prime. Black fruit, some mocha and fine soft tannin. And some secondary notes of sage and spice are beginning to emerge. The colour and the freshness seem to indicate this wine will go for a very long time. Fine finish.
Drink now to 2035+.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2022 - Andronicus wrote: 92 Points
gut geschmacklich nicht definierbar
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2022 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium+ nose with notes of violet, toast, spices, black fruits, black currant. Medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin. Tannin is velvety.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2022 - drjb Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opened at a private dinner, Little Cove, Noosa. This is a very fine bottle of Bordeaux that opened beautifully still with a beautiful deep crimson colour. The nose is very forthcoming with a perfume of blackcurrant, cedar, lead pencil and tobacco with touches of flowers, dark chocolate and mint. There is a Petit Verdot touch of autumn herbs and black olive. The palate has a very fine layered structure of fruits, savoury elements and lingering gossamer tannins that add up to fine and poised 'haut couture' impression. Lovely with the complexity and length of age yet the freshness of fruit of a good year.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2022 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Right Bank vs Left Bank Bordeaux Through the Decades (Charlotte, NC): 2 hours full decant, back in the bottle for transporting to dinner and then slo-ox for 90 minutes prior to consumption. Aromatic and young nose – cedar, forest floor, hints of cigar box. Rich on the palate with balanced notes of blackberry, bramble; tannins well-integrated but present giving great body to this wine. Long finish of plum and blackcurrant. Drank wonderfully when served but reached glorious heights 90 minutes later. Give this wine plenty of time and you will be handsomely rewarded. WOTN, 4 votes for 1st place
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/20/2022 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was still quite youthful with a lovely layered and integrated texture with blackish fruits and good lift and freshness. The finish was crisp and taut with emerging complexity and a bit of green pepper.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2022 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 96 Points
Medium garnet color turning orange rust at the rim with a wide reflective band. The nose gives off smoky notes of black fruits and mentholated orange peel. The palate is medium bodied with a silky texture and lively acidity. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry form the core but there are secondary flavors of balsamic vinegar, dried meat, leather. Finishes long with spicy, gravelly eucalyptus notes. Drink now until 2027.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2022 - *HB* wrote: 97 Points
Dark berries, black currants, gorgeous length, balance and complexity. Utterly impressive, has still some development ahead.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted annually, this is starting to hit a sweet spot, but be warned it needs air. It really comes to life after three hours and can be underwhelming if not sufficiently aerated at this point in its life. The nose is glorious and mature with deep aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant. The palate is robustly Paulliac with firm tannin, but nicely rounded and balanced. The finish is excellent but some residual tannin needs to resolve. This has a long future ahead of it and I find it more modern in style to the 1986 and the legendary 1982.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2022 - LWI wrote: 97 Points
Vinøs hyttetur; 9/30/2022-10/1/2022: Masser av mørke bær mot solbær og bjørnebær, fantastisk lengde og balanse, fremdeles en ball av frukt, aldeles fasinerende kompleksitet. Inne i drikkevinduet sitt, men ennå mer kompleks om 5-10 år. Glatt helgas vin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2022 - LWI wrote: 97 Points
Vinøs hyttetur; 9/30/2022-10/1/2022: Dark berries, black currants, gorgeous length, balance and complexity. Utterly impressive, has still some development ahead.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2022 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 94 Points
The last of my 4 bottles was a lovely experience, although I will say that I deducted a point with the fruit fading after an hour in the decanter. This was still a nice classic PL with everything you would expect; cedar, pencil, dark stewed fruits, sous bois.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2022 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
Medium garnet. Nose of currant, damp cellar, cedar, plum blossom, cassis. Layers of austere black currant, plum, and graphite on the palate with a blast of “fat” ripe red plum fruit in the middle of each sip. Softened tannin and moderate acidity. Longer finish of red plum, tobacco, dense earth, and the ahh of resolving steely sweetness. From a half bottle. Consumed at Potlatch State Park.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2022 - B Paul wrote:
Cedar and tobacco. Red fruit and earthy notes. No rush here, as this has a long life ahead of it, but for my tastes it’s in a great spot right now. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2022 - mchern02 wrote: 95 Points
From Magnum - two hour decant.
Whoa this was singing with deep and penetrating classic aromasof smokey tobacco, wet earth, dark blueberries, flowers and a touch of cedar. Balanced, mature, and quite appealing, soft and supple, just a gorgeous velverty texture and a balanced finish. Absolutely mature and delicious; enormous nose with a suave body.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2022 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Brilliant. Drank with friends at Taillevent following a short decant.
Deep ruby with minimum sediment, this wine is mature.
Seamless deep nose of black fruits and raspberry
Flirting with perfection, experience very consistent with my previous note for this wine.
If a date, this was a 35 year old Fortune 500 middle manager with Wharton MBA brains + Penthouse Forum sex appeal.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2022 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Brilliant. Drank with friends at a French restaurant after a splash decant.
Fully mature + in a great place. Beguiling nose of black cherry, dark fruit and mocha.
So close to perfection, it's really a 99.5 score
Easily 10-15 years brilliant drinking ahead
If a date, this was a blind date with a former Playboy centrefold, now 45 and exquisite.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2022 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was the enigma vintage for me tonight. I’ve loved it in the past but tonight it was a little “quiet.” Although with time in the glass and some contemplation, it was extremely refined and smooth with the classic ’96 firm molten graphite edge and great balance. Needs more time and may have suffered against the stupendous 2000 drunk alongside. 92-3+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/21/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed
Drinking Burgundy with Friends (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Something off here. So much green pepper and not enough fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2022 - asparagus Likes this wine:
An epic night where we drank, amongst others, 4 x 96 Bordeaux - PLL, Lynch Bages, Montrose and Angelus. The Pichon Lalande was opened and slow-oxed 5 hours prior to dinner whilst the others were opened and slow-oxed an hour before.
Beautiful black fruit and tobacco. This was so dense , inky and lingering. 10 years too young! For me this was the second best 96 Bordeaux of the night, behind the ethereal Angelus.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2022 - jmoon Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous as the other bottles have been…. Make sure you give 2+ hour decant!!! Really comes a loves at the 3 hour mark. Faded at 4-5 hours. A Beautiful ethereal wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2022 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Red fruit and tobacco on the nose. Damp earth, cedar, and some clove as well.
Beautiful texture on the palate the earthy qualities carry through but there’s a nice core of red/black fruit here.
In the zone as far as I can tell. Will slowly decline form here but at least 5-10 years of enjoyment left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted regularly, this is now firing on all cylinders and is at the peak of its drinking window, but hopefully should stay at this level for at least the next decade. The nose is concentrated and deeply intense with ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco and leather. With time in the decanter and glass it settles and the palate is silky smooth with perfect balance. The finish is more typically Pauilliac with a robust tannic edge, but with everything in perfect harmony. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2022 - Woodway Mike wrote: 92 Points
I opened a magnum about two hours ahead of drinking, to get the wine off the sediment, of which there was a fair amount. The cork was in nearly perfect condition. The wine was a deep garnet color, with some lightness at the rim. It has a nose of cedar, a touch of barnyard, some blackfruit, dill and cassis. Medium in body, silky in texture. There was at first wood and spice on the attack. The fruit seemed to fade on the mid-palate and I would call it a medium finish. There is good balance in acidity, though I wonder how much longer the fruit will hold out. This is my last bottle so I may never know. This was written right after decanting, so I may return in a few hours with some additional comments.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2022 - MikePemulis Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was good but not as enjoyable as a '96 Ducru we had the same night. Showed more tertiary flavors relative to the DB. Looked like a bit of mildew on the top of the cork before opening so don't know if that signified something relative to how the bottle was kept up to now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2021 - llink wrote: 92 Points
PNP, should have decanted. This showed a moderate amount of funk/brett on the nose. The palate is still closed and took some time in the glass to open. Dark fruits, saline texture and some coffee grind graininess, this was not as fun as the 89 PB opened alongside it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
At probably full-maturity, this is a gorgeous Pauillac. rich, supple, and concentrated, you find a wealth of dark currants, tobacco leaf, cigar box, spice, blackberry, peppery herbs, and leather on the nose. The palate is even better with its silky textures, length, and soft, luscious, earthy, tobacco-tinted fruits that linger. Popped and poured, it showed great from the get-go.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2021 - awever Likes this wine: 95 Points
Extrem elegant und klassisch ,kein Schwergewicht, so schmeckt old-style Pauillac
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2021 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was nearing the end of its drinking window (which surprised me a bit) as the fruit started to fall off a bit after a few hours in a decanter. Prior to its tipping point, there is lovely black, blue and red fruits in a classic restrained style with pencil shavings, some tar, tobacco and hard leather notes and some dried herbs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2021 - probraided Likes this wine: 95 Points
From 375. Perfect cork and fill level. Very slight bricking. First sip very tight and no nose. Initial palate impression - dirt, soil, cedar, tobacco. Slowly opening up with decanting. Nose of dry rose petals is starting to emerge.
Ample acidity and quite a bit of structure. Fills out mid-palate with the air. Becomes rounder, more aromatic, red fruits start to emerge at 1 hour of decant. Kept improving and peaked at 2 hours. Long finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2021 - liber Likes this wine: 95 Points
9th of 25, opened 2 hours, perfect cork and level, splendidly attractive and youthful at 25 purple rim included, fruit very primary, fine persistence and energy on exit, underlying fine grained tannic structure, round, silky and generous for a 96, upside for at least 20 years. VF (18.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2021 - mchern02 Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 Hour Decant
Young, dark, a bit green in the early hours; evolved into an effeminate, bright red cassis with attractive structure and length and polished finish. Below the last bottle but still quite enjoyable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2021 - peternelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dryer than the Angelus, tobacco, pot-pouri, floral, tangy, cut, hint of a medicinal left bank minerality w/black cherry. Acid showing from '96 but really excellent and well structured. DD Bordeaux 1989-2000 Lawson's Steakhouse. #5 overall.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - S1 Likes this wine:
Chas Offlineorama VI, Another embarrassment of riches; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Various locations): All cherry and cassis with integrated tannins and a great floral perfume. Many year of life remaining.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/5/2021 - Empirate wrote: flawed
Corked
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Charleston VI; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Wonderful wine as always. Still quite youngish. Darker fruits, very balanced, very vibrant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2021 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 96 Points
At 25 years of age, still rather primary, with red and black berry fruit, aniseed and balsamic but also tertiary aspects like crushed tobacco and graphite and red grilled pepper. Not “over anything”, not over ripe, not over intense, but spherical and balanced … with fine tannin and an impression of grace. The majority Cabernet Sauvignon lends structure, the Merlot sumptuousness. Long, lifting finish. Purchased from an online auction. An overly moldy label made it less expensive. Could it have come from a very humid underground cellar? Or a malfunctioning wine fridge? I would know, as I have had that experience... What counts is what’s inside and a cork in excellent shape, zero seepage, very moist yet firm, and, most important, wine in top form.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2021 - Mike V wrote: 95 Points
Been a few years since I had this wine. What an improvement . Nose across the room . Tertiary flavors are coming . Still with terrific red fruit. Coming into its own.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2021 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent Lalande. Aromatic immediately upon opening, with the palate ans finish deepening with air. Lovely mix of pipe tobacco, cedar, and mint notes. Palate is a bit strict and almost thin initially, but fanned out with air. Tannins are mild but as noted, still rather narrow on the palate. Lengthy finish, but maybe a bit less powerful than you’d expect from a ‘96 left bank. Solid wine, with the aromatics suggesting early mature but clearly this rather youthful on the palate. Drink or hold. Classic bdx lovers will love this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): Not as detailed notes as this was the wine poured at the end of the pizza and going into the evening. It’s really nice though. We opened and decanted for maybe a few hours and it was in a lovely spot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/31/2021 - DCHawkeye Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted with dinner at Goosefoot in Chicago. It's hard to improve on DJHAMMOND's note of 7/29, so I won't even try; he described it perfectly.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2021 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is now firing on all cylinders, and is in a perfect spot with an hour in the decanter. Displaying secondary and early tertiary notes, it is mature Bordeaux at its best. It is such an elegant wine with soft resolved tannin and a wonderful mouthfeel. Blackcurrant, plum, leather, and tobacco are prominent on the palate, and my previous concern about the balance on the finish seems to have resolved. That said, I still find it on the shorter side. This has a structure to continue at this level for the next decade at least and possibly become more interesting as the tertiary notes continue to develop.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/18/2021 - jmoon Likes this wine: 97 Points
Beautiful example of perfectly aged pauillac. Needs one hour decant. Wonderful cassis underlay, with nice herbaceous fresh layer on top.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/17/2021 - A&C Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was a spectacular wine. It has years left. Wonderful example of a Pauilliac Bordeaux. Rich, decadent fruit -- cassis, vanilla, and even a hint of blue berries on the finish. Took to dinner with old friends James & Katie at FINCA for an over-the-top fun night, and enjoyed with Wagyu steak. This wine was elegant, rich, and yet smooth as silk. I could not believe how long-lived this wine is -- no danger of it falling off at this moment. It was perfect in its drinkability window. Yummy yummy juice. I really love aged wines. They seldom disappoint.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
24 Vintages of Pichon Lalande: All wines tasted blind. A few general observations: 1) Most wines showed the typical Pichon Lalande elegance. This is certainly one of the more delicate and elegant Paulliacs. 2) The relatively high Merlot content (often 20-30%) showed in many wines with fine, fresh rhubarb, rosehip and floral aromas I wouldn’t necessarily associate with a Medoc - all adding to the sensuous quality of the wines. 3) A few vintages showed the very sexy burnt sugar/coffee notes you associate with the 1982 Lalande or a Mouton or a Cheval Blanc - unfortunately, not to an extent and with an intensity to truly excite. 4) Following the legendary 1982 and until the most recent vintages (starting with 2014 but especially with 2016) there are three decades of pleasant Pichon Lalandes but hardly any vintage has the depth and length of truly great wines. The best wine tonight was the 2009 (rated 95+ points) with many more in the 92-94 point category.
TN: This was the best wine from the 90s. An expressive nose with ripe dark and red fruit, even slightly candied, intense with herbs but still rather young-ish without much tertiary aromas. Quite good precision not only on the nose but palate, which distinguished this vintage from virtually all other Lalandes from that period. On the palate full-bodied with ripe dark and red berries, minerality, herbs and some hints of tobacco. At first still a bit rough around the edges, the wine opened-up and became more round, soft and creamy with more air. More depth than most other vitnages and a good medium+ long finish. I would give this a good decant, it needs it. 94+ points.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2021 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Monthly Boys' Wine Night - Champagne & Old Bordeaux (Island Room, Hong Kong Country Club, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): Semi-transparent cherry red in colour. Nose is lovely feminine and alluring, heady and resonant. Palate is still quite tannic but slowly beginning to unwind. Needs 10 more years. Lovely adolescence but it has evolved glacially since I last drank a bottle in 2013, when I thought it would unfurl by 2020-2022. It still needs another 5-7 years in the cellar or a multi-hours decant today. 92 with higher potential for beyond.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2021 - rb89246 wrote:
Wilf’s christening with Arma
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2021 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
A superb bottle of this which was delicious and seemingly perfectly mature tonight. Classic Pauillac flavors of black fruits, sweet gravel and graphite minerals with an extra layer of black truffles on the long, distinguished finish. Yum. Double-decanted 4 hours.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2021 - AB16 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Barnyard, Bret. on nose with brooding fruit and depth. Classic old world dark fruit, spice and complexity. Wonderful wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2021 - canan wrote: 94 Points
BYO - Erik: Lovely perfume and elegance. Airy, intense and very elegant flavors. Very impressive and classic wine. Loved it!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2021 - Saint B Likes this wine:
Opened this bottle with anticipation, after some starters with a Pol Roger NV. Initial nose of barnyard that blew away quite quickly. Dark in the glass, appeared quite youthful. Nose of blackberries, sweet soy sauce, and wood, an aroma that I would not forget for quite a while. Palate was excellent, ink, dark red fruits, tannins. It felt like a mature claret with a youthful character, deceiving in a good way. A well structured wine, the most Pauilliac of wines that I have tasted so far.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2021 - M.Y. Chong Likes this wine:
Initially barnyard but this went away quickly revealing an inky brooding nose. It is very singular on the nose. On the palate it was very balanced with cassis, pencil lead and perfectly melted tannins. Iron and hint of menthol on the finish. I thought this was an example of a fine Pauillac.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
good deep purple red color starting to brick at the rim, muted nose of black fruits and dark spices, on the palate peppery, still tannic and not yet fully reemerged from its slumber, savory blackberry fruit, blueberry tones, evolving at a slow pace but it appears to be well worth the wait.
(****)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2021 - Ben Stewart Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep aroma of complex rich dark fruits, velvety finish, smooth dry, very complex long lasting finishing, excellent wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2021 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
1996 Tasting (Andre and Sabine's House, Mountain View, CA): Nose: 94 Palate: 91
My #5, Group's #6 (70 pts). Tasted blind.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2021 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 95 Points
Best bottle I've had yet, although I wouldn't have guessed it based on the state of the cork and fill level. After getting it open, however, we were treated to a mature, fragrant Pauillac that retained its balance throughout the 4 hour drinking experience. Cedar, cassis, pencil, elegant perfume, and barnyard were the elements and a nicely balanced palate with some tertiary flavors peaking out after some coaxing. This wine is very good now and will continue to be for years to come.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2021 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep ethereal nose
Beautiful fruit tannins cassis
Still a delicious baby
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2021 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
The last year has seen this really integrate and soften some of the harsher tannic notes. With 4 or 5 hours of decanting this is starting to drink at its best, and is displaying secondary and the beginning of tertiary characteristics. Blackcurrant, plum, blueberry, old leather and cigar box dominate the wine with some cedar hints starting to appear. Depth and balance are excellent, on the palate and finish with a wonderful mouthfeel. The finish is a barrier to a higher rating, and is on the shorter side and slightly unbalanced.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2021 - Benoit Hardy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Captivating nose of spices, pepper in particular, leather and tobacco.
The mouth develops incredible energy. The touch is very dense but textured, the juice is incredibly concentrated, with perfect balance. Everything is intense. The tannins that were still somewhat prominent at the start of the tasting have melted to give way to an explosive finish of rarely crossed length.
I think the mouth is still a bit compact as it is, it would take a few more years to reach the fullness of today's 1990s. But as it stands, it's already great
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2020 - mchern02 wrote: 96 Points
3 hour decant
Remains one of my favorite Bordeauxs!
Bright youthful nose with cedar, anise, dark blue and black berry, pencil lead and forest floor. Fantastic dynamic body with sublime lift, length, and unbelievable balance. Finish is long and blissful.
Whenever I drink this I remember why this is one of my favorite BDXs from any vintage ever. So delicious and room to keep going.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2020 - Frank Schneider wrote: 96 Points
Thats Comtesse ! All in. No hurry at all. Buy buy buy and drink !
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2020 - Justinwine wrote: 93 Points
Integrated soft tannins . Mellow blue fruits. Enjoyable. For me, would have preferred to have drank a few years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2020 - NickA Likes this wine: 91 Points
1996 Pauillac with Jane Anson (Zoom!): JA says that at the time of release this was regarded as the wine of the vintage, along with Lafite, and it's still quite a bit more expensive than the 1996 Baron.
75% CS, 15% M, 5% CF, 5% PV - more Cabernet than is typical for this estate, reflecting the quality of that variety in 1996. Slightly less gloss to the appearance than the Lynch. A lot softer and more reserved on the nose than the first two tonight, but fortunately lots of impact in the mouth: plenty of berry fruit, and wood and an ashy flavour come through on the mid-palate. There's some spice too.
Feels a bit closed – 5-10 years until peak, JA thinks. Perhaps not the best bottle of this given the lack of performance on the nose, and it so obviously being outclassed by its sister property tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - mfkidd wrote: 96 Points
First bottle from an OWC. Decanted for 3 1/2 hours.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2020 - Shoebox Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted back into bottle.
Delicate complex nose with violets, coffee. Medium legs
Beautiful on the palate, silk and finesse; not austere great charm. Again, coffee, vanilla on palate and pure dark fruit. Fantastic complexity, rich, with each sip slightly different. Seems more like a Margaux than a Pauillac.
Great length and has years ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2020 - bordeauxmartini wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes. Medium ruby colour, slight bricking. Hint of lavender, red fruits (present), oak, pepper, earthy with medium acidity, sediment. A bit too light for my liking. I had high expectations here but unfortunately didn’t live up to them. BM points: 92
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2020 - cnichelson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nowhere near the fruit from the last bottle. Seemed maybe beyond full maturity, but somehow off. Still great cedar and coffee and tobacco notes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2020 - dnicewicz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfume of old books and dark fruit gives way to a palate of similar notes along with tobacco and leather with plenty of fruit to make it seem youthful. Tannins still are not quite fully integrated so I think this still could improve with about 3-5 years. Still, overall, an outstanding wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Everything you could want from a mature Pichon Lalande or great Bordeaux is here. Splash decanted, which is all you need, this beauty offers flowers, spice, cigar box and roasted, dark red fruits. On the richly textured palate, the wine is generous, soft, silky, elegant and fresh, with a hint of spice and leafy nuances in the deep, red fruit-filled finish. This is at, or close to its peak. Unless you are a necrophiliac, it is time to start popping your corks on this beauty.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2020 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
After having the misfortune of a corked bottle earlier in the year I was keen to try this again for reassurance re the whole case. This was fine, and it is firing on all cylinders. However, I do concur with a fellow reviewer that tobacco notes are further to the front on the nose and palate than previously. That said, the balance and depth are exquisite, and the finish is 30+ seconds. Although showing secondary and tertiary notes, I think that there is still development ahead, and the recent harsher notes should mellow. A couple of hours in the decanter is recommended.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2020 - europat55 wrote: 95 Points
Nose: A-/A Palate: A
My #3, Group's #1 (53pts). Tasted blind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2020 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 95 Points
The 1996 Pichon Lalande is really beginning to drink with style, wafting from the glass with an inviting nose of blackberries, cassis, cherries, rich soil tones, cuban cigar and subtle hints of mint and bergamot. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with an expansive, sumptuous core of fruit underpinned by ripe acids and powdery and refined but still virile tannins. Long, penetrating and sapid, this unusually Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated vintage was tightly wound for its first two decades, but as time passes it's the château signature that's dominating the cépagement.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/25/2020 - rsbeck wrote: 95 Points
Popped, poured, consumed over three evenings. I still really like this vintage of Pichon Lalande, but it seems to be in a new phase where the cigar box notes have become a little dominant, drowning out some of the other notes that made it more complex. At the end of the third night, however, other notes seemed to be coming forward and integrating, so I'm hopeful that this will age well and transition back to the kind of complexity it had previously.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2020 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour before serving. This was served to me in blind. Cassis, dark current, green pepper and herbs on the nose. Well integrated palate that was soft with sweetness. Very enjoyable yet I felt the wine was older given how resolved it was. Drinking well now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning showing tonight from a superb bottle, this has almost a perfect aged Bordeaux nose of sweet tobacco and nutty gravel. Quite powerful on the palate with great balance and intensity and delicious flavors of black currants, tobacco and smoky gravel. Sleek and refined with a very concentrated finish which sports crisp tannins and complex notes of roasted nuts and dark spices. Fabulous but well-stored bottles should continue to improve for years as the rather strong tannins continue to soften. 95+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2020 - melvinyeowq Likes this wine:
From 375ml. Always a pleasure having aged Bordeaux, and my first time trying this super-second. The first vintage where PLL moved away from a majority Merlot blend, but the Merlot signature is still very much present with its round suppleness and tarry chocolatey notes. Very good lift and concentration. It definitely met expectations, but is it worth the price? I am not so sure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2020 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful. peaking now and for some years to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2020 - Frank Schneider wrote: 93 Points
Not the best bottle. Good but not great. Had this much better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2020 - MonkhillVienna wrote:
Ddd
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Similar to prior note after a 90 min double decant; outstanding & at peak & will likely stay here for yrs
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2020 - beatles wrote: 95 Points
Classic, power with abundance of fruit, tobacco, cigar-box, spice. It still has a very good core of fruit, seems unevolved yet not impossible to drink. Classic wine, stylish.
#Ib
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2020 - liber wrote: flawed
8th of 25......CORKED…...grrrrh!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/23/2020 - mchern02 wrote: 95 Points
3 hour decant
Beautiful and highly aromatic nose of forest floor, dark berry, cedar, wet earth and tobacco. Pure velvet on the palate with great structure, youthful energy, and long elegant finish.
Just a beautiful and well rounded expression, and as good or better than when I had it 18 months ago with many many wonderful years ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2020 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lean, powerful, lots of fruit but quite austere. Better after an hour or two of air, out of the bottle seemed surprisingly young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - RockinCabs Likes this wine: 97 Points
Nose: Soaring lead pencil and sweet cassis nose at opening and it remained aromatically gorgeous. Opened to reveal more violet, black chery and cedar notes. Palate: so much depth, but the inner mouth perfume is exceptional. Blackberry, plum, sweet tobacco, florals, cedar and fine leather. Finish: Resonant and long, a huge finish here.
One of my favorites of the year. Just magnificent, but many years are ahead fo this.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - englishman's claret wrote: 96 Points
I have always loved this wine and it continues to delight with its explosive, pencil-driven nose, complemented by warm cedar, cassis, plum skin, and touches of herbes de Provence. What a succulent inner mouth perfume, the cassis even more to the fore with beef blood and toasted almond. As enjoyable as this is now, the long finish bodes well for the future. 96
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2020 - GNBB wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Tasted alongside the 2000. Excellent nose with plenty of graphite, ripe blackcurrants, some gentle truffle. Classic Pauillac & really singing. Palate is fully mature; very gently tannins and medium acidity - lacking some weight perhaps. Good fruit with lighter black fruits, almost a little raspberry. Some light truffle and rosemary. Perhaps lacking a little persistence. Very good but drinking now. Drink now-2022.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2020 - djhammond wrote: flawed
I think that this was the first bottle of Pichon Lalande from any vintage to be tainted as it is such a reliable estate. This was still drinkable, but the taint of the cork was all pervasive on the nose, with the palate compromised.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - brianakrin wrote: 93 Points
youthful, on the crisp side from entry all the way through, good fruit , a dry relatively short finish, rich , some graphite but kinda lacks depth. Hold a while.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful nose of rich tobacco, dark red fruits and graphite minerals. Much the same flavors on the palate with excellent intensity and rich dark fruits all within a still-structured frame along with the classic refinement of the ‘96 vintage. There is a bit of the bell pepper notes this wine can throw off but it adds to the complexity on the finish which is still grippy and crunchy. Double-decanted 5 hours and it needed every bit of that time so there is still more to come here. 94+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2020 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Leather and blackberry-cherry-raspbery; layered and complex but still a bit too tannic; expect smoother tannins and more complexity in 5 - 10 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2020 - jmoon Likes this wine: 98 Points
Brilliant as always. Double decanted 6 hours prior to drinking, starts off classic lovely Pauillac classic flavours of black current and earth and slightly herbaceous 96 character, but really blossomed 2 hours later and fattened out to be the most amazing glorious experience. This. Wine. Needs. Air.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2020 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Like many 1996s, this wine is currently in a great drinking spot with a bit of air. The highlight here is the multifaceted nose and the high precision, the surprise is the femininity and red-fruited palate (which let others, who had it double blind, to put it on the right bank) and the downer was the short finish. Anyway, a lot of fun to drink. 94/95 points easily.
TN: At first some stinky cellar smell but with a bit of swirling this was gone. Beautiful tertiary aromas with black truffles, farmyard and with time more sweet red fruit, rose-hip, fir resin and cola. Same aromas with an additional minerality layer on the very fine, very feminine, round and soft palate. Completely softened tannins, good acidity, high precision and medium+ intensity with a rather short finish.
Decanting: Only a short double decant. Got better with more time in the glass, so my advice is 1.5 to 2 hours in the decanter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2020 - Philip Yang wrote: 94 Points
No decant. Ruby at the rims. Beautiful, intense nose. Thoroughly enjoyable on the palate. Drinking well now and should last 10 more years at least.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2020 - GNBB wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 60 minutes. Short note: fully mature excellent Bdx - pencil shavings on nose, secondary sous bois notes, light blackcurrants. Palate has gentle intensity with very light tannins, acidity and fruit in ideal balance. Drinking perfectly now; won’t improve from here but an excellent wine. Thoroughly enjoyed. Drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind from decanter. Lots of aging notes including barnyard, earth, some mushrooms and leather with a rather dark berry fruit. A bit of an acidity overhang. Leather aromas resonate nicely on the on the palate for a good amount of time. This has developed very well and a treat for aged Bordeaux lovers. In my view, however, the muscle has already started to shrink and impact balance. Paired against Opus One 1996 this one came in clearly second. Drink up, would be my advice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2019 - shutto1992@gmail.com Likes this wine: 97 Points
One hour in bottle. Drinking perfectly right now. Earth, dark berry, leather. Seamless and long after taste. Excellent!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2019 - C@ETV wrote: 92 Points
Doesn’t feel quite in harmony yet, despite a four hour decant. Ripe fruit, tobacco, leather on the nose; very clean and fresh. Lovely ripe tannins but a strong acidic backbone that, today, dominates the fruit. Has the structure to last a long time; hopefully the fruit will too. Just feels like an awkward spot given how delicious these were a few years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/18/2019 - Jumbo-Jet Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stunning, sexy nose of leather, dry meat, cedar, graphite, paper, rockdust and well-defined red fruit & cherries with a hint of vanilla. Pure, tantalizing, universal pheromones.
On the palate fresh acidity with glossy cherry aromas contrasted by a carpet of dry, solid oak that leads into a well-balanced, evolving finish. This is great, clean, drinkable stuff, the aromas are well-rendered and just of the right intensity.
As for my personal taste I am not sure whether the fresh acidic fruit pairs well with the dry, dusty wood in this one. I have tasted Calon Segur performing better (purer) on the Kirsch and Haut Bailly on the heavy oak. Then again its practically impossible to stop drinking this once in the decanter…
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - Old Vino Likes this wine:
Same OWC we pulled last bottle from in 2016. Cork in mint condition. Wine seems to be in a dumb or "semi-dumb" phase. Closed. Few hours decanting made little if any difference to nose. Good news. On palate, no sign of aging. Same dense fruits as in previous tasting. Tannins still noticeable. Too early to show tertiary notes.
Score held
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
I worried a few months ago that this had closed down, but this bottle was absolutely in its prime drinking window, diplaying secondary and tertiary notes. Generally left bank wines from the vintage seem to be hitting their stride, and this is very approachable with just an hour or two in the decanter. It is very much old school mature Paulliac. The nose is is full of blackcurrant, blackcurrant, plum, cigar box, and old leather. The palate is multi layered and complex with sweetened tannin, while still retaining a bite, and is perfectly balanced. The finish is 30+ seconds, but perhaps still over tannic; maybe another year or two will address this. With regards to longevity I am beginning to suspect that contrary to initial expectations, the vintage as a whole will need to be consumed over the next decade to enjoy it at its best.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Showing a bit of brick on the edge. Ruby core.
Pure focus aromas of cassis, tobacco, dried earth, mushroom, leather, and a touch of green spice.
Medium weight on the palate with a good hit of tannin and bright acidity. Incredible length and just a lovely brightness to this wine.
Looking forward to this opening up. I’d hold for another 3-5 years and drink over the next 15.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful; balanced; long nose; sophisticated palate, mature fruit; feminine nuisance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2019 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Acker Merrall & Condit Bordeaux vs. California Tasting (Michelangelo Hotel): Tasted blind next to the '97 Mondavi Reserve. This was clearly left bank & I called it squarely in Pauillac. It has everything that I love in Bordeaux and the '96 Vintage of Pichon Lalande is always so consistent. Next to the 1982 vintage of PL, the '96 is my next favorite. We shall see how the younger vintages fair over time. '96 PL never disappoints.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/28/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
With mint and old bookcase. From magnum. Lively and still rich.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great elegant wine with dark fruit, graphite and amazing length
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2019 - Lipsman wrote: 97 Points
A superb bottle of wine. Deeply rich and saturated flavors of dark berries and plums that follow through in the aroma. Perfect balance and length, lush and sexy fruit. Do not decant. Allow it to open in the glass. Drink now - 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2019 - Grand Amateur Likes this wine: 96 Points
The rim is fairly light. Red fruits in the nose and the mouth. Relatively light but extremely balanced. Very pleasant classical claret. Velvety. Long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2019 - Jammy Wine wrote: 90 Points
This 1996 Pichon Lalande is maturing faster than previous bottle I had last year (which was too young to drink. This bottle however is maturing and ready for business. Sensual nose of blackberries, soft cassis, mild pencil shaving with smoked meat. Some resemblance with the 1982 Lalande but not as dense and intense. (90/100)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2019 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
The second wine of 14 vintages of PL back to ‘61 courtesy of Mark Golodetz. This also showed quite youthful with a lot more acidity and cut than the ‘00 but without that wine’s lushness and power. This is precision in a glass with some PL tertiaries of black truffles and Latour-like dark earthy gravel. Finishes crisp with firmer but smooth tannins and it really needs more time to come together. 93+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2019 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 95 Points
At Paulee Bdx dinner small glass. Decanted for 2 hours in wide decanter. This was nicely open in its early prime and I think Lalande and 1996 are a good match as often I feel 1996 is overrated and almost too structured in Cabernet dominated blends on the left bank. The Lalande with its exotic notes works really well here. Touch of milk chocolate. Very smooth and certainly a lovely glass. 95 with upside for another point and one of my favourite 1996 left banks (for me actually better than Latour but behind Lafite).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2019 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 95 Points
The second bottle of this was better than the first, this one opened up and showed its stuff after 90 minutes of decanting. Hefty barnyard nose without the brett, this was pleasant, elegant, and bursting with dark fruits, cardamom, dark chocolate, and green herbs. I didn't feel bad about drinking this now but this will only get better over the course of the next decade.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted for 90 min, med. ruby with slight brick rim, dark fruit with tobacco & leather, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, Bordeaux at its finest (reminds me of the 82, but on a slower trajectory), drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2019 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Wine10 monthly meeting (Messa Restaurant, Tel-Aviv): although a great aroma - surprisingly less than expected on the palate
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2019 - Btvin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smelled like wet stone upon opening, needed a good double decant and two hours in the bottle before it started to show its grace. Very balanced and elegant wine, short finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2019 - dream wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and it showed a lovely aged Bordeaux softness with flavors of black fruits and charcoal minerals and a touch of green pepper. Nice but not as good a bottle as recent tastings.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2019 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cork broke, fill good. Have enjoyed many bottles of the 96 over the years. Elegant, balanced, delightful. One of my favorite Pichon's. 95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2019 - ZaphodB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brick red. Nose is really so elegant, beautiful! With toasted notes, coffee and nice complexity and depth. Mouthfeel is quite lean, medium bodied, and so elegant, fresh, with toasted notes, coffee, and very good length.
This is a wine that really shows why Pichon-Comtesse has the reputation of elegance!
I hardly believe it will get any better, but it's probably no hurry drinking either.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2019 - dbenglis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Maybe this is bottle variability. I felt this was under developed compared to the last Lalande I drank which was the 1995. The fruit and balance was present in the 95 unlike the 96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2019 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine (Rachael's Birthday). Fantastic aromatics of cigar box, flint, smoke. Palate coats the tongue, fine tannins still there but mild. Turns a little sour and thin on the midpalate--not sure if this means it could use more time? but holds it back a little from '82/'89 for my palate. Really holds on a long finish. Great wine though, one to drink now and for the next 10-20 years.
7yrs from my last bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2019 - vinhonotte wrote: 89 Points
Vintage Club - Bordeaux 2018 En-Primeur and Gala Dinner (Andaz Hotel): Felt very developed, mushroomy and smoky, while the black fruits have become rather mute. While complex, it seems like age has caught up
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank from magnum: Cassis, flowers and earthy aroma, with slight vegetal tertiaries. Tasted cassis, blueberries, earth, terroir. Grape skin bitterness and menthol finish, with slight green and mint leaf tertiaries. This still needs abit of decanting. Classic Bordeaux. Open now; feel it’s drinking window is almost up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
A great favourite of mine, but this seemed a little closed from 8 months ago when it was singing. Everything was in a perfect spot with the wine, but it seems to be needing a little more time. The nose and palate are classic Paulliac, with robust tannin and good fruit. The depth and finish are excellent and I still maintain my opinion that it is potentially the best Pichon Lalande drinking, but it seems to haved closed slightly and needs a few more months in the bottle or perhaps simply more time in the decanter.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2019 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 94 Points
Really lovely Pauillac, traditional in every sense on the nose (lead pencil, cassis, cedar), but still a bit young for me, showing mostly a lovely melange of red and blue fruits for the first couple of hours out of the bottle with the secondary flavors showing up later. This is a very lovely bottle of wine, to be sure, but certainly not in the class of the legendary 82 and some time for more development yet to come to see if this adds a point or 2 over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2019 - Frank Schneider wrote: 96 Points
Thats bordeaux !!!! Soooo good ! Buy and drink !!!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2019 - Marc wrote: 96 Points
Pretty much the most refined Bordeaux I have drunk in the past few years. Not a hard edge to be found, essence of Paulliac. Brilliant lead pencil, near and cassis. The proportion of the wine is absolutely perfect, and the tannic structure is supple, but also very much alive. This is not a blockbuster, rather it goes down like water - the bottle seems to evaporate before one's very eyes! Certainly extraordinary for its balance, and textbook countenance. At full maturity, but this is going to develop over the next few decades.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2019 - orange boy wrote: 95 Points
perfect
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2019 - Mistress of Wine wrote:
Beautiful wine that needs a decade
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2019 - jmoon Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing yet again. A wine of two parts. First two hour phase it’s belts and braces. Leather, earth, black current, some sour cherries. Fairly firm, enjoyable but not hugely rewarding. And then... around the Two hour mark, the funk blew away to reveal the most gorgeous ethereal fruit and seamless balance. I couldn’t feel my legs. I didn’t know where this gorgeous wine stopped and I started. Etc
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2019 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 92 Points
Attended a head to head blind tasting of Pichon-Baron VS. Pichon-Lalande. Vintages were as follows for the Pichon-Baron: 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1998, Pichon-Lalande offerings were 1985, 1986, 1988 & 1996. The fourth blind wine happened to be the 1996 Pichon-Lalande. Cherry, graphite, mocha exploded from the glass. Supple tannins with a lengthy salty finish. Seems like in a dumb phase and in it’s infancy, this wine will continue to improve over the following 2 decades. Would love to try again in 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2019 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was really strange. From the bottle, it was amazing. The nose was arguably one of the best aged bordeaux I have had in a long time. Just ultra classic and in the perfect spot where primary turns secondary, which made me start thinking this would be very high scoring. But then something very strange happened, after about 2-3 hours of being open, when we came to drink it, it went very green, and lost all that amazing appeal. I would really not expect this to have deteriorated so quickly, but if I get a chance to try again, I will likely pop and pour and then follow it over the evening. Drank during our 72 Richebourg event in KL.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2019 - Lindlb wrote: 91 Points
Blind verkostet. sehr klar, klassische Bordeaux Nase; Kirsche; Cassis; Zigarre komplexe Nase aber sehr wenig Druck; mittlere Länge; verändert sich mit Luft nicht zum positiven. Eventuell Flaschenfehler
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2019 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for several hours. Tobacco, pencil shavings, black and blue fruits with red fruits in the background. Sweet Oak. Very long finish. Still young with further development in the future.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2019 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
2nd Growth Bordeaux (Boston): Medium red. Pencil lead on nose. Tannins still resolving but this is drinking very well already. Licorice on finish.
If you have many bottles, start drinking some now. Otherwise, hold another five years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2019 - mclanew Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted two hours. It wasn’t enough because this wine was still not ready. Really fully came out to play after about four hours. Terrific blackberry, cassis, cigar box and lead pencil. Full bodied this wine is elegant and well balanced but also has strong concentration and intensity. It is mature but will continue to gain complexity over the next ten years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
I added another Pt here, as this just keeps hitting all the sweet spots. Sensuous, silky and fresh, with layers of ripe, pure, elegant, polished fruits, the wine tastes, feels, smells and performs just great. This is a stunner now, and there is room for improvement too!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2019 - pablopilot wrote: 96 Points
Still great, nothing much to add to previous notes
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2019 - grapenomad wrote: 92 Points
Thick brick in the glass. Stunning nose reminiscent of old brick ovens, licorice, blackberry pie, sandalwood and cherry compote. Trying the 1985 just a few days ago, this is a different league. Not in a bad way, not in a good way, just different. Leaner and cut of the fat that can usually be tasted in CdL. Lacking in aftertaste and already showing a slow decline. Sad emojis.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - Frank Schneider wrote: 95 Points
Chrismas dinner ! What alovely Paulliac ! So nice to drink now and so much future ! Drink as much as you can ! 95+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2018 - SommStags Likes this wine: 95 Points
From Mag & decanted about 4 hours and put back in bottle. I have always had great success with this wine and vintage, and this was no different. Plenty of life and enough development in order to appreciate where this wine will end up going. Beautifully done!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2018 - liber Likes this wine: 95 Points
7th of 25, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, youthful purple rim, more mature on nose and palate, now showing ash and smoke as well as normal flavour profile per previous notes eg 12/17, intriguing, still adolescent. VF (18.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Decanted for an hour, needed more, beautiful Bordeaux, lots of body, elegant, feminine
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - BradE wrote:
As it typical, these needed a lot of air. This bottle was good, but not great as it usually is.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2018 - Donjcorleone wrote: 97 Points
Wonderfully fragrant blackberry, earthy, cedar, bell peppery goodness that makes my eyes roll, and leads to an elegant, insanely smooth black cherry and tobacco driven palate that is light yet develops as it coats, builds and persists as it lingers on the finish. 97 points and wishing I had bought much more and in larger formats!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2018 - TNK wrote:
Lovely but needs hours of decanting. Suspect it could do with another number of years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2018 - Lipsman wrote: 98 Points
Heavenly plummy aromas. This is a w-o-w wine. Deep flavors of saturated dark fruits, zingy black cherries, a veil of smoke, and incredible length. Listing the elements doesn’t communicate the hedonistic experience a glass of 1996 Pichon Lalande provides. Supple, silky, and saturated this is drinking exceptionally well right now. W-o-w!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2018 - T.E.D. wrote: 96 Points
Pure perfection and showing at peak. Very secondary and tertiary notes of cedar, cigar, lead pencil and bell pepper. Silky and smooth on the palate with more mature fruit notes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
At first, the nose was incredibly dark, showing a mix of red and black fruits, with a green streak of wild herbs and minerals. Yet the longer it spent in the glass, the sweeter its fruit seemed to become, arriving in crushed blackberry with a twist of citrus. On the palate, I found a silky expression contrasted and lifted by zesty acidity, giving way to herb-infused black cherry, blackberry and spice. The finish was medium-long, resonating on dark fruits and lasting mineral tones.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2018 - UFGators Likes this wine: 96 Points
Still full of life with a long future ahead. Close to fully mature with a nose you can smell a foot away. Ripe without tasting over extracted it has pencil lead and Forrest floor notes. This is my first from 1996 and if others are like this or better we are all in for a treat. Definitely a classical styled Bordeaux. I wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2018 - StasMedvedev.lv Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super Vintages of SuperSeconds🍷 (Riga, Latvia): 🏅 Rating 95/100 (4,5🌟)
Muscular but charming aromas of plum, bell pepper. Full body and concentration on the palate. Just reached its peak maturity and will shine for decades.
2nd Growth Classe. Usually 35% Merlot, but '96 was 75% CS, 15% M, 5% CF, 5% PV. Fermented in steel, 20mo aging in new oak renewed every 6mo, racking every 3mo. Fining, no filtration.
One of the most consistent Pauillacs irrelevant of the vintage.
High portion of M results in softer, fleshy wine.
---
Read my wine writing at stasmedvedev.lv
and follow me on Instagram
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2018 - J_Smallwood Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decant, decant, decant - this is a killer wine, but it NEEDS air to show at peak. Per my usual course of action, this was PnP'd and followed over the next 8 hours, peaking near the 4-5 hour mark. Very nice tertiary flavors developing after enough air - caramel, toasted almonds, hint of slate / wood smoke...in addition to the usual blackcurrant, tobacco, briar patch notes that PLL often shows; if you drink this too early though, you'll miss it! I think many of the 96's (Ducru Beaucaillou being another one) can be drunk now and are entering a nice drinking window, but decanting is your friend to truly appreciate them....
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2018 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is getting better with each tasting and it is only a couple of years away from being fully mature. However, it is magnificent now and firmly in its drinking window, and becoming a more opulent version of the 1986. The nose is classically mature Bordeaux, full of blackcurrent, blackberry, and cherry and is musty and aged. On the palate the fruit is rich mingled with flavours of tobacco, with the tannin further sweetening., and it completes with an excellent finish. For myself it is the best Pichon Lalande drinking well at present, pipping the 1995 and 2003, and nudging ahead of the 1986 and (from memory of a few years ago) the 1982. As stated, it still has potential improvement over the next year or two when I expect to be elevating the rating. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2018 - Verb Likes this wine: 95 Points
consistent with my last notes
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2018 - Bruno DALBIEZ wrote: 98 Points
Amazing. As usual, silky, smooth, elegant. Incredibly smooth tanins. I just love it. Definitely ready to drink, and I could guess it still has a few years in it ( 5, 6, more?)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2018 - LWI wrote: 96 Points
Some oak, extremely typical BdX nose: black currants, pencil shaves, almost violent compared to the previous bottles this night, blueberries and ash; Long and intense, dusty tannins, youthful - this is just in the beginning (bearly) of its drinking window, but already complex. Wow. Wait 5 more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: 96 Points
A wine I love now poking into early maturity with all of the vigor and energy of a young wine complemented by the first tertiary notes. Loads of pure blackcurrant, pencil, and cedar with touches of violet, lily, and almond. So pleased with the direction this is taking.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2018 - angelcyn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark rich fruit but smooth with tannins controlled, chocolate and a bit of tobacco on the nose, silky good finish, lovely bottle, probably at it's peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 97 Points
All dark fruit, black raspberry, light earth and tobacco. Gorgeous spot right now. Fully mature, drink up. Way better than the last time I had it, no great wines only Great bottles....
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/2/2018 - Bruno DALBIEZ wrote: 98 Points
Still as good as ever. Opened 3-4 hours before the meal. Did not carafe or decant. Superb nose of leather, tobacco, chocolate... Drank it with a “poulet aux morilles”.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2018 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep garnet with noticable browning and some sediments
Nose of blueberries, coffee, funky leather at start; licorice and sweet spice emerge towards the end of the bottle
Grippy tannin, relatively low acidity, some minerality and spice
Compared to the 2000 Pichon Lalande, it shows more fruits but less tannin strcture and minerality
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2018 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Out of magnum with a 3-hr decant. Really perfectly aged at this point with a very pure, silky texture and classic flavors of dark fruits, gravel, and graphite minerals. Finishes with great refinement and superb nutty complexity. A complete Bordeaux that will go many more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2018 - BradE wrote:
Beautiful from the first sip. Full, rich, and very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2018 - OenoEd wrote: 93 Points
Tasted with the '95 tonight as well, which had sweeter tannins, and more elegant complexity. Here, more dark earth, darker color, primal, hint of clean barnyard. Longer life than '95, but she'll never be as pretty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2018 - Verb Likes this wine: 95 Points
consistent with my last tasting note - a wonderfully mature Pauillac, but capable of going another 10 years (easily)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2018 - J o e wrote: 96 Points
Tobacco, cassis, lead pencil, plum and violets can be found in the complex aromatics. Medium- to full-bodied, with a deep core of dark fruit, leather, minerals and underbrush, good acidity and a long, resonant finish with excellent complexity. Squarely in its drinking window, with lots of secondary nuances, this is an outstanding Pichon Lalande, and an absolute joy to drink. 96.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2018 - lepetitchateau wrote: 93 Points
Had this seven years ago and it has softened nicely since then, allowing the fruit to blossom and show more of its richness. It still has issues in the fruit being a bit cooked or overwrought, as I called it in 2011. Very pleasant despite that.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2018 - smackinnonmd@gmail.com wrote: 96 Points
There is the concept of "plateau of maturity"...then there's the perplexing decision as to when that occurs; especially in age worthy wines like bordeaux. I've had fun over the years sampling a bottle here and there from a case and tracking the evolution. The 96 Pichon Lalande was pulled from my cellar in excellent shape, mid neck fill, cork looked practically new. The wine had a "bricky" or garnet appearance and the nose was utterly profound-cherries, lilies, perfume, wonderful. Soft and silky on the palate with a taste profile that went on for 45 seconds or more. This wine is at it's best right now and I see no reason to hold it if you are into the pleasure of drinking and enjoying your wine. If you have a child born that year and you're waiting for a wedding or something, it still has legs. But when a wine tastes this good it has to be drunk.-sm
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Another great bottle! Decanted & brought by Andy to The Winemakers Table, delicious & slightly edged out the 96 Cos, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2018 - Purple Grillz Likes this wine: 96 Points
If you are going to pick up some BDX for your cellar that could appeal to just about anyone, this bottle is it, it has enough fruit for Cali fans, enough subtlety for Burgundy fans, and still has all the stuffing a die hard Pauillac fan would need. A textbook wine for balance. Wow. And yes, it does have a place at the table with 1982, which I had the privilege of tasting alongside ALL of the 1982 First Growths in a horizontal recently. And the Lalande took second place to only Latour. I’m glad I have 9 bottles left to revisit over the next 20 years. It’s ridiculous to say, but this wine is a serious QPR value at current auction prices.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2018 - Lype Likes this wine:
No formal notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2018 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 95 Points
A very refined and classy Pauillac that just got better and better as we drank our way through it. Initial aromas of cherry and blueberry, red meat, stalky tobacco, peat and sappy wood. Later developed pepper, nutmeg, and graphite. Palate had some dark berry fruit, surprising but harmonious salt, and truffle. For me, this tops the 1982. Very precisely balanced and a gossamer finish. Pair with something bland (in our case, a steak) to get every hushed note out of this beauty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2018 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux night at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): This seems to have filled out from the last time that I tasted it. I loved this wine -- the nose had a brilliant perfume, as well as an intensity that outclassed many of the other wines this evening. This is a dense and powerful wine on the palate, but agile and nimble thanks to the acidity here. Classy stuff here, this is a bottle that makes me wonder why I don't keep some PLL in my own cellar...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2018 - ID wrote:
Best of all these bottles I've had. Seems like now is the time to drink this. Classic bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2018 - Jamie Manley wrote: 98 Points
This is a monumental Lalande, the best since 1982. Pull the cork and you know that you are in for a special experience. Pauillac through and through, the nose delights with hints of green pepper, briar patch, menthol, cassis, clear red cherry, tobacco, earth, and pencil. The palate has really filled out now and there is a massive infusion of fruit that was missing before. Velvet in the mouth and layer after layer of Pauillac complexity. I actually think that well stored bottles of this wine may continue to improve, my singular thought. 98 Pts
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/3/2018 - ravikalaga Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nothing more to add from the previous notes. This is a fantastic wine that is showing incredebly well. Forest earth, layers and layers of fresh fruit that is vibrant and lively and not at all tired. Phenominal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): This was probably my third favorite of tonight's tasting and seemed a very classic Bordeaux style - elegant. On the nose - old english library and leather. On the palate this is elegant and restrained with mature red fruit, leather, pencil shaving and some drying tannin on the finish. Pretty and elegant - quite enjoyed.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the third); 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Various Tampa locations (Seasons 52, Capital Grille, Berns etc.)): More austere bordeaux style after all of the 2000's. It's also a touch on the young side. Darker. A bit harsher in the acidity. But as I adjusted back to this style I appreciated the more restrained version. It's good.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2018 - Verb Likes this wine: 95 Points
deep red, brick rim - needed an hour to fully open, but afterward a beautiful nose of blackberries and cassis with lead pencil and cigar box complexity - medium full body with sweet mature cabernet fruit and excellent acid balance - tannins resolved - long, long finish - drinking beautifully now, but still has many more years to develop further complexity
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2018 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
To reiterate previous notes, this is a great Pichon Lalande. With a nose packed full of blackcurrent, blackberry, and cherry, the palate is deep and complex with the fruit, and flavours of tobacco. It completes with a lengthy finish. Still needing a few hours in the decanter to see its best, it is pipping the 1995 at present, and up there with the 1982 and 1986.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - Baron Samedi wrote: 95 Points
Nose: Tobacco and herbs; palate: Well-integrated tannins, jam, spices. Medium body. Impressive length, cigarbox. Well balanced. This was a true pleasure to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - jrh82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Although the aged tobacco was there from the start it took 4-5 hours of air in the bottle for the wine to really sing. Seductive tobacco from the nose, some ripe red bell pepper, small touch of mint, cedar wood, smoke, bit of mocca. Never heavy. Elegant and intricate nose as expected from Comtesse. Mocca and tobacco carry through on the taste. Tasty acidity left. Tannins have melted into wine. Classic Pauillac but with the Comtesse softness and elegance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2017 - robertek wrote: 95 Points
Great wine. Held its ground despite fierce competition in a fligth of Harlan 96 and Margaux 96. Clearly a good vintage for Pichon Lalande.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2017 - Mjladha wrote: 91 Points
Not sure if this was a mediocre bottle. Nose was impressive. Olives, cherries, currants. Palate was ok. Not particularly complex. Improved over time after a 30 min decant
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2017 - liber Likes this wine: 95 Points
6th of 25, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, right back on form, lovely purity and minerality, quite unctuous, yet fresh, youthful. VF (18.5).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2017 - NJwineguy wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Decanted for 3 hours.
A bit less depth than expected
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2017 - Bruno DALBIEZ wrote: 98 Points
Silk, elegance, balance.... it is hard to find the words... We opened it and carafed it about 3 or 4 hours before the meal (of lamb chops with fresh garden veggies). It was simply sublime. The tannins are beautifully rounded and blended in, yet still present enough. Hints of tobacco, cherry, and chocolate. My wife described it as having hints of black Forest gateau... Absolutely beautiful (the wine too!) She asked me a good question: why are you giving it a score of 98? Why not 100? What is not perfect about it? She is right. I don’t know what stopped me from giving it 100, as I could not find a single thing even slightly imperfect about it. I am so glad we still have 9 bottles left...
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/3/2017 - pablopilot Likes this wine: 96 Points
Sometimes wine is wine. And sometimes, wine is love. It's true that great company enhances excellent wine. It is also true that great wine enhances excellent company. The '96 PL is a "love" wine. It has such sweetness, such complexity and underlying smokiness, such balance and elegance that it does more than taste great and make food taste better (terrific homemade pizza in this case) -- it makes people happy.
Flavors: cedar, pumpkin pie spices, wood smoke. Raspberries. Just a hint of jarred artichoke hearts oiliness. Enough tannin to stitch it all together, but not enough to feel it. Subtle, gracious nose. Not an overwhelming wine; it wants to be where you are, part of the party, not the center of it. An active participant for sure. Always well dressed and appropriate, like the Comtesse herself. Pure pleasure in a bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/26/2017 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drinking at its prime, the nose is full of ripe blackcurrent. On the palate the fruit is balanced by good tannin with great complexity and a lengthy finish. This has really evolved in the last few months and is up there with the 1982 and 1986. It is a beautifully opulent wine, almost a throwback to the past, with a structure to stay here for the next decade. Just a short time in the decanter recommended. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2017 - Deepdrop Likes this wine:
93..was hoping for something better after ready reviews. Mineral driven wine that was a bit light and lacking the concentration I like. Perhaps just not my style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2017 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 96 Points
Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Vertical Tasting with Nicolas Glumineau (Taberna del Alabardero): Aromatics I can only describe as "dark." There are also some of those Pauillac lead-pencil scents in there. Similar sensation on the palate -- deeply pitched black fruit with serious echoes of metal shavings on the back end. Later on in the night the aromas pick up an almost truffly character and the fruit complexion turns a brighter red. This was leaner than the 2000 but compensated for the smaller scale with its sheer piercing drive.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2017 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
Pichon Lalande dinner with Nicolas Glumineau (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): Very classic refined nose displaying singular black fruit, i.e. unison polished black fruit note, very floral and perfumed, cedar, strong lead pencil and crushed rock. Beautifully integrated sophisticate palate, silky and polished, cassis and lead pencil driven palate impression, very precise, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, silky tannins and a long mineral finish. I am a big fan of the 96, so classic, pure and energetic with impeccable balance. If you prefer the energy, sophistication and precision, this is totally ready.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior note; love this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2017 - Joealex wrote: 94 Points
Smell: black and red currant, blackberry, leather, tar, wet earth nuance after 1h decanting disappeared.
Palate: at the beginning palate was dominated by high accidity and bitter dry finish but after 1,5h of decanting wine became more approachable and sweet. Distingushed by excellent focus, medium body, fabulous concentration and strong tannins ( still after 20 years of aging). Severe style which is not liked by everyone, for true connoisseurs of Pauillac wines.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2017 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Unbelievable nose jumping out of glass after pour... had taken bottle out of cellar earlier in day to get to room temp. Lead pencil/graphite and cedar. May be the tastiest Bordeaux I have had in years
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2017 - Remony wrote: 93 Points
Our first bottle of any wine after a 4 week lay-off. Decanted only minutes before, it seemed disjointed and even bitter initially. But a combination of air and our palates readjusting to an old captivity, brought out the best in this bottle in the end. Rich but not sweet, some tannin still, satisfying.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2017 - Rezy13 wrote: 93 Points
Garnet core with brick rim; screams gravel and green pepper, red currants, smoke and coffee; some fat on the palate more than the nose suggests, touch of Brett, still structured, grainy tannin, earth, Band-Aid, a bit disjointed for me but still quite noble; called '95 Lynch Bages.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2017 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
1st wine of a '96 dream tasting in Bourdeaux with our group. Done 2 separate times over 2 separate weeks. 1st week-medium garnet in the glass with moderate degree of bricking at the edge. Cherry and mushrooms on the nose, smooth entry with well integrated tannins, no dropoff at the end and good acidity maintained. Very feminine profile to this wine with subtle, soft fruit. 2nd bottle 2nd week diminished some-less mushroomy, still cherry, a bit tart, fruit a little more reduced. Bottle variance obvious from the last week's tasting but still good. I'd drink these now rather than later at the risk of losing, even more, fruit over time. Just my own personal taste profile.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2017 - Vino_Veritas Likes this wine: 96 Points
The wine that started it all for me 15 years ago, and still going strong. Great, classic Pauillac nose. A masculine wine (higher proportion of Cabernet shines through), with plenty of dark fruit, but the tannins have really begun to soften and the wine is integrating nicely. Long finish that lingers seemingly for minutes. For today, it's the tannins that stand out: sweet, much like the '82, though this wine lacks the depth compared to that legendary wine, at least at this point. Love it!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/26/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for 3 hrs, dark ruby, dark fruit with just a whiff of tobacco, mod. tannins, long finish; still opening up when tasted (seems like a very young bottle), less open, darker & more tannic than the 96 Baron. Delicious, but just starting to drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2017 - BradE wrote:
Started out with a green note, but with air this soared. Suggest a couple hour decant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2017 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
2nd bottle of '96 Pichon. Decanted together. Wonderful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2017 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Decanted 2 hours, consumed over next 2. Consistent with prior exoeriences. Lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2017 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is my second favorite all-time vintage of PLC next to the 1982. While this bottle was excellent, it was not nearly as good as all of the prior bottles I've had. I don't think it is fading, I just think this bottle may not have been perfectly stored for its 20+ years of life. Straight out of the bottle, it seemed tired with strong notes of cigar box and leather, but lacking fruit. However, it got better with about an hour of air and began to strut its stuff with classic Pauillac notes of cassis, black currant, black licorice, and very silly smooth / round tannin. Strange tasting experience as rarely does a wine show more fruit with a slow oxidation. Nevertheless, don't let this rating deter you from this wine. Just make sure if you are buying it, you ensure a great provenance.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2017 - A.Hansen Likes this wine: 95 Points
I've had some bottle variability with this wine - this bottle was great. Deep ruby in colour. A pronounced nose of black currant, cedar and forest floor. The wine is full bodied with high acidity and medium tannin. On the palate there are notes of blackberry, black currant, green bell pepper and leather. The wine has a long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2017 - pablopilot Likes this wine: 94 Points
Generally I pretty clearly prefer the Comtesse to the Baron... on this particular night this bottle followed a '03 Baron which had just a bit more meat to it. Or maybe we were less drunk when we drank it. Remarkably similar flavors, though... plumminess, meatiness, some residual tannin and excellent acidity. Very drinkable and no jagged edges. No need to baby this wine: it is a plain delicious (if somewhat costly) beverage to be enjoyed with food! I would say no particular hurry and it could in fact improve with additional years in bottle. 15-20 more, even!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2017 - burgcamel wrote: 94 Points
Nice wine that's entering it's drinking window. I would have liked it better if it didn't have a green note to it. No real faults but green olives don't appeal to me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2017 - BaroloRob wrote: 93 Points
Drinking better than my last bottle.
Compared to Las Cases which was slightly better.
Very solid bordeaux with good depth and finish.
Solid tanins.
No rush to drink these.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2017 - fine137 wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2017 - drjb Likes this wine: 96 Points
First bottle of six stored since en primeur purchase. Beautiful deep crimson with some bricking. Wonderful nose of blackcurrant, cedar, lead pencil and tobacco with touches of flowers, dark chocolate and mint. The palate is beautifully shaped with terrific length and a gossamer finish of finest tannins. There are plenty of classic fruits with a touch of herbaceousness which provides balance and interest. This is a classic Lalande that will now drink for years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose has pencil shaving, ink, sous bois, forest, black fruit and charcoal. Palate is very balanced with lots of stuffing. The palate is silky with round black fruit. Really impressed by the length and complexity. It kept evolving in the glass. Long life ahead. Classic left bank. 94-95
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2017 - JulianSkeels wrote: 95 Points
Whilst I like this wine, I've never been as keen (or thought it as ready) as others. Same again. This really needs lots of air and shows more cabernet (and less merlot plushness). I actually think this is more comparable to the 08 Lalande, and less similar to the 10 than claimed by others (and had them all side by side to test). It has the 96 left bank 'freshness' which always reminds me of the 08s (a vintage in which Lalande is excellent imho). Hold to 2025. 95pts.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Consistently stunning, this is a beauty. The textures are pure silk, the fruits are ripe, sweet and complex, the tannins, sugar and freshness are in balance and the finish is sexy. Plus it is showing great today!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2017 - cnichelson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Intoxicating nose with charcoal, smoke, dark fruit. Smooth, sweet tannins. Lovely mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Open and generous on the nose - lovely notes of dark fruit, spices, tobacco, cedar. Elegant and well balanced on the palate, soft tannic grip, great acidity, very good fruit. Ready, but no rush at all. Fine length. 92-94
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2017 - JBVino wrote:
Good but was actually out done by 96 clos du Val cab res. Really good bottle but just lacked advanced secondary flavors and texture on the palate to be extraordinary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2017 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wonderful++. Fully mature with zero sediment. Fabulous layered nose of black cherry, berries graphite and spice leading to long long finish.
If a date, this was a 25 year old Elle model whose weekend hobby is molecular gastronomy.
Highly recommended++, this is the apogee of mature Bordeaux
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2017 - CMallard wrote: 93 Points
Decanted, got significantly better after 2 hrs, kept marginally improving after that. Perfect cork, excellent level, fresh color, clean nose upon opening. Good bottle. Overall good wine, still youthful. Will hold for a while, no rush. Fresh nose, quite complex, a lot of flowers, interlaced with earthy tones. Good mouth development, harmonious, slightly bitter (house style I guess), good length, energy. Solid.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2017 - Jamie Manley wrote: 96 Points
Folks, I am now more convinced than ever that perfectly stored 1996 Bordeaux (top chateau) still need more time. This is my 3rd bottle from an immaculate case and these puppies need, possibly, another 5 years. Perfect cork, fill, label, color, and also a ton of sediment, this still needs to flesh out some more nuance and tertiary flavor. Having said all of that, this is a blockbuster of a wine. The expression of cabernet fruit is exemplary and this is a massive wine. A little shy on the nose, but textbook young Lalande - hint of green (good), cassis, cherry, briar patch, and pencil. The palate is the star with dominating red fruit followed by light tobacco, that hint of green, cedar, and fine pencil. Significant tannin and a large frame, this should all come together over the next half decade. Currently, 89 Lalande is drinking significantly better, but the 96 has the goods to surpass it. For now, 96+ Pts
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/17/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 95 Points
Still one of my favorite vintages from this producer. It's slowly evolving and becoming more interesting. A really complex nose of cassis, coffee, horse stable, green pepper, and violets. Dense and layered on the palate, it's hard not to like this wine. Tannins need a bit more softening. A gorgeous earthy finish with impressive length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Opened, decanted, and poured almost immediately. Cork broke a bit, but wine was in great shape. Right in the drinking window. Very classic Bordeaux with lots of cigar, tobacco, leather. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 87 Points
Soft and unobjectionable. Quite green on the nose and palate: cedar and tobacco just on the cusp of being herbaceous. Some gentle red fruit. Short finish. Not bad, just not much to the wine. Not nearly as good as the bottle I had a number of years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2017 - J o e wrote: 95 Points
Deep ruby red. The Pichon Lalande starts off with powerful notes of cedar, green pipe tobacco, melted dark chocolate and red raspberries. Medium-bodied and elegant in the mouth, with red cherries, black plums and a trace of mint leading to a long, long finish that gently grips the gums. This is firmly in its early drinking window and quite enjoyable now, but will certainly last for some time. A lovely, complex Pauillac! 95.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2016 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for about 3-4 hours and it wasn't enough... still a youthful vibrant wine.
Wait another five years!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - Mr T wrote:
Looked and drank quite young
Telltale PL green on the nose and slightly on the palate, but for me anyway, in a good way. It's herbal rather than green pepper
93-4 but tough side by side with excellent '95 Schrader
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - Frank Schneider wrote: 95 Points
Marvellous chrismas magnum . Fantastic bordeaux . Has many years left
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2016 - enofilene Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love Pichon Lalande and this is a tremendous example of the wines of this Chateau. Pepper, flint, ash and dark fruit are all there on the nose. The palate is highly flower with some more of that dark fruit, but beautifully well-balance with vibrant acidity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2016 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
This has really developed in the last 6 months and is entering its optimum drinking window where it should stay for years. Now a typical robust and rounded Bordeaux, the nose is big and fruity with blackcurrent and cassis. The tannin is good and firm but not overly harsh and there is good depth on the palate A good balanced finish but it does end rather abruptly. This is now more advanced than its older siblings of 1995 and 1986.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2016 - Louvin Likes this wine: 94 Points
open for several hour, decanted for 1. Drank over 2 hrs. From the beginning taste this showed everything, didn't change much over the drinking of the bottle. All the elements of the grape varities were in evidence, from the casis, graphite, cedar box, green leaf tobacco and minor amounts of cherry. Truly a fine bottle and holding, basis on previous tastings. Tannins totally in check.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2016 - A.Hansen Likes this wine: 94 Points
A savoury Pichon Lalande. The nose has a distinct herbaceous streak mixed in with blackcurrant and forest floor. The palate again has blackcurrant, crushed herbs, lead pencil and leaves. It is drinking well 20 years in but I am in no rush to drink up other bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2016 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
quite classic - a bit of tabacco/cigar box.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2016 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Slightly disappointing. Bit of leather on nose. Light and lacks depth mid-palate, just drops away. With Nicolas Glumineau.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2016 - Lipsman wrote: 91 Points
Brick colored. Unexpectedly closed bottle. Some plum in the aroma, but restrained. The tight wine mellowed out after 45 minutes in a decanter, showing mocha, coffee, smoke, leather, smooth and melded tannins. Quite good. After two hours it tightened up again, with acidity coming forward. This was an odd bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2016 - jmoon Likes this wine: 96 Points
From first pour, perfection. Straight from the bottle beautiful complex earthly herbaceous, dark delicious layered fruit. An almost heavely layered earthy dark fruit explosion.
And then the transition at the one hour point...
the wet forest floor dries out to reveal the viscous intensity of a mildly medicinal thick layer up front which when dived through, like a swimmer in a pool, into a deep dark delicious, viscous remedy of all ills. Perfection.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dried cherry, plum, dark fruit, graphite, good but past peak for my taste in the sense I liked the bottles I had 3-5 years significantly better. Did the wine change or my taste? Still killer, don't get me wrong. Grilling herbs, color is bricking. Expected it to be WOTN, but was least thrilling.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Drank along side the 90. The 96 was much more youthful. Still dark and zero bricking. The 90 was much more advanced, lighter in color and had more earth vs red fruit. The 96 was, IMO, in the perfect spot. Well aged and very nuanced but still powerful and totally balanced. Nothing out of place and a wonderful harmony of depth, flavor, persistence and complexity. 95+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 91 Points
1996 Bordeaux Blind: Good nose, classic damp earth but juicy and sweet red fruit, red cedar as well. Big tannic structure and souring acid through the finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2016 - pablopilot wrote: 94 Points
We've had two of these lately and all I'm gonna say is, it is soft, unobjectionable, agreeable, goes great with food, give pleasure... a true classic, delicious and unobtrusive. Everything a classic second growth pauillac should be. !
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 95 Points
Third bottle tasted this year. All the same quality, classic Pauillac - decant two hours, then enjoy a well balanced, well structured, elegant bordeaux with food.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior note; great Bordeaux!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2016 - burlingtonm Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is drinking beautifully now; elegant, fresh, vigorous & well balanced with great finesse. This is a lovely Bordeaux.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2016 - NJwineguy wrote: 90 Points
At peak. Smooth and lots of fruit and earthiness
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2016 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Smoke, cigar, Pauillac earth and spice, slight bell pepper; a bit lean, but drinking well. Nose much better than palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2016 - AMRS wrote:
This wine never opened up. Not even in 4 hours. Needs time, years. Not now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2016 - Rani wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind. What a bruiser. Lots of black fruit and cedar, gun powder, pencil lead. Quit alcoholic, feels 'new worldish' and young - would have never give this 20 years of age. I think this needs more time or serious decanting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
5th of 25, decanted 2 hours, perfect cork and level - much as my May 15 note, these 96s seem to be regressing into their shells and are currently hard work, despite their underlying qualities, hard currently to rate above fine (17.5), though I'm sure the underlying wine is at least VF (18.5), but when.....technically similar to the 86 which took time to show, though the quality of tannin and fruit seem better in 96?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2016 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Potential for upside is tremendous. Think of the 1982 vintage being tasted just after turn of the century. This '96 vintage is not far behind. Delicious pauillac juice.
94 for now. Re-try after 2020.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2016 - Remony wrote: flawed
375 ml. Badly corked. Undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Another fabulous bottle!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Spectacular vintage for Pichon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Continues to impress.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Consistent with previous -- wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2016 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful and expressive luxurious bouquet with dark forest fruits, tobacco, cigar box, graphite, smoke and some mint. On the palate a slightly sweet start and all the beautiful elements of the bouquet are there as well. Beautifully fresh acidity and round tannin with a soft and delicious bite. Overall a great, complex and elegant wine with good finesse. Entering its maturity stage now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2016 - ilee Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is not bad at all, on its own. But on this night, it was opened beside a resplendent 1996 Mouton, so it was somewhat overshadowed. The nose is very Pauillac alright -- cassis, toasted cedar, sculpted with a fine chisel. But there was just a very faint green note, which I might not have caught if it weren't for the Mouton right next to it, which accentuated the Pichon's lightness in comparison. Having said that, the wine does tend towards medium-body, and is almost mature and most drinkable -- especially after a 5 hour decant. 5 year wait rather than 50, definitely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2016 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark purple and full-bodied with richly ripe and textured, this a pleasure to drink. Decanted for three hours and this beauty drank perfectly with a crusty and rare tenderloin. Could drink this wine over and over with its balance and elegance from mid palate to finish. Spice, rose mallow and Calycanthus flower aromas, a basket of blue and black fruit, mulberry and dew berry, a hint of licorice, toast, and bit of dried tobacco leaves. In perfect form and will remain for five to eight more years. Opulent and concentrated, a winner.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2016 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Just a hint of the PL green streak, lots of graphite, very smooth and poised, but I was expecting a lot more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2016 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
Still pretty tannic but started to open up after some breathe time. Dark smokey fruit. Needs food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2016 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red with a nice lustre.
Rich, ripe dark berries, distinctly cedary but in a smooth balanced style.
Slippery, elegant style, very refined tannins. Flavours well aged, fruit has softened and perhaps faded. Lovely cedary, mulberry, tobacco leaf, cassis flavours. But on the downhill run.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2016 - nstow Likes this wine: 96 Points
1st of 12. A beautiful wine. Elegant and silky with warm berry fruits, supported by an underlying minerality. More undergrowth as it opened up. Well balanced and with good length the wine is drinking very nicely now but still has future development potential. 5/5
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2016 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 90 Points
Quite a youthful colour.
Very full, ripe nose with poised black fruit.
Very youthful palate. Lots of juicy black fruits give it an inky black texture.
Fairly integrated tannins though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2016 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Right after the opening a bit musty but then gained quickly in the glas. On the top. Ripe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2016 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just starting to enter its drinking plateau. Full of blackberry and fruit but austere, checked by a steely harshness, this is developing into a blockbuster of a wine. OK to drink now but will certainly continue to improve
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2016 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 96 Points
Right in line with prior notes in March - if you like Pichon, this baby is well balanced, silky - just lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2016 - michael47 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely mature Pauillac. It opened a little muted but several hours later at the end of the evening it had gained concentration and complexity in the nose. Very nice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2016 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
After a great bottle almost a year ago (Papies 95 after a few 92-3s in the years before) this was back to a more muted and almost closed bottle at times. We decanted for a good 2 hours as well but sort of never felt to be kicking off, the nose had still a fair amount of oak residue and although a very enjoyable wine was in no way up to standard with what we expected. was no better than a 92-93 this time unfortunately.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2016 - Vinum Deorum Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent wine, an archetype of a mature medoc in a great vintage. Dark crimson robe, aromas of red berries, blueberry and cassis, and hints of cedar. It is very well balanced, has smooth and slightly melted tanins, and is medium to full-bodied. Powerful and elegant at the same time. I very much enjoyed it and thought this can still age for 15/20 years from now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2016 - sawira wrote: 96 Points
Bottle #3 of 3. My son came into town unexpectedly, and so I let him choose whatever he wanted from the cellar. After much deliberation, he chose this. Chip off the old block! Very orange, almost brown, hue to the plummy purple red. Worried at first. Then the nose on opening - stupendous - put my fears aside. Double decanted for an hour, and enjoyed over two. Fading a bit at the end, but strong throughout otherwise. A distinct lavender or thyme underpinning to the plummy, bright, deep and fully mature fruit. An almost sweet thread (someone called it honey, which isn't quite it for me, but I can relate), beautiful green note (96 vintage), perfect acidity and detail, and completely resolved tannins. Beguiling, and profound complexity. A beauty. Only Lalande I've liked better was the '82 in the mid 90s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The ‘96 Pichon showed a beautiful mature bouquet with earth tones up front leading to crushed red fruit, dried flowers and spice. On the palate, I found saturating dark red fruits on broad and fleshy frame as a bump of brisk acidity provided lift. It finished earthy yet fresh with hints of savory herbs and olive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2016 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 94 Points
I've had this wine before a couple times, a few years ago, but this is the first time the wine seemed fully ready to drink. The nose was very feminine with elegant black fruit, a 1996 Left Bank style greenness, some floral notes, and what I'm deciding is the tell-tale Pichon Lalande honey/caramel note. I've caught this honey note on the 1982, 1997, and 2002 and I'm beginning to think it's a particular characteristic of this Chateau. My friend used it to pick out the 1982 blind in a tasting of 8 wines. The palate was smooth, fruity, and silky and a pleasure to drink. It's an excellent wine, but based on its reputation, I was hoping for a more explosive nose and more intensity and flavour on the palate. Perhaps these key features of an outstanding wine will develop with more time. At the moment, this wine ranks behind the 1979, 1982, and 1989 which I found amazing. It ranks ahead of the 1986, 1990, 1997, and 2002 for me.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2016 - LWI wrote: 96 Points
Pichon Lalande Tasting: Dark and deep, some minerals, complex; Surprisingly big bodied. I have drunk a few of these earlier, and this bottle was far more mature than some bottles just a few years back. Rich wine, vey CS dominated.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2016 - blanquito wrote: 95 Points
Killer, killer young Bordeaux. Most folks didn't seem focused on this youngster, but I was enthralled and it just got better and better over the evening.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely nose of gravel and sweet tobacco. Fine, aging claret in a somewhat firm style for the estate. Beautifully integrated with sumptuous flavors of gravel, tobacco and earth along with sweet smoky black fruits. This vintage of PL is going to be long-lived but is finally drinking well now with nice secondary flavor development and firm but supple tannins. Medium-bodied and very fine. 94+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - jmoon Likes this wine: 95 Points
An emotional little wine. If Jesus had a nanny this is she.
Puckered fun up front. Thrilling tension... Zingy fireworks up the side, business down the middle.
Two sips in and it's business time. The kimono opens to reveal plush dark fruit... Sour cherries, black currents, and a hint of wet stone.
At the one hour mark its Ship Ahoy! She set sail into a brooding stormy sunset of plush velvet currents, crushed violet and a good fistful of iron filings scattered across the deck.
At the two hour mark its goodnight nurse. Time for the medicine cabinet. Fattens out to a syrupy liquid elixir, reminiscent of losing ones virginity in a field of liquorice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2016 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Second Sunday Group: 1996 Bordeaux (high end) (Marty's): Opens with notes of green, herbal qualities with black fruit underneath. Has some structure and tannin, but it's balanced by the fruit and feels appropriate. Flavors of red fruit and herbs, green tobacco and iron. Finishes with greater length than the first couple of wines and seems more accessible overall. This doesn't change much during the course of the tasting, but everything just becomes more amplified as it sits. Excellent. 94 pts.
Double blind:
My #2, Domino's #8
Group #6, 54 pts
Single blind guess:
Lafite- more due to process of elimination, as I have very little experience with Lafite and don't have identifying characteristics in my taste memory.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
3/11/2016 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding Pauillac! Perfectly paired with lamb chops, thoroughly enjoyed this "classic style" bordeaux. Decanted for an hour, however steadily improved over the next three hours of tasting. Great nose and structure, long finish. Love it. 96
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2016 - jbeauprez wrote: 95 Points
Sweet baby Jesus this is at its peak. It's real and it's spectacular.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2016 - minipc123@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
https://pairingwine.wordpress.com/2016/02/26/1996-chateau-pichon-longueville-comtesse-de-lalande-pauillac
Medium ruby color with a brownish rim. The nose is full of black currant and black cheery intermixed with toasty oak, ceder, black pepper and green bell pepper.It is medium body with refreshing acidity and velvety tannin. Long finish. Very good quality wine.
Recommend to open and decant 1.5 hour before drinking.
Food pairing: Beef tartare, pan seared pigeon check with red wine sauce
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2016 - orange boy wrote: 94 Points
true second growth, Bordeaux bluster great tannins dark but fresh fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Slow o'd for hrs then double decanted, garnet with no brick, nose of tobacco & dark fruit, taste of dark cherry with soft tannins, long finish, outstanding & ready to drink, but no rush (just entering plateau, IMHO)!
Bordeaux at its best!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
If you're looking to catch an elegant, text book Pauillac in the perfect place, pop a cork on this beauty if you have a bottle or two stashed away and be prepared for a beautiful nose of tobacco, forest floor, cassis, green olive tapenade, (but in a good way) and spicy cherries. Plush, polished and sensuous, the silky, fresh, sweet fruits and black cherry liqueur in the end notes feel great while they linger on your palate. Decanted 30 minutes before serving brought it right where it needed to be. Additional time in the glass did not add much.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - Tubulus wrote: 94 Points
Well, sh&t, I guess this is why people like Bordeaux. Amazing nose, palate not far behind. Secondary development but seems younger than its nearly 20 years. Decanted for about an hour before we got to it and it was totally open.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 95 Points
I am amazed at the consistency of scores and tasting notes on this great wine, a testament to how good a chateau this is. I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, a classic left bank work of art - medium dark colour out of the bottle with a telltale nose of earth, hay, cedar, tar, secondary notes of petals and cherries. As others have suggested, the nose itself is an amazing experience. The tannins are beautifully in balance here, I'd say this wine is peaking right now and I still think it easily has 10+ years left in it, perhaps 20. The complexity will only get better on well stored bottles; worth noting this vintage can often be purchased at auction at cheaper levels than current releases, an absurd bargain.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2015 - AlexB70 wrote: 96 Points
Magnificient! I would never stop sniffing, the nose of this wine will stay in my mind forever. Leather, hints of cacao, dark berries, cassis, faint vanilla, very complex. Mouth is super well integrated, balanced and lingering, very long, tanins are still present, but light and not dry. I am mouth watering while writing this. This wine is in my top five best wine ever! Man I would like to have more...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2015 - Aglenardi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very masculine wine, a textbook pauillac in the making. A wine of great depth and flavors. Complex aroma of dark fruits followed with hint of leather and smoked wood. Excellent balance and purity. Will continue to improve and be a great dining companion for many years to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2015 - AMRS wrote: 92 Points
Uncorked 2 hours in advance, the wine might have suffered from travel. It took 15 minutes in the glass to start showing . Nose started to show red and black fruit. On the palate balanced but restrained, now giving it all now. While I enjoyed it after a while in the glass, this bottle suffered from travel and can be much better, 92 now, more later I hope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2015 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
Wine-Nona post-Bordeaux trip meeting (Messa Restaurant, Tel-Aviv): double decanting 2 hours prior to consuming
dark opaque red-purple with a bit of amber rim
fine dark fruits tertiary aromas with earthy-leather notes
medium-full bodied, soft integrated silky tannins, excellent balance & harmony, rich savory flavours, well structured, delicate complexity, still feels quite young and can age for another decade or so. Very long aftertaste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2015 - GNBB wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Stunning nose. Buckets of violets, leather, sweet spice, tobacco box with black cherries and almond notes. Palate is full with medium, fine tannins & a good zip of acid to create real balance. Ripe black cherry fruits and very light forest floor. An excellent wine which unquestionably is drinking now but has a number of years ahead of it. Now-2030.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Chateau Cos d'Estournel Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago IL): Popped-and-poured. Black berries and espresso, with very good density. Acidity and tannins very pronounced right now, but the length and power foreshadow great potential here. Last bottle I tried provided more pleasure and had been decanted an hour or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2015 - blanquito wrote:
From 375ml... Dark and deep, the merlot seems dominant right now. Impressively balanced and seamless without a harsh note. Not hard and closed at present, but this is quite subdued and only offers brief hints of what it is capable of. I'm withholding a rating today, as it seems out of sorts. I expect that this just needs more time for its inner flamboyance to emerge.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
1990's Cali Cabs vs Bordeaux tasting. Best of the Bordeauxs. Runner up for WOTN. Nose of spice and cedar. Black cherry compote, grilled beef, minerals, and a medium finish. These were tasted blind. The winning Dalla Valle had a little more depth, fruit, complexity and finish. This was very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mid 90's Bordeaux vs. California Tasting: More muted fruit, fairly mature. Dark red raspberry. Fantastic! Served blind @ Bordeaux vs. Cali Cab tasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2015 - The Vines That Bind Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet. Even after a four hour decant this was still relatively closed. Showing massive potential with Latour-like fruit power backed up by rich earth. Eased up towards the end of the tasting giving off tea leaf notes and also some Lalande cedar and coffee. A bit of a brute outstanding from the otherwise very pretty Lanande house style. Going to be an excellent bottle with just a little more patience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2015 - llink wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted and let sit for 5 hours, then consumed over the next 2 hours. Classic Old world nose of cedar, lead pencil, currants. The palate showed a little closed, but was silky and had an awesome texture that was expressive and at the same time deep and brooding. Served next to a Ridge Monte Bello from 96, this came across as more complex and age worthy.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2015 - Lipsman wrote: 94 Points
This wine is still closed. Decant for 90 minutes. Quite good, balanced and deeply saturated flavors. Could do with another another 3-5 years in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2015 - theRealPepe Likes this wine:
Popped and poured due to lack of planning on my part (fully intending to open the bottle that evening.) Excellent Pauillac with lovely fruit, earth, tobacco, and a touch of bell pepper. My favorite wine of the evening.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2015 - mjdixon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful pauillac
Deep complex flavours one of my favorites
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2015 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and decanted 30 minutes table side..Cedar and lead pencil nose right away, the wine was beautiful on the mouth and drank well for the entire dinner. Very classy Bordeaux.. probably near peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle showed a lot of bell pepper flavors along with smoky black fruits and a slight note of roasted peanuts. On the leaner side but with a very fine complexity developing on the finish. Still needs some time to fully flesh out and I must say, somewhat surprisingly, that I'm beginning to prefer the '95 to this as more time passes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2015 - Papies wrote: 95 Points
This is a masterpiece (easily the best bottle we have had so far in e attempts overthe last 6 yrs - Papies 92-93) and really a young wine still albeit with a lot of secondary characteristics. Double decanted (a bit of fine sediment so one needs to be a bit careful) and took to The Beast, London. A good 1.5hrs from open to consumption and by then the wine was singing.
A beautiful, classic nose (present from th epop of the cork), leather, light pepper, cedar, maybe tobacco at times. Open, very expressive nose and justa joy. On the palate it is still just about entering its drinking window and the wine has many more summers to live through. Stilll even not at peak, it has pretty nice fee, tannin is on the silky side and def has shed that 1996 wall of tannin feel. A few dry spots on the finish do jump out but this is a true classic. 95.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2015 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
4th of 25, decanted an hour, perfect fill, previous notes very good to very fine - bright, deepish garnet, little development; classy bouquet with secondaries now developing, cassis, bramble, tobacco and a whiff of violet; medium full, promises more than it delivers as pinched but still long and grippy, my first bottle in 2011 was best (VF) but very primary, since when it has retreated to its shell and is just beginning to re-emerge on nose with more to come on palate. At present fine plus (18/20).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2015 - englishman's claret wrote: 95 Points
A victim of it's own success, I think - backwards and still reticent probably because it has been so well kept (the fill is up to the foil). Opens over 4 hours to show beautiful powdery black currant, cedar, violets, and with more air, pure white flowers. Very much like a younger version of the 89 with not only the aromatic profile but the silky smooth texture and perfect balance. I think Clive Coates wrote about this wine, "O joy to come!" - how I agree. Needs 5 years at least from a bottle like this.
Montmartre on a sunny Spring day.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 95 Points
Landmark Hotel Decanter Masterclass with Nicolas Glumineau.
Sweet ripe fruits, dense and lush, completely resolved tannins and enough acidity to enjoy this wine today and a few more years to come. An interesting contrast to 1995, which was a little more angular, perfumed, black tobacco, cedar and capsicum. Graphite and mineral finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
With the 2010 the best wine in this vertical. Nicely evolved in colour, very healthy and glowing. Fine nose with dark fruit, pencil shavings, leather, spices, earth. Wonderful texture, open, round, but with a lovely bite to it. nice acidity and spiciness - all very well integrated. Very good finish. No rush drinking this, but delicious now. 93-95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2015 - Remony wrote: 94 Points
P & P, half bottle. To follow a sublime LLC 1985 (very unfair). Shows its relative youth. Reticent nose. Still slightly sharp, not yet fully integrated. But a lovely wine in the making, smooth and long. Another 5 years required.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2015 - joshbryer Likes this wine:
Plummy red nose, leather, starting to develop nice old bordeaux scents. Rich fruit is somewhat outpaced by forward acidity. This picks up more nuance with time in the glass, earth, spice and cedar begin to emerge. Should get better with more rest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2015 - Mr T wrote:
Stupid to PNP late in the dinner, but still outstanding wine...dark and full but plenty of fruit that would surely have blossomed with time....very nice wine and years to go. Strong cassis and graphite and some darker fruits that were just beginning to show...looking forward to remaining bottles
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:
Couldn't hold off from this after trying it recently with the Coravin. Cassis, leather, graphite, and coffee grounds. Solid mid-palate with nice mouthfeel. Fine, structured tannins. Lengthy finish. Very, very nice. A standout. Agree with previous score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2015 - Frank Schneider wrote: 96 Points
Here we are again my beauty !!!!! You are gettin better each time we meet . We know eachother for so many years and i hope we ll meet again as soon as possible. A magic bottle of Bordeaux . Lovin it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2015 - ken-yyz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking wonderfully. Rich Bordeaux nose with casisis, leather, graphite and a small dose of poop. Long lingering finish with enough tannic bite to say that this will continue to evolve for many years. The tiny bit of what I assume to be brett is the only distraction to an otherwise harmonious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2015 - sawira wrote:
60th Birthday Dinner (Our Place): Not tasted, but all other tasters rated this behind the 96 Scavino Annunziata.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2015 - sawira wrote:
60th Birthday Dinner (Our Place): Double decanted for two hours before serving. Served with Barolo Braised Beef, Polenta, Braised Greens with Olive Oil and Garlic. This suffered alongside the juggernaut of 96 Scavino Annunziata. A poor pairing and my bad - live and learn. This was just too subtle, light, green, young and subtle to pair this way. I loved it, but I really will have to taste this again in more favorable circumstances. Judgement deferred.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 95 Points
From Coravin. Developed in glass over 1.5 hour. Nose of plum, dark fruit, earth, leather, graphite, and cola. Full-bodied, silky, and very polished. Round tannins, obvious structure. Lengthy finish. This appears to be firmly in its drinking window, where it will remain for at least a decade. Has the obvious structure for the long haul. Look forward to drinking this in the upcoming years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
This is the right time to be popping corks on this beauty. With a short decant, tobacco, cassis, forest floor and cedar chest notes were all over the place. The texture is silky, slinky and the finish, leaves you with flavor, freshness and silk. The wine was produced from a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - conviction buy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slowly aired in bottle. Clear garnet in color. Classic nose of Pauillac, very black currant and cedary, hint of leather and wild flowers too. Still young in mouth, refreahing fruit and acidity but tannin givea a bitter aftertaste, probably lack of ripe sweetneas here. Shoulder continue to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - alittle wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured, followed approximately two hours. Deep garnet in the glass, with perhaps the faintest bricking at the rim. The nose was fairly expressive from the get go, with notes of currant, pencil lead, tobacco, cedar, fresh herb, earth and light florals. On the palate, still quite structured, but well polished and in near perfect balance. Moderate unresolved tannin, medium acidity, and a long finish, accentuated with tastes of currant, blackberry, graphite, cigar, earth and cedar. Lovely wine. Textbook Bordeaux, with a ton of potential. From a well stored bottle, I'd give this another 5-8 years before this hits full maturity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - Dave Canada wrote: 95 Points
1996 Horizontal Tasting (David's House - Kitchener, ON): This is so typically Paulliac....
Pencil lead, graphite, pyrazene, casks, tobacco, mineral, and cedar.
Palate is lush and polished with everything in order. Pure fruit that is augmented by leather, cedar casks, tobacco, mineral, pencil lead, granite and most importantly....liquified love :)
Finish is long, layered and lush. wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - Wine Canuck wrote: 94 Points
The Wine Nerds do Christmas Dinner (Dave' Place - Kitchener, ON Canada): Quite a classicly styled left bank Bordeaux. Not surprisingly I did find this to be very youthful, but I like old wine. A great wine today and given the trajectory of other Pichon Lalande's I've had I would expect this to be in need of 10 more years to be at peak for my palate. Nose is of mixed herbs, sweet cedar, plum, dark cherry, currants, graphite, dusty old furniture, cigar and toasted bread. All in all still quite young, though enjoyable today. The palate is so perfectly put together with optimal acid and tannin and loads of lovely berry fruit fruit on the finish. Medium plus finish in length. All the pieces are in the right place for this wine to age gracefully and perhaps pick up a point or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - Greg_O Likes this wine: 95 Points
Simply stunning left bank just approaching prime. Showing lovely complexity with graphite, green pepper, cassis, tobacco, and cedar. Amazing balance between lush dark fruit and gracefully aged pauillac character. Still on the upswing but must be approaching its peak. What a treat indeed. One of the best pichons I've had
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2014 - BaroloRob wrote: 91 Points
Needs to shed more tannin. Blown away by 1992 Ridge Montebello.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2014 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is getting better and better with every passing year. Textbook Pauillac... cassis and cedar.This is the best Bordeaux I've tried outside the first growths (just edging the '89 Lynch Bages). God only knows what this will taste like in 10-15 years. I will try and be patient with my remaining 9 bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/28/2014 - keith prothero wrote: 96 Points
My favourite 96 Bordeaux other than Haut Brion . Brilliant wine that although drinking great now,will improve and last for 20 plus years. Magnificent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2014 - clayfu wrote:
Really enjoyed this wine, it was brimming was potential but had tons of dark fruit, nice texture and solid structure with plenty of acidity and balance. It's still filling out its frame and has a ton going for it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2014 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Académie des Cinquante 59th Annual Dinner (Restaurant De Vrienden van Jacob *, Santpoort, NL): Mature and gravelly nose, fragrant, pure blackcurrant, Merlot warmth; elegant and harmonious palate, silky on the palate but dries up on the finish, tea-like and with a vegetal note; good length. Second bottle a little rounder. Fully mature.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2014 - danielk168 wrote: 90 Points
This time felt much younger but still did not like it, perhaps it was the 2 La's that captivated my attention, certainly not justified by the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2014 - BradE wrote:
From 375ml. Very classic, and like most 96 bdx is really starting to strut its stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2014 - Old John Likes this wine: 94 Points
The cork on this bottle was a bit disintegrated, and I'm not sure how well it was earlier stored. That said, and assuming this one was a bit dried out, it was still an excellent, silky and smooth Bordeaux, and I will have a hard time waiting a couple years to try a second bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2014 - Jamie Manley wrote: 97 Points
Wow! From impeccable storage and with perfect fill and cork, this is the second best Lalande that I have ever had, trailing only the immortal 1982. I still contend that the 1989 is currently in a better place, but the 96 is clearly the better wine and will be mind blowing upon full maturity. Based on this bottle, well stored examples should sleep for at least another 5 years. That said, this is textbook Pauillac and just beginning to show secondary notes. Screaming nose of black cherry, cassis, cedar, briar, menthol, and pencil. Swirling brings out hints of earth and tobacco. The palate is rich and lush, and clearly representative of the high percentage of cabernet used in the 96. Fruit driven currently, with all of the flavors of the nose, your palate is immersed with sensory overload. Long and layered, this is a Lalande that you will not soon forget. I was amazed at how fresh this was. 97+ Pts.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
9/20/2014 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): No discernible flaws on this bottle, but it clearly wasn't very good. It's like this was moving towards secondary characteristics, but the fruit had been abducted by aliens. Leather and brown spice, but absolutely no sign of anything else. The palate was similarly austere, with tannins that were just a bit too chewy. Probably an off bottle, but I'm not sure how or why it's off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2014 - KenK Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich dark brooding fruit aromas. A large scale showy wine with a ripe and dense flavor profile, chewy sweet tannin structure. Perhaps just a tad hard and still comes across quite young, but so nice. 95 with some possible upside. Yummy stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande / Pichon-Longueville Baron Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago IL): Open/ decanted 1 1/2 hours before serving. This wine keeps improving with more cellar time and continues to evolve in interesting directions. Dense black fruit everywhere with some cigarbox and leather. Some mushroom hints. Long and powerful, this is still slightly backward and should continue to pick up more complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2014 - winelover1808 wrote: 93 Points
unfair as I had this next to the 96 Mouton. despite that it was very very good. more pencil lead in the nose, more tannic and finish less seamless. but plenty of heft and a great bottle with a steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Judgement of Sydney Blind Tasting: The most "classic" Cabernet of this flight. Red currant, iron, chocolate, cedar and some olive and undergrowth aromas. The acidity is fresh and the fruit is lithe, resulting in a palate that is the hallmark of restraint. The fruit could probably use a little bit more body to take it to the next level but this was very fine regardless.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - Arcturus wrote: 96 Points
96 gorgeous wine. Three hour decant, bouquet of blackberry tobacco flowers. Textured pallet long knock out finish. Excellent bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2014 - alittle wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for sediment, followed in the glass approximately 3 hours. Garnet in the glass with a very faint brick. Beautiful nose of black currant, black cherry, celery seed, graphite, tobacco, florals, earth and cedar. Surprisingly expressive at this juncture, as I was expecting this to be a little closed, but it was very open right from first pour. On the palate, this just screams class; incredible purity of fruit, medium acidity and silky tannin gripping slightly on the long finish, accentuated with tastes of black currant, cigar, bell pepper, mineral and cedar. While I think it is no crime to open this today, I think this will be even better in 5 years time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2014 - changovin wrote: 88 Points
Long way to go yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
More open than the '89; cedar, berries, smoke, and a good hit of green bell pepper that keeps my nose in the glass. Lots of acidity, moderate tannin, more classic than the '89, too. Some thought this was backward but I loved it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2014 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 96 Points
With a decent amount of aeration time, this beauty was singing at full volume. Harmonious, balanced, elegant, mesmerizing are all the quality aspects you can put forth on this impeccable wine. The seductive bouquet is blossomed with currants, cedar, lead pencil, incense, spice and some licorice. Still young and vibrant, expansive on the palate filled with sweet berries and cigar smoke, the long finish will have you smiling and salivating for more. Simply outstanding!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2014 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 94 Points
Cool minerals and cherry notes, linear and precise but at the same time dense and powerful on the mid palate, lead pencil, earthiness, cedar and minerals, still quite tannic and youthful. Still on the upslope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2014 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at Home
Still very youthful with a rich nose of berries, cedar, earth, spice and vanilla. Complex, mouth coating palate with a medium length.
This is wonderful stuff and is up there with the greats of the '96 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2014 - Remony wrote: 95 Points
Another half bottle. This is still on the up. P & P, would have been better decanted. The last half glass was the best. Very full, rounded, classic claret on the palate, but nose a little reticent tonight. Not a typical Pauillac, seems a bit nearer to a St Julien. That may reflect the lower percentage of merlot than usual. Lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2014 - capacious wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature, slight tart notes, lengthy finish, the merlot not as apparent as in past, and not as hedonistic as this wine sometimes is, revealing its Pauillac roots. Suspect it's as good as it will get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2014 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
Monopole: Forest floor, moss, sour cherry, tea, herbs, and cocoa and shrooms in the nose--quite pretty; on the palate the acid is very high, it is ripe but still with sour red fruits, low in tannins, and a bit tart and thin. This has seen better days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/12/2014 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just beautiful aromatics here with notes of graphite minerals, charred tobacco grilled nuts. Quite open for business with less fruit than the '95 but more refinement and elegance. Delicious mature flavors of dark fruits, tobacco and graphite minerals lead to a finely elegant and complex finish with notes of grilled nuts and complex spices. A good backbone of smooth tannins and acidity suggest this will keep developing with time but I very much like drinking it now. 94+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2014 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 95 Points
A wonderfully majestic nose of blackberry, cigar box, tobacco and bell pepper lead way to much of the same on the layered palate with ample acidity and a long finish.
After having been open for 5 hours in bottle and without food, the wine morphed into greeness in spades which is going to stop me from rating this even higher.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2014 - Lipsman Likes this wine: 94 Points
A striking, lush and open wine. Aromas of roses, cedar, and tobacco. Aromas all come through in the taste with mocha, anise, and umami. Long on the palate. The flavors go on and on. Decant 45 minutes before serving. This bottle wasn't as good as previous samples, but I think that is because it wasn't decanted. This needs time to open up: a superb wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2014 - Eric wrote: 95 Points
Simply textbook Pauillac. Tobacco, smoke, and freshly tilled earth. The palate is pure silk, dancing with juicy cherries and nice, faintly herbal hints of Oregano. Saline and mineral, vibrant. Yum, this is just fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - falp wrote: 97 Points
outstanding!!!!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2014 - dowyong Likes this wine: 96 Points
Very elegant wine. Best of the 1996 tried (Chateau Palmer & Chateau Leoville Barton) on that day. Silky, lusciousness in a mouthful. Great balance, fine tannins. Earth, leather, dark currants. Yum
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - strickt01 wrote: 93 Points
Lunch at Stovells (Stovells, Chobham): Smooth, beautifully mannered mature red that had everyone cooing over it. It made the burgundies that preceded it seem exceptionally callow; unsurprisingly given their relative ages (and of course prices). Really very fine. My only slight issue with it would be that occasionally I detected an overtly vegetal note that marred what was otherwise an impeccable claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2014 - pjaines Likes this wine:
Simply stunning wine - THIS is what good Bordeaux is about right here in this bottle. Classy, elegant, refined, reserved. Do yourself a favour and get a bottle. This has everything you could possibly want in a Bordeaux - lots of leather, dark fruit, lightness, persistence, some soil, violets, cedar.....just pick all the cliches and wrap them in silk.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2014 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 94 Points
30 min decant for first glass. Closed at this point - green and earth. 3 hours later and the was drinking beautifully. Classic PLL - leather , cigar box, earth , graphite with equal amount of fruit. Tannins smooth after long decant. I don't see this getting better if you like fruit, since it is in the background now. Lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2014 - AlanM68 wrote: 92 Points
Vegetal. At least on opening and for the first hour in the decanter. Oddly that changed and the fruit began to show. It's a lovely wine but perhaps going through a mixed period in its development. Length is good and it continues to improve with more time. Drinking through 2020+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2014 - jmoon wrote: 91 Points
Opened up with attractive pauillac nose and character but the vegetal notes of 96 really kicked in and it was a little light and almost vinegary ... But was drinking her in summer so not really fair as a bit warm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2014 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
While previous notes apply I am a little concerned. This particular bottle seemed a little closed and not expressive as previous bottles until day two when it really blossomed into the 92-93 point wine that it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2014 - rsbeck wrote: 97 Points
Decanted 90 minutes, followed over next 90 minutes. This performed even better than the previous bottles. Absolutely singing. For me, this has everything. Wonderful nose I'd be happy to just sniff all night, intense, seamless, complex tapestry with plenty of fruit, yet it is also graceful and weightless. Absolutely delicious. Beautiful wine with plenty of life ahead. 97+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2014 - Lord Rayas wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Martin, Eric, Andy, Philip and wives (Drawing Room): popped and poured. should have decanted. took a while to get going. good structure. plenty of years ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - rsbeck wrote: 96 Points
Similar to previous notes. A delicious beguiling beauty. 96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - rsbeck wrote: 96 Points
Decanted three hours, consumed over next 90 minutes. Beautifully developed, extremely complex, seamless, integrated, balanced, intense yet weightless, like a ballet troupe dancing all over my taste buds followed by a lingering, memorable finish. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2013 - ekallio wrote:
Decanted four hours beforehand. Very elegant nose and mouthfeel but was expecting a bit more fruit expressiveness on the palate - this felt more developed than I expected. Maybe it hadn't had perfect provenance. Very nice experience still.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2013 - jamie24 wrote: 96 Points
improved since last tasting. blockbuster.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2013 - jmoon Likes this wine: 92 Points
from magnum. 2 hr decant.
grunty and powerful still... herbacious 96 character alive and well... + typical pauliiac pencils and plums... with hint of olive. i've enjoyed lalande more in other bottles, this didn't quite sing. i thought it had reached peak, other notes suggest it is yet to hit full potential.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2013 - eSchrag Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic bordeaux in its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2013 - Sourdough wrote: 95 Points
Oh my! We opened a bottle of this last year that had a crumbling cork and showed some age. I was a bit nervous about this bottle but... Oh My! It was wonderful!
A light, ethereal, but glorious bouquet announces this wine is to be respected. The colour was lovely, barely showing any tinges of brown (as opposed to the previous bottle). Silky, smooth, glorious balance. Dark fruit and lovely, integrated tannins. This bottle was near its peak IMO. One of the better Pauillac's (quality and age) I have had. Loved it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2013 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
5 Decades of Chateau Pichon Lalande, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): 3rd time we have come across this and with consistent ratings.
Still quite a lot of colour here and no sign of age ( byt this time we think it is a PL trademark to hold it colour). Lovely peppery nose, light on the fruit, no secondary notes either. This is a very young wine of potential and to us at this stage it is in waiting mode (especially vs the 1995). We are big fans of 1996 left bank and this wine goes a lot way in proving the potential of the vintage. Vibrant, firm, lots of depth and good balance which just make it perfect to age. At the moment it’s a 92-93 from us but give it 5yrs and this will be in the high 90s.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2013 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Opulent nose, very complex and rich - very impressive. Superb balance, smooth and silky on the palate, complex, fresh. Really, really long. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/13/2013 - WST wrote:
Bellingham Grand Crew Dinner (Lars' & Carolyn's): Decanted 4 hours, still needed an hour in the glass to really shine. Blackberries and currants, earthy leather and tobacco, tannins fine but still prominent. I'd hold them if I had some.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2013 - dbg wrote:
NYC Dinner with Peggy, Jim, Jacques and Jill (Jacques and Jill Levy): Dark red core, lightening at rim but no bricking. Fabulous nose of cassis, mushrooms, earth. Medium-full-bodied, cassis and fresh earth follow the palate, some beginning tertiary notes, tannins resolved, great balance, entering its plateau of maturity, should continue to drink well for many years. Outstanding.
Also drank the '96 Cos and Leoville Barton. This had the best nose of the night.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2013 - Charogers wrote: 93 Points
Half hour decant before 1st glass. Drunk from a magnum. Not a lot I could add to reviews is a wine like this other than it's very polished and ready to go. Dare I say it had reached its peak after 1.5 hrs? Maybe it's time to reap your reward on this one. I'm no Bordeaux man but this was great
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This opaque garnet wine was tasted in double-blind fashion, with the bottle kindly provided by K.J. It has an intense and complex nose of plums, pencil shavings, walnuts, lavender and leather. Medium-to-full-bodied on the palate, it shows similar flavors as for the nose. With medium acidity, medium fine-grained tannins, nicely integrated alcohol (13%) and significant length, this mature Bordeaux is easy to drink and easily identifiable as Pauillac. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years. Drink now-2025.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2013 - Tony T Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nice bottle of classic Bordeaux style wine enjoyed over a dinner at Carelia, one of our favorite "wine restaurants" in Helsinki. Very nice, matured, multi-dimensional nose. The palate was, however, a bit less exciting but still very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2013 - capacious Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic pichon - clearly taste the high amount of merlot- this beauty has hit its stride and has a decade to give
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: flawed
My Birthaday Party: Family, Friends, Food and Wine !!! (My home): Underneath the TCA stinker there is a blockbuster wine hiding. Unfortunately this bottle was so tainted that it did not show any fruit. :-(
Looking forward to the next bottle of 1996 PiCoLa...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2013 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just beginning to approach its plateau of maturity, the 1996 Pichon Lalande is a deep ruby, with some slight lightening at the rim. Some tertiary notes of cedar wood, bay leaf and espresso roast complement the vibrant bouquet of sweet ripe blackcurrant fruit. Layered and opulently textured, with superb balance and density, this wine is a classic specimen of Pichon Lalande. Like most of the northern Médocs from 1996, this wine is still youthful and shows some unresolved tannins on the end palate, but they will soften with more time in bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2013 - cos65 Likes this wine:
A nice treat. A bit closed at first, but 2 hours after decanting drinking quite well, and quite a bit more evolved than other 1996 Pauillacs or northern Medocs over the past year. No reason to wait?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2013 - sigge Likes this wine: 96 Points
Bordeaux at its best. Deep dark red with a brown rim. Silky texture with lots of cedar, oak, vanilla, roses and a long mineral finish. The bottle was in perfect harmony.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Everybody immediately identified this as from Bordeaux. Dense black fruit aromas with tobacco, leather, earth hints. Leaner on palate, seemingly slightly shut down for now. Just starting to evolve. Needs another decade+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2013 - astrauss Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark red with lighter purple edges in the glass. Sweet nose of saddle leather, cherries jubilee and black licorice. On the palate the wine has both red and dark berry flavors but in total harmony. Still plenty of structure and tannin to balance out the abundance of fruit. This wine has a long life ahead of it. Long finish. Outstanding!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2013 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dinner at the White House (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Decanted rather hurriedly for an hour before serving with cheeses. Plush velvety red colour that has an unctuous visual texture....young and probably needed standing for a day and decanting for a lot longer. Nose is gosh!.......rich red currant fruits...some black fruit in the background....very deep and alluring across the whole spectrum of the nose......a tiny hint of white mushrooms secondary development at the back. Palate is lees evolved and still quite tight red and black plum fruit. High tannin and high acidity. Not balanced yet.... but will harmonise wonderfully in the future. Needs 5 more years before trying again but could easily develop into a 95-point wine for me. On the night, it suffered in comparison to longer-decanted Ch. Lynch Bages 1989 and Grange 1993.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - Gian wrote: 93 Points
Amazing nose , At the beginning little green note but with time change to fruits , leather , cigar box, earth , graphite. I wasn't able to stop to put my nose in the glass. Great also on the palate with smooth tannins , in a perfect window now but can go for more years. Medium to full bodied
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at Davy's
This is amazing stuff. Incredible young with wonderful silky smooth tannins. Great complexity and a deep length.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Super Bowl 2013 (Cumming, GA): Wow! The nose on this was amazing. It hits you like a freight train of sheer power and 1st Growth quality. Rich fruit, iron, blood, cigar box, mahogony, earth, stank, and leather. I just wanted to smell this all day long. Also a rich wine on the palate with fruit, chocolate, and a little green note. I thought this was Latour. Others thought Mouton. A great bottle for sure. Won the tasting ('82 won last year).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 93 Points
[ Kleur: Oranjerood Aroma / bouquet: Aangenaam. Rijp en boers. Klassiek bouquet. Herfstbos, stalgeur. Kastanjepuree. Chique hout, grafiet, gedroogd fruit (pruimen). Smaak / Afdronk: Prachtig zachte, typerend Pauillac. Zachte zuren, krachtige rijpe tannines. Indrukwekkende lengte. Algemeen / potentieel: Klassieke Pauillac. Mooie wijn! 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 93/100
[ Color: Orange red Aroma / Bouquet: Nice. Ripe and rustic. Classic bouquet. Autumn, barn smell. Chestnut puree. Chique wood, graphite, dried fruits (plums). Taste / Finish: Beautifully soft, typical Pauillac. Soft acidity, powerful ripe tannins. Impressive length. General / potential: Classic Pauillac. Lovely wine! 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 18 + General / potential: 8 = 93/100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2013 - Dnathanson wrote: 94 Points
Drink now...decanted for an hour. Smooth and silky with leather and dark fruit flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 93 Points
2013 - New Year Gathering: Alcohol :: 13%
Decanted for 60-90mins. Dark core with light rim. My first impression on this wine was earth, smoke and tobacco which lead me to St-Estephe. However, the aromatic profile turning into pencil shaving, graphite, blackcurrant and plum fruits which leads me to Pauillac. Complex and sweet, with seductive violet scents. This doesn't possess the structure from the 1996. Well integrated tannin but somewhat the fruits are quite shy at the beginning. I'm glad that the fruits have come forth and show really juicy, delicious sweet complex flavors. Good class and poise. Still a bit tight and austere at the end of the very long finish which suggested that this wine will be benefited from another 3-5yrs of aging. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2012 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
Good but not exceptional, nothing like the 82, could be storage problem with this botlle as the body seemed not sound and lacked power.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2012 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 91 Points
Classic nose of mixed black and red fruits, graphite and cedar. A round fruit mid-palate with black cherry, black currant and chocolate. This is drinking well, only concern is that the oak is showing a bit more than I would like. Still, very good and classic in all facets.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2012 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Battle between Pichon Baron, Pichon Comtesse and Lynch Bages. 11 TOP Vintages from 1982 - 2009 (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Beautiful and exclusive bouquet with cassis, graphite, cedar, smoke, eucalyptus etc. Beautiful creamy fruits on the palate. Some bell pepper as well. Good balance between acidity and sweetness and the tannin still has a good bite. I think the wine will improve with a few more years of ageing. So around 2015 - 2016 at its peak and well after that. 95+ for tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2012 - dream wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful mature Pauillac nose of grilled nuts, black fruits and graphite minerals. A classy, regal PL with an elegant silky texture but made in a vin de garde style with firm acidity and tannic spine. There is gorgeous fruit flavors underneath with notes of black currants, cassis and graphite minerals. Still young and fairly primary but finally beginning to drink well and I think this is poised for a lengthy and fantastic evolution in bottle. 94+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - Winward wrote: 92 Points
Really special wine. Great on first opening but not so special three days later. Rich, earthy, flavorful, smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2012 - M.Batard wrote: 94 Points
From the 'Christmas Wine' list at O&C, London. Deep ruby, with just the slightest hint of evolution at the rim. Blackberries, cedar still fresh on the nose. Beautifully in balance. Tannins softening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Académie des Cinquante Claret / Piedmont Tasting (Restaurant De Hoefslag *, Bosch en Duin, Netherlands): Wonderfully fragrant nose, perfumed, high cabernet content but still feminine and layered, on the palate slightly dry, slender, elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2012 - docsdoc wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. Faint scent of black currant and pencil lead, well-integrated tannins, subtle finish. Drinking beautifully now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine:
wine - Stefania Wines visits Dallas! (Urbano Cafe, Dallas, Texas): WIMLNR
Tasted non blind. Allowed to slow-O about four hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pepper, berries, cherries and plums. Flavors of berries, plums and raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Slightly clipped finish and not as full and expressive on the nose and palate as expected so no rating. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2012 - floydtp wrote:
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Slow-oxed for 4 hours prior to initial taste. Beautiful garnet color with a slight hint of bricking. Nice nose of cassis, green peppers, violets and cedar. On the palate it has cassis, blackberries, tobacco and a hint of smoke with some nice tart fruit just before the finish. Disappointingly short finish at this stage with some mint, sour cherry and tobacco. Medium-firm tannins. Definitely accessible now but hopefully will continue to integrate with more time in the cellar. While the components are there, they aren't in harmony yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/1/2012 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Pichon Baron & Lalande (The Medlar, London): Dense ruby. Very fat in the glass. Lots here. Tannins all present, possibly a little green, but lots of oomph. Harmonious and balanced, a little less rich than the Baron and a bit more grip. ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2012 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
1996 Red Bordeaux (Medoc) , with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Soft on the nose, herbal notes, soft fruit, quite the elegance ne expect from lalande. On the palate it is uninspiring unfortunately and although there is nothing wrong with it and all the elements are in balance and sync still it lacks the magic we were looking for. A bit soft on the finish too. Don’t get us wrong this is a solid wine but we were expecting so much more. 92 and can be enjoyed now but still with a lot of life ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2012 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle from a case of 12. 2 hour decant which wasn't enough. Slightly closed but huge potential. Will return in a couple of years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2012 - paulst wrote: 96 Points
Right away a beautiful nose of cedar, blackberry and the perfume and flower of the terrior; elegant texture presenting sweet blackberry; outstanding structure and balance with perfect harmony; soft supple palate presence with a pleasant opulent round light licorice cherry-blackberry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2012 - BillyT wrote: 94 Points
Previous notes applied. Classic Bordeaux as described by Nutty08. Needs more time in bottle. Still quite young surprisingly. However, learned a valuable lesson in terms of decanting and breathing. Previous bottle opened at 4:30 for 6:30 dinner. I brought this bottle to the restaurant early but they didn't open until we arrived. It took through at least 1/2 of the dinner approx 1.5 hrs to start realing expressing its greatness. Very complex with allot different aromatics of cassis, tobacco, some herbal notes. Looking forward to more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2012 - ID wrote:
Good wine, but I was disappointed. Nose was active and almost aggressive (in a good way). But palate was flat, and finish was clipped. I didn't let this breathe. Perhaps that's the problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2012 - pakabear wrote: 95 Points
Huge tobacco nose, great extraction with some fairly strong tannins left. I would wait a while longer before consuming, but wow it's good right now with a good decant!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2012 - jlimberg wrote: 95 Points
Drinks amazing right now. Silky tannins, supple fruit, pyrozine, tar, mushroom, old boot, wet earth. Loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2012 - NNV wrote: 94 Points
Decanted. Really very hard to top this wine at this price point. Drinking beautifully now but in no way approaching it's peak. Elegant, supple, balanced, long finish. Pronounced fruit with subtle graphite notes, berries, and spice. Just delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2012 - BillyT wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Bliss San Antonio. Opened and let breath at 4:30 for dinner at 7:30. More to come. Unbelievably great wine. Perfect balance of fruit, acidity and tannins. Jeff Leve nailed it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - Ary Likes this wine: 96 Points
Mature Left Bank Bordeaux (semi blind) (Amsterdam Wijn Antiquariaat): Yes this is one of my favorite Bordeaux in this excellent vintage. Very complex, elegant, pure AND well lineated nose. With thick-young-dark-ripe multi layered fruits, berries, cassis, olives and some lemon zest. Beautiful elegant, super balanced long-distance runner with long supple finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
1996 Pichon Lalande is one of those rare wines that has never shut down. It’s been delicious since it was bottled and it has improved with age. Rich, sensuous textures, complex aromatics and a fresh, pure, long, expansive finish are all found in this beautiful Pauillac. Drink it now, or hold it for another decade or two!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Killer Bordeaux Tasting (Kevin's House (Minneapolis)): Decanted 2 plus hours. Coffee, ripe berries, mint, tea leaves and spices. Extremely young wine and tannic. I would not recommend popping one of these til 2018 if you can wait. Medium and concentrated finish. 94-96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - macker100 wrote: 94 Points
Over dinner. Really deep nose of blackberries, currant, graphite. A heavier cab PL, with the power of Pauillac, but maintaining a delicacy of many Margaux wines. Nice, extremely smooth black fruit and cassis on the palate. Day 2 the tannins receded further and additional smoke notes appeared. One of the best Lalandes I have had, besting easily the recently tasted '03.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Initially quite closed, really needed about 4hrs to open up. Great nose of mocha, touch of leafy herbs, tobacco, cassis, and currants. Palate was still quite tannic, but fine and very polished, with a great core of currants but overwise rather primary.Still young. Tannins in the forefront, with prominent acidity. Elecgant, balanced with great nuance. Finish shows flint and cedar spice. As good as it is, it probably won't peak for another at least 10yrs. Interesting that the '03 tasted recently may have been more advanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 96 Points
Big Bordeaux III - Kickin' Ass & Takin' Names: Stunning Wines from 1986, 1990, 1996 + 2002 Cristal (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red color. Slow ox for 3 hours followed by a 3 hour decant. Another fabulous nose, perfumed, floral, spice, earthy, smoke, cedar, pencil shavings, mushroom; big fruits of blackberry, cassis, and blueberry. Rich and full bodied, big black fruits, tobacco, briar, cedar, tea. Amazing structure on the palate, prominent acids and round velvety tannins follow the prominent spices on the very long finish. Another wine I had to upgrade a point after 60-90 minutes in the glass. This wine had 3 votes for #3 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
dinner @ ann colgin's home. a little rough around the edges, but a very distinctive wine that shows power and a forward profile for the vintage. drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2012 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
"The Dinner" Featuring Six Bordeaux Luminaries (Ann Colgin's and Joe Wender's Home): Dark ruby color. Aromas of blackberry and currant. Firm chewy tannins. Nice freshness and acidity. Very nice depth and complexity on the finish.. Still quite tannic. Way to young. Needs time and has huge upside potential. Showed better 3-4 years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Dense and backwards. Deep nose of smoke, tobacco, lead pencil and some dark fruit. Silky texture as usual with earth, sweet fruit after a couple hours and a bit of green pepper. Decent tannin. The only knit is a touch of bitterness on the medium finish. This is well constructed and balanced and needs more time. I will try this again in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2012 - psmith wrote: 92 Points
Really nice '96. Clean, with nice purity and warmth. Classy ripe fruit. Monty edge. Well balanced. Very drinkable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Out performed the '86 - just more fruit, life, extraction and intrigue, balance - really everything.
Sporty lively fruity black black cherries, elegant flowers, new leather. Some tea leaves and prunes.
Moderate acidity with nicely resolved tannins. No alcohol noticeable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2012 - mdefreitas wrote: 95 Points
Various Wines @ Salil's (Vernon, CT): This wine is well on its way to being a fabullous Pauillac. Some secondary flavors are creeping in but this is so loaded with dense primary fruit that this just seemed too young to drink. Rich, yet this never loses its sense of elegance. Very deep, very long, yet very young. The proverbial "legend in the making".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2012 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful stuff. Still very youthful with a core of fresh dark fruited flavours tinged with cedar, graphite, tobacco and that PLL greenness. There's a lovely purity and finesse to the flavours and with air it keeps unfolding aromatically and revealing more depth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2012 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Too much wine, too few notes (SBs): Seems torn between a masculine, fruit-forward, rich wine and a more feminine, silky, elegance, but the contrast is quite interesting. Changed remarkably in the glass; complex and long. Beautiful wine that will benefit from further age. In my top 5 of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2012 - Yagil wrote: 95 Points
Pauillac tasting soiree (Wine-Bar, Nahalat Binyamin, TLV): dark red-purple with a bit of amber rim
rich deep & seductive secondary & tertiary aromas that last for very long
excellent balance & harmony, rich savory flavors, still feels quite young and can age for another decade or so. Very long aftertaste. Highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2012 - Remony wrote: 94 Points
Another very classy half bottle, nudging 95 points this time. Limpid. Intense nose of dark cedarwood, spices, rocks and fruit. Very long and satisfying. Not much deposit, so a good two and a half glasses from 37.5cl! Performed very well with rib-eye steak, but even better on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2012 - steffenpelz wrote:
33rd Austin Wine Salon - Bordeaux (Max's Underground): Superstar wine. Elegance and finesse personified. All about soft red fruit with loads of tobacco and game. This is textbook Pichon Lalande.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2012 - prufrocksabogado wrote: 92 Points
Still needs another 5 years to hit its full stride, but if you drink this now w your eyes closed you'll be transported to a different era. Think smoking jacket, dark wood panelled clubhouse with menthol wafting through the air. This is a masculine brute, but tameable with time. Really delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2012 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
From a half-bottle. Popped and poured at Girardi's Osteria. Garnet-purple color. Nose of cedar, menthol, pine forest, tobacco, and black currant. Captivating flavors of smoky dark berry, cassis, leather, and currant layered with a deep herbal note transitioning to tobacco thankfully instead of green pepper. Acidity still youthfully prominent, tannins structured but beginning to soften. Lots of sweet grip and a bit of mineral on the long, flavorful finish. Beautiful showing for this wine, which will undoubtedly develop even more complexity with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): (Blind) Dark with relatively long brim; Fine earthy smell, some flowers and dark berries; moderat body and length, tannins most present, dry and tight. A good wine, but demanding. Guessed Pessac-Léognan mid 90’s. 92+p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2012 - DonalOB Likes this wine: 95 Points
AWSEC French Connection (AWSEC, Hong Kong): My favourite wine of the tasting.
Some signs of age with slight bricking but dense core still.
Concentrated sweet fruit on nose with vanilla and sweet spice.
Medium acidity. Still plenty of tannins - probably what preserves the colour so well. Great length - smoke and spice on finish.
After an hour in the glass, more graphite on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2012 - Remony wrote: 94 Points
An exquisite half bottle. Complex, rich, but probably only at the start of its drinking window. Still a touch of youthful caramel, but tannins now fully integrated. Already a wine to be sipped and savoured, not quaffed. Best without food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - Ed Chen wrote: 91 Points
Holiday Tastings; 12/16/2011-12/20/2011 (Redlands): Cedar and spice on nose, medium body, good acids, finishes woodsy but clean; 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2011 - THA wrote: 94 Points
CdBaH 81st (RDG): Outstanding. Still young, but I believe this wine has finally turned the corner. I had this same wine exactly one year ago, and the tannin has since softened enough to yield to the core of wonderful fresh fruit. No signs of developing any tertiary aromas and flavors yet. Still full of pure Cabernet typicity. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2011 - aegerter Likes this wine: 96 Points
I've had this wine several times and was never truly impressed as it was still closed. This time it's drinking quite different and it seems to have reached early maturity. Very nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2011 - lepetitchateau wrote: 91 Points
Tobacco on the nose. Very strict on th palate, the firm acidity is clearly prominent over the fruit, btu the fruit fights back in a rather overwrought way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Acker Merrall 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux Dinner (Balsan - Chicago IL): Ripe black cherry and black currant on nose with cassis tones as well, accompanied by some good oak spices. A bit tart at the beginning, the flavors unfolded from the middle to the end nicely. Like almost every 1996 tonight, this needs more time but this is on a really good trajectory, perhaps worth opening seriously starting around 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2011 - Topper wrote:
Worst bottle of this that I've had. Not rich, not delicious, not pretty. Blown away by 96 Leoville Barton.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2011 - dream wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous nose of cedar, black fruits and spices with herbal notes. Really pinpoint and very structured at this stage and it actually closed down some after decanting. Very fine mouthfeel and a wonderful graphite minerality on the finish. If anything, a bit thin in the middle but I would bet this performs along the lines of the '86 but with better balance and smoother tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2011 - Bordeauxman wrote: 93 Points
Nose of maturing dark fruit, bit of green pepper, saddle leather and cedar. Long finish of well integrated dark fruit, forest floor & saddle leather. This wine is probably just now entering a long window of drinkability. Very nice and I expect it to taste even better in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2011 - cfe wrote: 94 Points
Awesome bottle of wine. Decanted for two hours. Great Bdx, herbally nose. Probably two years from peak, drinking wonderfuuly. Still has the thick fruit of youth, but has the finesse and aromas of 15 years in the bottle. Great wine with grilled rib-eyes....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2011 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Classic tar and leather nose; soft and elegant; still light and reticent and young; elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Austere and smooth blackberry; elegant; well integrated tanins; soft lengthy finsih.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Truffles, cigar smoke, dark berries, cassis, cedar wood, spice, tapenade, anise and damp forest scents open to a suave, rich, full bodied, silky, fresh, polished, sensuous wine with multiple layers of ripe, black fruits. The long, clean, black cherry finish with sensations of velvety tannins remains in your mouth for close to 50 seconds. At 15 years of age, this is starting to its true character. It seems to get better with every tasting. Drink this delicious Bordeaux wine now and over the next 20 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2011 - beachbum wrote: 95 Points
the eucalyptus and mentol nose is intoxicating, lovely wine, try in 5+ years but will last a long time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2011 - DonalOB wrote: 94 Points
AWSEC Great Bordeaux Tasting (AWSEC, Hong Kong): Some age evident but not a lot. Perfumed nose with violets. Graphite and savoury flavours on the palate. Riper in style than the '94. Great length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2011 - Jaco2112 wrote: 92 Points
Definitely needs decanting for two hours. Becomes 94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2011 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Pichon Baron vs. Pichon Lalande @ Palena (Washington DC): Crushed blackberries and blueberries, lovely flowers perhaps lavender, crushed rock and cedar. The palate displays excellent concentration, round fruit and silkiness. It has long finish and seamless from the start to the end, great core energy and precision. This is a really floral wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2011 - tooch wrote: 94 Points
Pichon Dinner - Lalande vs. Baron (Palena - Washington, DC): Lovely nose of graphite, blackberry, violets, and charcoal. Palate was really impressive with silky texture, plush deep tones of black fruit, sweet tobacco, dried herbs and dried florals balanced with nice acidity. This Lalande is a great example of the power and finesse this wine can exhibit. Performed very well this night, but there's no rush at all to consume this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2011 - Whistler wrote: 95 Points
Drinking beautifully now (was not a couple of years ago). Great structure, intensity and length. Sweet tannins, well assimilated into the deep black fruit. Smokey finish but in an entirely elegant fashion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2011 - petitblanc wrote: 94 Points
Faint signs of seepage under the capsule. Medium deep color, faintest hint of garnet at the rim. Nose and palate were initially full of menthol, talc, fines herbes, and funky bell pepper and horse stall shavings, but an hour of air blew off most of the unpleasantness and revealed a charming, fruit-driven, perfumed wine. The fines herbes and talc remained and lent a beautiful complexity, along with pine needles, tobacco, and pure, sweet, grapey fruit. Nicely balanced alcohol, terrific acidity, and tannins that built through a wonderful and seemingly endless, juicy finish. Superb and classy bottle. I like the structure of this wine right now, but it will surely show well for many more years. Give this a generous decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2011 - wino_tim wrote: 91 Points
Mature, but decidedly elegant, this is medium bodied with medium acidity and flavors of tobacco, dried currant, and cocoa powder.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
A roller coaster ride of the flavors of Bordeux. Vanilla and spice. Jalepeno. Touch of funk. Full bodied. Full bodied. Bit of green. Long finish. Lots of fun.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2011 - Catnapped wrote: 91 Points
Too much jalapeno on the nose for my taste. Nice fruit and well balanced, it's aging well except for that hot pepper smell. It would have gotten a 94 without that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2011 - CainFiveO wrote: 95 Points
Drinking extremely well right from the open, but it benefits from a couple of hours of decanting. At a tasting of a 97 Leoville Las Cases, a 95 Pichon Baron, and a 98 Pichon Baron, this was the star. Great nose right from the start, very full fruit taste with a long long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2011 - Remony wrote: 94 Points
First half bottle from a case of 24 purchased Nov 2010 ex chateau; not decanted. In perfect condition. Deep limpid colour, no edge. Complex nose, a little sharpness. Full & complex in the mouth, fruit is there, but this is still not ready. Some tannin and acidity evident, and still sharp, but a fine wine for all that. Very little residue, consistent to the very end of the bottle. Still needs time to get to its apogee, but better from 37.5 cl than from 75 on strength of recent tastings.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - deverett wrote: 96 Points
Still up pup but was drinking very well now. Typical pencil and graphite wrapped around a core of deep red fruits, tobacco, hints of dried herbs and mocha. Tannins still quite prominent but the acidity gives the wine a great palate freshness. Glorious wine and can't wait to see what it looks like 10 years from now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2011 - MRichman wrote:
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Harry's, NYC): Herbal, broad, complex, beautiful. Very pretty and floral with light tar. Young with a really nice future.
A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2011 - pikemasterflash wrote: 92 Points
Definitely not as good as the last one I remembered from several years ago. Tonight this one seemed to be lacking any sweet fruit and instead was much more restrained or, quite honestly, flat. Pronounced menthol notes on the finish. Right now I would suggest that the Poyferre of the same vintage is drinking much better. I am really becoming increasingly convinced that most wines should be consumed much younger than some of the professionally suggested drinking windows. Tonight this felt "was great" but isn't currently great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2011 - dxpian wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby and purple hue, slight bricking on the rim but still deep and opaque at the center. Lots of blackberry, black currant, sour cherry on the nose with notes of vanilla, tobacco and pencil shavings, wrapped around by some meaty and nutty bouquet with barnyard manure and ginseng overtone. Fruit richness, but not like the new-world forwardness, characterizes this full-bodied wine, not just on the nose, also on the palate: ripe cherry, blackberry, cassis and lots of plum showing right away on the attack, amid the firm and velvety tannin as well as racing acidity, which forms a solid backbone structure on the mid-palate. Long finish, which lasted for a minute and a half, with a ton of fruit, cedar, licorice and other exciting nuances in perfect harmony, giving a very complex and enjoyable aftertaste. This is an overall more expressive and approachable wine than the 1995 vintage, yet with huge potential to age gracefully and develop more depth and complexity. Drink now or before 2030.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2011 - Remony wrote: 93 Points
Goedhuis Pichon Lalande Tasting & Dinner (Hibiscus Restaurant, London): This wine is in an awkward phase. It was so delicious 5 years ago that I bought 4 cases after a tasting; at that time it seemed likely to be ready within just a few years. But tonight it still seems to need quite a bit more time. The nose is relatively dumb, a little cedar & lead pencil, but not much. Sharp on the palate, definitely not open for business. Not particularly long. When last tasted in March 2006 there was a preponderance of fruit, but not tonight. Then tasted tonight a second time with food (simple roast halibut) -- very much better, the fruit is there but in hiding, the tannins and acidity more in evidence. It reverted to dumbness afterwards. Leave for at least another two years, probably longer, but I am confident it will turn out very well in the end. [Thomas Do Chi Nam: unusual blend -- normally we use around 30% Merlot, but not in 1996. This wine is 75% Cab Sauv, only 15% Merlot. So it is predominantly cigar box & more classical. "Silky, tense, tight."]
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/31/2010 - patrickrains wrote:
very disappointed as this bottle seems to be dead. Win some lose some.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2010 - PaulHig wrote: 93 Points
Lovely savoury notes backed up by bright fruit & acidity. Drank after 03 Pichon Baron, not as opulent fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2010 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
18-bottle Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Vertical (1976-2007) (Jeff & Chuck's, Mountain View, California): Impressive bouquet of plum, blackcurrents, cassis, graphite. Full-bodied palate, medium acidity. Medium finish. This still has room to grow to a 93+ pts, but also quite enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2010 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Austere fruit; leather; smooth; complex; textured; sweet tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2010 - THA wrote:
CdBaH 79th (RDG): An excellent wine. Still quite young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2010 - Wrighty wrote: 91 Points
Probably didn't let this settle enough although little sediment as it was a muddy deep dark ox blood red. Initial nose was stinky but an hour helped and the longer it breathed the better, so decant. Even now there's a whiff of veg but this is backed up by the lightest whisp of autumnal smoke. Further back are the remnants of the cassis. Palate is more pencil and graphite, lean in a defined way: no fat. Finish is good and finishes a lovely wine with an element of class
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2010 - paulst wrote: 93 Points
Initially a bit peppery; softened later with leather and smooth blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2010 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Vertical Dinner (The Marine Room, La Jolla, California): This wine shows a youthful ruby/red robe with red rim. The nose shows black plum, fig, graphite and lavender. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big sweet tannins. The flavors are in line with the nose and the full middle palate leads to a very long, smooth finish. This wine, while pleasant now, will undoubtedly benefit from some additional cellaring. Drink 1/13-12/30.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/4/2010 - wineaux2 wrote: 91 Points
I've only had the '75 PL prior to this one, and though the '96 was younger and felt more modern, it still evoked fond memories of my experience with the '75. The nose was sweet and fragrant, offering cocoa, licorice and black fruit. The palate was restrained with tart black berry and leather notes. This was a solid wine, though something was lacking; I didn't feel the wine showed much complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2010 - BradE wrote:
Drank a 95 and 96 side by side. The 96 was more forward, the 95 more sophisticated. Didn't get the green element that previous bottle had (a good thing).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
Excellent stuff. Very smokey, beautiful nose. Decanting is essential for this one. This was completely closed down after the bottle was opened, but after about an hour it was quite approachable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2010 - maderay wrote: 86 Points
G+. Nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2010 - alamoave wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic adolescent wine. Decanted 5 hours. Superb aromatics and balance, with strong but smooth tannins controlling the long finish. At least two decades to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2010 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Leather, earth, tar and blackberry; smooth but some acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2010 - dream wrote: 94 Points
Out of half-bottle. This is such a structured vintage for PL but with lots of air it finally begins to open up to reveal a wonderfully deep, dark-fruited wine with classic notes of graphite minerals. The tannins are strong but unbelievably suave and elegant. Still needs 5+ years to begin to develop some secondary flavors but this looks like yet another amazingly long-lived and classic left-bank wine from the '96 vintage. 94+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2010 - Ricky99 wrote: 91 Points
complex and enjoyable, really drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2010 - BradE wrote:
Lots of pepper, and more green than I typically appreciate, but this was somewhat beguiling. Definitely has legs, and don't be in a hurry to drink up, but go ahead if you want.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2010 - Pelimanni wrote: 93 Points
Good wine and still being matured. It is going to be a monster in next five years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
decanted. very four square bordeaux with good minerality and fruit displaying secondary character. tannins are melting. this is in my wheelhouse because some primary fruit lingers. nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2010 - Mike V wrote: 95 Points
Easter dinner at home; 4/4/2010-4/5/2010 (Home): Evolving nicely. After 4 hour in the decanter it outshows the 98 Mouton tonight. Color is in transition less purple than last year. Nose of cigar box peeking through. Classic PL on the palate. A nice bottle that will continue to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2010 - Meno wrote: 97 Points
A deep, well concentrated and powerful wine. With powerful fruity aromas and concentrated tannins, this wine is perfect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2010 - austinwinesalon wrote:
Definitive Bordeaux (Mirabelle Restaurant Austin, Texas): Tasted blind as a first growth candidate, this indeed made the grade. The best Pichon Lalande since the 1982 (IMHO), it was the most fragrant wine of the flight. Its aromatics had smoke, cedar box, bell pepper and it had pronounced mineral, leather, and red fruit flavors with some spice, pepper, dark currant, and tobacco notes. It had earth, slate and plum flavors at the back of the palate with well balanced tannins-- a nice food wine. "Ethereal," proclaimed a taster. It was the second favorite of the flight, and was readily identified as the Pauillac. First growth quality in a first growth year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2010 - madeiradog wrote: 96 Points
Dinner with Bernard Burtschy (Taberna del Alabardero): I loved this wine. Yes its young but it was a real treat to drink. Great concentration of fruit, good acidity with the development of secondary characteristics. I picked up cedar and tobacco with some baking spice and maybe a tinge of brett that added to its wonderful complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2010 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 Points
French Wine Tasting in Lavandou Restaurant, Washington D.C. (Lavandou Restaurant, Washington D.C.): Oh boy. I am a proud owner of just one bottle of this stuff. Just one. Randy brought a bottle of this a couple of years ago for a Lalande vertical at Lavandou and it was the best. I enjoyed it one week before in New York on 22 January at a double vertical blind with Pichon Baron. As winemaking director Thomas Do Chi Nam (who subsequently went to Margaux) said, the 1996 is their star vintage from the 90s and you better believe it is. Complex aromas of charcoal, cherry, cassis - and I mean crystallized focused fruit flavors - beguile your better wine senses. There is a freshness here that keeps you coming back for more. With a somewhat typical orange lift on the finish that I get a lot from Lalande. Happily, the greener tobacco that one can obtain from Lalande remains tobacco and does not veer to the green pepper variety (as in the 1990 or, to some extent, the 2000). This is a great bottle of wine. Almost wine of the night, but wait... there is more! WOTF and second place for WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2010 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Pichon vs Pichon NYC (New York, United States): A more lush palate, with greater opulence and yet very nicely structured and not as tough. Interesting that 1996 was the year when Lalande used one of its highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%). Clearly this seemed to be the Comtesse, and it was!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2010 - veniceslug1 wrote: 94 Points
Young. Rich, blackberry and dark fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2009 - paulst wrote: 97 Points
Tar on the nose; rich balanced earthy blackberry; smooth; sweet tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2009 - prakashkrishnan wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 4 hrs. Needs time. You have to be patient. Once it opened it revealed incredible aromas of eucalyptus and black berry. Beautify balance with well integrated tannins. A beautiful wine. Give it time to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2009 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 95 vs 96 with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Side by side 95vs96 @ Handfors's Tasting with Richard Brazier.
The high(er) merlot (not as high as usual vintages though of PL) content makes it def more approachable now than the Cos,Ducru,Palmer,GPL that we had side by side this wine.
Mild nose , elegant and sofeter tannins. Well rounded wine with underlying sweetness. Dont get me wrong this wine need lots of decanting still and would definitely benefit with time (5yrs?) and will easily last anothe 15 but even now its a joy to have.
For the Record it was difficult to pick a favorite between 95 and 96 but the 95 feels better at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2009 - BeavisCC wrote: 94 Points
A great Bordeaux, but still tight and in need of bottle age. Reminiscent of the '86 10 years ago in evolution and flavor profile. Hold for another 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2009 - paulst wrote: 98 Points
Deep rich earthy leather, tar with blackberry and complexity with long soft finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2009 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
Still very youthful color – almost black in the center. Gorgeous nose showing classic elements though still youthful and “clean” – not yet explosive. I was a bit disappointed in the palate – not that it was bad – it just did not excite. I was expecting more depth, more mouth coverage and a longer finish. I did feel some tension in my mouth suggesting that we caught this bottle at a weird time. Hopefully, much better things to come with 5+ years in the cellar. (89++?)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2009 - cbuhlman wrote:
purchased ex chateau.
decanted. dark and brooding. nice bouquet, but tightly wound and not giving up much, tannins and acidity haven't come together.
I also felt the " sur-maturitie" aspect of the wine left it tasting slightly oxidized, the finish was fairly long though. If this is the best this wine can do, I am profoundly disappointed.
try again in 2012
judgement reserved.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2009 - jaimetown wrote: 91 Points
Opened and slow-oxygenated for 6 hours before consumption. Dark, almost inky, ruby in color with aromas of small, dark berries, currants, tobacco and earth. On the palate a silky and supple sip with ample fruits and tobacco. Balanced with good freshness and supple tannins. However I get the feeling perhaps I caught this in its adolescence, or perhaps I slow oxygenated it a little too long - it was a solid bottle of wine but really lacking a wow element from a wine of this caliber and vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2009 - winelover1986 wrote:
Opened for 3hrs and drunk over next 3hrs. Perhaps should have decanted. Nose began with dusty leather but progressed to something much more floral (though hard to place what flowers). Dark berries on the attack, with a powerful midpalate. Long-ish finish, but much more tannic than I expected from others' notes, and not a sweet tannin. Impressive and noble wine, but I will wait a while before trying another.
ETA: Revisited 2nd night after 20hrs under nitrogen and the tannins were much less bitter. Fruit was still going reasonably strong. Definitely should have decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 93 Points
Sotheby's Pre-Auction Tasting (Sotheby's, New York): This was my favorite wine of the tasting, followed closely by the 1982 Gruaud Larose. Chelsea chose the Gruaud as best, followed by the 1989 Pichon Lalande and then this third. We both agreed that the 1990 Cos D'Estournel finished fourth. It is worth noting that the 1996 Lalande is still a bit tight, and therefore has room for improvement, whereas the 89 and the Gruaud are ready to go and probably can't get any better. Ultimately, this is why I chose the 1996 Lalande over the Gruaud, even though I think they are both 93-94 point wines today.
The color was a dark purple, still very youthful and no bricking. There are aromas of black fruits, flowers and leafy hints but not much in the way of tertiary smells. Although this description of the nose does not sound unique, there is something idiosyncratic and enjoyable about how a good vintage of Pichon Lalande smells that distinguishes it from other wines. The palate has a wealth of fruit, especially blackcurrant and cassis, and is light in the mouth despite being medium to full bodied. Hopefully this will fill out and put on weight with a little more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2009 - Mike V wrote: 93 Points
This wine is in transition from its lovely fruit driven youth to a lovely teenage wine. Tertiary aromas are just peeking through.Tannins are loosening after 3 hours in the decanter. Dark full color. long sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2009 - RN wrote:
ST 95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2009 - CarTer wrote: 93 Points
Tomamos Régis e eu no Due Cuochi em fevereiro 2008. Excelente. Aromas ainda presentes de frutas vermelhas. Muita baunilha. Elegância impressionante. Persistência enorme. Excepcional vinho.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2009 - Niagara wrote: 92 Points
Sophisticated, sensuous, and yet somewhat coy -- a wonderful combination of power and finesse that stood up to roast lamb and yet could be drunk on its own. A very nice wine, unfortunately somewhat expensive if you (like me) didn't buy it on release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
ending the year with bordeaux (ward's apartment, chicago): nose: very rich and elegant nose filled with cassis, cranberries, cedar box, spice box, red cherries, and a good bit of cigar wrapper lying underneath. Lots of depth that melds together with beauty and class
taste: great earth tones strike right off the bat with polished tones of cassis, cranberries, red and black cherries, cedar, and bits of spice box tones flow well across the palate with a deft medium touch. A lot of class and polish on the palate with still very good tannins that are just starting to ever so slightly shed. Still very much in a primary stage as there is a youthful quality to this wine
overall: classy, beautiful, and elegant. I thought this for LaLande or Calon Segur when it was blind. This bottle didn't seem to scream like the bottle back in feb. More polished and round this time with the ever present LaLande feminine touch that I love. Very round on the palate, this still needs some time to fully come together to reveal the inner beauty that this wine definitely has
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2008 - Rupert wrote: 93 Points
31 Vintages of Pichon Lalande 1928-2005; 12/16/2008-12/17/2008 (IOD, London): Reserved, elegant nose, tight, intense blackcurrant fruit, sharply focused - excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
A fragrance factory seems to have exploded in the glass when this Bordeaux is poured. Black fruit, olive tapenade, cedar, cassis, licorice, chocolate and spicy tobacco make this a wine difficult to stop smelling. But the intoxicating perfume are only a prelude to the joy your palate senses as the wine flows over your sense receptors. Dense, concentrated and rich with a seemingly endless array of ripe, black fruit fills your palate. The texture is pure velvety, opulence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2008 - DM5 wrote: 93 Points
Very nice purple colour, with some hints of brick colour. The nose was shows currant and plumbs but in a way a little bit shy. A classic Bordeaux in every way, with a powerfull yet laidback (semi-closed?) taste. This wine definatelly benefits from another decade in bottle. I will keep my hands of the rest of my stock of Pichon lalande '96 for at least 5 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2008 - nvandyk wrote: 95 Points
Deep purplish red. Lots of cedar, lead pencil and spice box on the nose. Berries and a lot of cassis delivered with supple tannins and an exceptionally (minute plus) long finish. A little primary now, but this is delicious. Improved through the evening; a three hour decant is needed to do this wine justice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2008 - nytiger wrote: 93 Points
Fine deep color, complex nose, delicious and long
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2008 - quigley13 wrote: 93 Points
Earthy and complex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2008 - CSteefel wrote: 96 Points
Fourth up was the 1996 Pichon Lalande Pauillac, which had shown extremely well when tasted about seven years ago. Well, the performance was repeated here as the wine slowly evolved over the course of the evening, gradually expanding and unfolding to reveal new layers of complexity. The distinctive Pichon Lalande nose, which Lou Rittenhouse was able to recognize, only emerged clearly after about 45 minutes in the glass, appearing almost magically as if from some great unseen depth. I can only describe its nose as floral, although I cannot for the life of me think of what flower presents these rich, slightly green aromas, but it is very different in style from the green leaf aspect displayed by the Pontet Canet, for example. While the nose was slow in emerging, the power and finesse of the wine on the palate was apparent immediately, with the considerable but quite fine tannins buffered by a great depth of material—no bottom to be seen here. And its depth was matched by its length, with the half life for decay of the finish longer than some of the radionuclides targeted for disposal in Nevada. Yes, la Comtesse still rules…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2008 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Earthy blackberry with long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2008 - GA wrote: 90 Points
2/08 Elegant - smooth even fruit and finsih - a bit simple. 90 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 91 Points
Pichon-Lalande Vertical (Harry's Steak): Scents of sweet cocoa. The fruit here is dark and rich, almost meaty, far inkier in mouthfeel than the more restrained '95, and buries whatever tannin remains. But as sweet and rich as it is it is also a little bitter. A very different personality from the '95.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2008 - Claudio161 wrote: 94 Points
Hart Davis Hart Wine Co Comparative Bordeaux Tasting Vintages 1995 & 1996 (Newberry Library, Chicago IL): Interesting and nice is how I would describe this Bordeaux. Some faint cotton candy whiffs (or some other similar type of smelling candy). Some leather saddle mixed in along with some toasty oak and vanillins from the charring of the barrel. This is STILL a big wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 96 Points
HDH 95/96 Comparative Tasting (Newberry Library, Chicago IL): nose: big and luscious nose that is filled with blueberry, leather, cassis, toasted oak, and earth. it then also gives off some truffle and spice box notes too. extremely deep nose
taste: beautiful amounts of blueberry, black berry, leather, cassis, spicebox, and truffles
overall: just gorgeous, extremely gorgeous. Pure finesse and it leaves you with a beautiful and long finish of bluberry and cassis
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Otto (Backstreet): Blackcurrant, black cherries,leather, graphite and blueberries with a touch of green bell pepper. Good balance. Smooth elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2007 - pgordon62 wrote: 88 Points
I admire the depth of fruit but cannot get past the minty steminess. The finish is particularly green.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2007 - tewino wrote: 96 Points
This is fabulous, great, awesome bordeaux. Such a complete, round wine. Do not take my score lightly as I only give >95 to wines which are bordering on 'religous experience'- a wine to remember forever. This PL is one of them. It reminds me of the 82 PL which is one of the most 'perfect bordeaux' for me. It is so pleasant now but will likely develop for many years to come. This and the 82 PL are the best PL's I've ever had. The best part is I have 5 more for the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2007 - loverboy wrote: 96 Points
Angelus & Pichon Lalande wine dinner @ King Power (Bangkok, Thailand): My WOTN, Decanted for 2 hours before served, but the best glass came from the bottle that opened for 4 hours ; Deep ruby red, still look young very well structured. Full nice scent of caramel, cassis, berries, very complicated. Extra long finish approx 1+ min
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - ccn wrote: 90 Points
(Decanted 30 minutes before serving -- not long enough apparently.) Attractive wine though note fairly prominent green/stemmy/vegetal flavours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2007 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Already open and offering much of its future charms, this beautiful wine is filled with rich, ripe, sexy fruit and coats your palate with pleasure. It has aromatics and a finish that is a joy to feel on your palate. I hope and believe the 00 might be at the same level in a few years, but the 96 is stunning!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2007 - BWebb wrote: 97 Points
drank at dinner with in-laws (Boa LA) - this wine is wonderful. I understand it's suppose to improve with age but that's hard to imagine. It is quintessential bordeaux with just the right blends to accent food: caesar salad, escargot, steak w Bernaise, just fabulous. Reminded me of the 1986 that I tasted some years ago. Smooth wine, flush with dried berry, tobacco, excellent texture. We compared it to 2003 Opus and it was a big winner. Parker rates this high and he's right again clearly going through the 95 rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2007 - dream wrote: 88 Points
Deep dark color. Potent nose of strong tobacco, blackish cassis and Asian spices. Still a rather young and "high-toned" wine not yet showing the classic sexy smoothness of PL. Intense and tannic with strong flavors of tobacco, black fruits, graphite and spices. These half bottles I bought from Zachy's have never been as good as the bottles I've bought elsewhere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2007 - Thilo wrote: 95 Points
Color is medium dark garnet. Nose shows cedar, currant, and a hint of leather. On the palate, cassis, roasted wood, and leather mingle with still firm tannins. This is a beauty and will only continue to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2007 - llink wrote:
Double decanted and served blind with 2 other 1996s. Classic Old world nose of cedar, lead pencil,currants, spice and oak. Bill immediatedly guessed 1996 Lafite even though the wines were served double blind to him. The palate had a perfect weight to it, and was extremely sexy and had an awesome texture that was very expressive without being overdone in any way. Open from the get go, it just continued to improve after a couple of hours. Consensus #1 of the night against Shafer HSS and Pontet Canet all from 1996.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2007 - kris.h wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Union @ Seattle, WA): This wine had a very noticeable green streak running through it. It was strong but not completely overpowering. Under all those vegetables was some nice fruit, cedar, and tobacco. Medium to full body and shows good balance. The finish seemed too short though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2007 - magnord wrote: 96 Points
No decanting, the wine took about an hour to reach its peak. Superb. The essence of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon doesn't get much better than this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2007 - Paul S wrote: 95 Points
Drank at Ember at the firm's inaugral wine night, part of a flight of four other wines. This one blew the competition right out of the water. We decanted for about an hour.
Dark purple in colour, with a subtle, but extremely complex and inviting nose of cassis wreathed with spice, minerals, leather and cedar - classic Paulliac, with just a touch of softeness that is rather characteristic of the Comtesse. The palate and finish were gorgeous and supple, with fruits slowly unfolding from a smooth wrapping of spice, wood and gentle vanilla. So, so many things going. Tannins have softened, and a host of secondary flavours have already developed, but there is enough to go on for some time yet. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2007 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House): Another great showing here, my WOTN and one of the tops for the group. Typical nice PLL nose with black fruit and green pepper notes. Big rich black coffee fruit on the palate. Rich but balanced. Will certainly improve with another 3-5 years, but fine for drinking now with a nice decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2007 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House - Chicago, IL): A fantastic effort with an elegant, effusive perfume of red currants and spicy green herbs. More elegance in the mouth with richly textured, pure currant fruits that are in harmony with suave tannins. Complexity, balance and length. Very classy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2007 - JeffW wrote: 95 Points
Very good bottle of wine. Great balance. Nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2007 - P.A. Cross wrote: 97 Points
This wine is incredible. Everything you could want in a Bordeaux. Earthy, gamey, rich and dark. Large tannin and good balance. Graphite, leather, etc. Long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2007 - bkrug wrote: 94 Points
Not as good as first bottle-nose more muted. Drank nicely-tannins nicely integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2007 - paulst wrote: 87 Points
Barnyard nose
Loamy earth
Flint
Waiting for fruit
At the end hints on deep blackberry
Needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2007 - dbg wrote:
outstanding, and clear winner of the blind tasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2007 - BSteffes wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this wine...even though it was a little different from what I am used to. Did not let it decant enough before trying.....very tight with alot of cedar, mint, green, and alcohol on the nose. After I gave it 45-60 minutes...those smells were toned down a little bit. More fruit and mint emerged on the palate as the night wore on. Solid tannins with a nice long finish. Paired it with steak...very nice! A 90 only because it was a little different from what I was expecting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2007 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Poured into a glass from a 375 and left for 90 minutes. Rather dark garnet hue. Nose was spectacular, with black cherry, blueberry, cassis, and loads of cedar pouring out of the glass. The palate was a changing medley of black currants, damson plum, and even a bit of redcurrants from the admittedly low percentage of Merlot. Still, the tannins were a bit angular and there was a green streak at the end also. This is a complex, rich wine which will probably take another 4 or 5 years to integrate fully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2007 - wcork wrote: 95 Points
Great!!!!!!!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2007 - Ricky99 wrote: 91 Points
Not nearly what I expected but beautiful - just still green...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2006 - JBVino wrote:
OPEN...suprisingly so! I would not have opened any of mine but my cousin brought a bottle to dinner and after only 2 hours in the decanter was singing. Yes it will get better but wow right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2006 - beachnic wrote: 92 Points
I really like the distinct Paullic flavors (give it a 93 for that ) of this wine but the structure and depth of fruit was so so for me. The aromatics were a little light and I was expecting a WOW but instead I got an Oh Okay why don't I open the 2001 Beringer Private Reserve in case people are dissapointed with this. The 1982 Pichon was one of my All time favorite wines..the 1996 was nowhere near that good. Fruit fading out?.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
(at Abacrombie – Baltimore) Wow – another winner. Tight as nails on the initial pour (wine was opened 3 hours before service). With time this blossomed beautifully. Classic claret with just enough wildness to make the wine truly exciting. Everything you want in Pauillac. From Chuck – wish I had some in the cellar. Needs 10 more years at least. (19+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2006 - Cotedorfan wrote:
Great wine. Enjoyed at a restaurant for under current retail. Deep purple with no bricking at all. Aromas of black fruits in a cedar frame soaring from the glass. Still very primary and full bodied on the palate, but with only a hint of tannin on the finish. Tremendous wine, wish I had this one in my cellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2006 - Wineosseur wrote: 94 Points
Showed well, but has room for improvement. Popped and poured. Opened up beautifully after about 90 minutes to reveal a very complex nose of red and black fruits, cedar, smokey green tobacco, and a slight hint of mint. Showed great balance on the palate, though I think it will develop a richer mouthfeel with time as the tannins are still showing on the finish. Glad my others are out of state so I am forced to keep my hands off, as this will get even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2006 - Surfer714 wrote: 94 Points
great nose...some tannins present, lush and rich in the mouth ..excellant wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2006 - MatthewF wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 2.5hrs. Very dark color, no signs of fading color. Ripe dark fruits on both the nose and palate with a very smooth finish. Notes of cedar, graphite, and tobacco as well. Tannins seem to just melt away. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2006 - MRichman wrote:
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal: Complex, herbal, minty with some burnt wood. Started a bit tight, but opened up beautifully and just edged the Baron at the finish line.
A/A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2006 - Cracker Barrel wrote: 87 Points
young, green, tannic and generally disappointing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2006 - Melli wrote: 96 Points
At high end wine tasting, this was WOTN. Easy to drink young or hold for decade or two
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2006 - wcork wrote: 95 Points
This Wine Rock's!!! I had the same vintage a few months back and the Wine seemed closed.I am never diapointed with ( Pichon Rock's Laland ) Great Wine for the $$ I can't wait to openthe 90,95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2006 - Drrawstern wrote: 96 Points
The most beautiful nose - I could sit and sniff all night. Quintessentially French, layer upon layer of complex flavors. The "Comtesse" is a personal favorite!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2006 - hcampana wrote: 91 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal in Gusbo's honor (Pichon Lalande, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, Calon Segur, Sociando Mallet, Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, 1990 Suduiraut & 1972 Don PX Toro Albala) (Monterrey, Mexico): Darkest ruby in flight. Reticent Cabernet nose of black currant, spice and hints of cedar. I'm thinking this has the highest cabernet content in flight (Pichon Baron?). Very full bodied with the most noticeable acidity in the flight, this wine has an intense finish but is the least ready in the flight. I incorrectly guessed this was the Pichon Baron. My third favorite of the flight. (Four 1st place votes, One 2nd place votes, Two 3rd place votes).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2005 - Cilantro wrote: 96 Points
Wow! Deep rich ruby color, some cedar on the nose. Smooth, rich, velvety texture. Taste of cedar, pencil-shavings, with a long 30-45 sec finish. Just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2005 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
WS New York Wine Experience Grand Tastings; 10/20/2005-10/21/2005 (Marriott Marquis NYC): Wow, towering nose of black fruit, spice, and licorice. Awesome! Lovely round but tight black fruit and spice. A few more years for this to really come together and shine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2005 - Tao wrote: 86 Points
At the moment, the wine is really really closed, not dead, but closed, smell nearly nothing here, the color is indeed healthy and young, the tannins is full of my mouth, hard to swallow the wine, glad that I only taste one glass!!! Needs 10 years of storage to see what will happen (15-20 years for a magnum), living in hope of course, judging by the healthy colour!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2005 - Chewbacchus wrote: 95 Points
Once again, awesome. This wine just doesn't disappoint. Had this from magnum at Tapestry Bistro in Los Gatos along with a magnum of Jones Family. I much preferred this wine. Subtle but complex with tiers of currant, mineral, and spice. Smooth tannins with a long finish. Years of life ahead, but singing now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2005 - Veloman wrote:
Wow, call it infanticide, but there was no crime in opening this one. Decanted for about 4 hrs and enjoyed over a leisurely anniversary dinner at Paley's (where the $15 corkage, excellent stemware, and attentive but unintrusive service were much appreciated). Even while decanting the aromatics were enticing--dark fruit, cedar, and earth. Started a bit tight and closed on the palate but was soon stetched out and opened up, with dense, primary dark fruit and layers of cedar, earth, graphite, smoke. Tons of extract and texture, but classically smooth and balanced without a rough edge or angle. Finish a little short/abrupt. While this'll improve over time I'm sure, it's drinking beautifully right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2005 - MRichman wrote:
Pichon Baron vs Pichon Lalande (Triomphe Restaurant in NYC): Needs time. Some herbs. Has a good future, but closed right now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2005 - jamiekutch wrote: 91 Points
TN: OFFline: Pichon Baron VS. Pichon Lalande 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000 (NYC): The Lalande to me had some green stem notes that put me off after it was poured. Some of the heavier notes of green stems blew off - this wine was in need of longer decanting time. Slightly closed up this was vicious, thick and extracted. These two 1996's had the highest acidity of all the wines we tasted tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2005 - norsktorsk wrote:
Fairly subdued nose on opening. some tannins. Decanted for 3 hours, tannins mellowed and I thought it quite balanced however over all I was disappointed with its subtle nose and flavors. Nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2005 - Topper wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for 6 hours and it emerged singing. Absolutely glorious bordeaux and completely delicious now with the right amount of airing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2005 - Mike V wrote: 92 Points
Seems more closed than a year ago. Still with cassis and sweet red fruit on the nose. Less going on in the palate. Wait 1 or probably 2 years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2004 - dnlevine wrote: 95 Points
oh heaven!! A wonderful bottle of the Comtesse ... it's everything you'd expect a superb Bordeaux to be. Deep color, earthy flavors, and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2004 - JohnB wrote:
Decanted for sediment. Thick and rich deep plum in the glass. A nose of earth, and dark fruits. On the palate I was struck by the balance and finesse. Still predominated by the rich fruit, the fine tannins were melted into the background. Over a period of 3 hours the nose opened a little more revealing sweet dark berries, subtle earth notes and the finish is lingering with a mild spice component…just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2003 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Ken Johnson. Bright disc. Deep ruby/garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a moderately intense bouquet of coffee, plums, mocha, roasted herbs and black tea. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, medium sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. Very precocious at this point, quite surprising for the vintage (particularly considering the relatively high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage's blend).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2003 - PaulH wrote: 95 Points
Tremendous heady nose of cabernet with that special smokey and dusky Bordeaux signature. Chewy, lush, and rich with firm tannins which bode well for a long life. This is a great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2003 - CSteefel wrote: 95 Points
A bit of a throwback to the wines in the earlier Flights, with slightly earthy aromas showing up. But still showing luxurious rich fruit on the nose and great mouth-filling texture in the mouth. This will be a great or near great Claret in another five years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2003 - Jason wrote: 95 Points
Big nose of cedar, charcoal, olives, and black pepper. Palate with pine and sweet red fruit. Seems a touch soft first but finishes with a big tannic finish. Has all the elements to be big winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2003 - Eric wrote: 96 Points
A heavenly night of Pichon!!! (Seattle, WA, USA): Right out of the bottle this was singing with gorgeous notes of tobacco and earth. Two hours later this has changed quite a bit and was floral, quite literally singing, with espresso and licorice. On the palate this is initially massive, black and brooding, but with time sweet and pure cassis comes to the front. Wow this wine is layered and voluptuous, truly silky, but still wonderfully earthy. The finish is huge and gorgeous, still incredibly primary with dusty tannins. While this was gorgeous, for me it doesn't show the same balance and finesse as the 2000, especially on the finish. I went and picked up a case of this from Zachy's. This is going to be darned fun to drink over the years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/31/2003 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 93 Points
Purplish red in the glass. Tea, leaves and truffle notes coming out of the glass. Great nuances, good focus and definition. Broad, dense and wide in the mouth. Strong, yet seductive and elegant. Nice long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2003 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 95 Points
Dark red in the glass with a purplish core. Muted notes of roasted coffee, leather and dark berries and berry leaves. Spectacular mouthfeel. Brilliantly viscous and broad in taste, built into a huge structure and jam-packed with ripe fruit. As the wine elegantly sweeps through the mouth, the sweet and ripe tannins tinkle gently. A smooth and harmonious wine that oozes elegance and femininity from the word go. They say that PL is one of the first Great Growth Bordeaux wines to come around....well this wine is probably ten years away from real maturity, but the promise is certainly there. The finish is long and explosive in a refined way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/1999 - MikeATL wrote:
I love this wine. Mindblowing nose of cedar, violets, cassis, blackberry and black plum grabs you and lulls you in. On the palate, it is fantastically long, pure and complex, but still fairly tannic. Truly great young Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment