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Pichon Lalande 2009

Pauillac, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
This is gorgeous, beautifully balanced between fruit, freshness and finessed tannic hold, with an opulent and seductive texture that kicks things up another level. Has the Pichon Comtesse stamp of raspberry, blueberry, slate and violet. One of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the lineup, and a brilliant example of how Comtesse retains generosity and plump fruits even with concentrated Cabernet flavours. This makes you want to share it immediately, and for sure you can open and drink it now, but it will comfortably keep delivering for another 20 years or more. Does that sound contradictory? Welcome to the world of great Bordeaux. 49hl/h yield. 60% new oak. Score: 98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2021-2035 17 September 2021
Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a little reticent to begin, slowly giving way to notions of warm black cherries, blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums and sautéed herbs with hints of damp soil, tobacco and beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound black fruit and earthy layers, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness making for a long, lively finish. Classic! Score: 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2053 14 March 2019
The 2009 Pichon-Lalande has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with blackberry, black tea and pencil shavings, quite Saint-Julien like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin. Not the most elegant Pauillac on the block but well defined with a very sappy, almost brine-tinged, citrus fresh finish that lingers, hints of salted liquorice on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Score: 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2040 01 March 2019
Tasted at the château and at the UGC. A limpid deep purple colour. This has a very fragrant nose, not quite as well defined as Pichon Baron, but very elegant and graceful with blackberry, raspberry leaf, pencil lead, graphite and wild hedgerow. Very pure and feminine. Second bottle at the UGC is actually better...much more precision here, the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) really showing through. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very compact, not as expansive as other wines, much more conservative than I was expecting, but very graceful with an unerring sense of symmetry. I cannot help feeling that the wine would benefit from a greater percentage of Merlot, especially on the finish, but over time is does expand in the glass, becoming more and more supple, with a sense of Cabernet invoked authority on the finish. This should coalesce beautifully by time of bottling. Tasted March 2010. Score: 93 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 March 2010
The 2009 Pichon Lalande is ripe and decidedly flamboyant from the very first taste. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, with serious richness, the 2009 is also almost shockingly tannic. It won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, and yet, there is so much to look forward to. The warm, dry conditions yielded a dense, exotic Pichon Lalande, but there is serious structure beneath all of the fruit. Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2029-2059 01 October 2017
Dark red. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, smoke, mocha, espresso and tobacco, with darker berry notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Rich, lush and seamless but not yet filled in, with its berry flavors complicated by earth and herb elements. Not the last word in concentration, but this sexy Pauillac is sweet, shapely and remarkably accessible today. Finishes long, suave and palate-coating, with perfumed red berry flavor and an obvious chocolatey quality from the merlot component. Score: 94 Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 July 2012
A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years. Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012
The blend for the 2009 Pichon Lalande is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat unusual at this estate which usually has more Merlot in the blend. As stated previously, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached levels of ripeness and intensity of flavor in 2009 never seen before in Bordeaux! The final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot and a pH of 3.8 combines the best of a vintage such as 1996, in terms of structure, freshness, and precision, with the best of 1982, in terms of opulence, power, unctuosity, and thickness. The opaque purple-colored 2009 exhibits an intoxicatingly intense nose of red and black fruits, subtle smoke, charcoal, forest floor, and a hint of flowers. Unusually full-bodied for a wine from this estate as well as unctuously textured, voluptuous, and incredibly pure and precise, this dazzling wine should be drinkable at an early age, and evolve for 30+ years. (Tasted once.) Like most Medoc chateaux, Pichon Lalande began their harvest on September 22, and finished on October 7. Score: 96 - 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2040 27 April 2010
What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982. Try in 2018. Score: 96 James Suckling, - Maturity: 2018+ 15 February 2012
Wow. This has an incredible complexity on the nose of currant, spice, mineral and flowers. Full-bodied, with a great density of fruit and tannins, yet polished and beautiful. This could be the new 1982 from here. Made from 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot and 5 percent Petit Verdot. Score: 95 - 98 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2010
(a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot; 13% alcohol; pH 3.79; 70 IPT; 50% new oak) Purple-ruby color. Initially reticent nose hints at minerals and blackcurrant, then opens to reveal spicy strawberry, violet and cedar. Quite dense yet suave on entry, with harmonious acids nicely framing the captivating blackcurrant, plum and cedar flavors. Conveys an impressive sense of depth and brooding power, yet remains remarkably light on its feet and easy to drink. Very silky wine, with polished tannins offering considerable structure and support to the ripe fruit flavors on the extremely long finish. An utterly seamless wine yet very serious wine that will offer considerable early drinking appeal but needs time to reveal all of its considerable potential. Pichon-Lalande has long been one of my favorite wines of Bordeaux but I've been unimpressed by many recent vintages, so I am very happy to report that the '09 is not just the best wine here in recent memory, but probably one of the best of all time. Score: 93 - 96 Ian D'Agata, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2010
Black red, wonderfully fragrant nose, rich and spicy and beautifully expressively textured fruit, plenty of extraction but pure harmony, vibrant and polished, seductive length and great future. Drink 2016-35. (18.5 points) Score: 18 - 19 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2035 01 April 2010
This aristocratic property is one of the top Super-Seconds and one of the most elegant and "feminine" wines of Pauillac. 75CS 20M 5PV. V perfumed with mulberries, minerals and a touch of complicating green. Bright and lifted. Vivacious fresh fruit and bright acidity . Clean and tannic with a cedary finish. Score: 93 - 95 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010
Dark crimson and a little more complex-looking than the Réserve de la Comtesse. Heady and rich and spicy and lightly gamey. Very solid and dark and dense – almost brooding. Sweet, polished and fun. Just lacks a bit of bottom and density on the palate. Very flirtatious. Complete and savoury on the finish with very polished tannins. Appetising and not at all forced. But not the most ambitious 2009. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2030 31 March 2010

Tasting Notes

This is gorgeous, beautifully balanced between fruit, freshness and finessed tannic hold, with an opulent and seductive texture that kicks things up another level. Has the Pichon Comtesse stamp of raspberry, blueberry, slate and violet. One of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the lineup, and a brilliant example of how Comtesse retains generosity and plump fruits even with concentrated Cabernet flavours. This makes you want to share it immediately, and for sure you can open and drink it now, but it will comfortably keep delivering for another 20 years or more. Does that sound contradictory? Welcome to the world of great Bordeaux. 49hl/h yield. 60% new oak.

Score: 98

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2021-2035 17 September 2021

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a little reticent to begin, slowly giving way to notions of warm black cherries, blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums and sautéed herbs with hints of damp soil, tobacco and beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound black fruit and earthy layers, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness making for a long, lively finish. Classic!

Score: 97

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2053 14 March 2019

The 2009 Pichon-Lalande has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with blackberry, black tea and pencil shavings, quite Saint-Julien like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin. Not the most elegant Pauillac on the block but well defined with a very sappy, almost brine-tinged, citrus fresh finish that lingers, hints of salted liquorice on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

Score: 93

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2040 01 March 2019

Tasted at the château and at the UGC. A limpid deep purple colour. This has a very fragrant nose, not quite as well defined as Pichon Baron, but very elegant and graceful with blackberry, raspberry leaf, pencil lead, graphite and wild hedgerow. Very pure and feminine. Second bottle at the UGC is actually better...much more precision here, the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) really showing through. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very compact, not as expansive as other wines, much more conservative than I was expecting, but very graceful with an unerring sense of symmetry. I cannot help feeling that the wine would benefit from a greater percentage of Merlot, especially on the finish, but over time is does expand in the glass, becoming more and more supple, with a sense of Cabernet invoked authority on the finish. This should coalesce beautifully by time of bottling. Tasted March 2010.

Score: 93 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 March 2010

The 2009 Pichon Lalande is ripe and decidedly flamboyant from the very first taste. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, with serious richness, the 2009 is also almost shockingly tannic. It won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, and yet, there is so much to look forward to. The warm, dry conditions yielded a dense, exotic Pichon Lalande, but there is serious structure beneath all of the fruit.

Score: 97

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2029-2059 01 October 2017

Dark red. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, smoke, mocha, espresso and tobacco, with darker berry notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Rich, lush and seamless but not yet filled in, with its berry flavors complicated by earth and herb elements. Not the last word in concentration, but this sexy Pauillac is sweet, shapely and remarkably accessible today. Finishes long, suave and palate-coating, with perfumed red berry flavor and an obvious chocolatey quality from the merlot component.

Score: 94

Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 July 2012

A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012

The blend for the 2009 Pichon Lalande is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat unusual at this estate which usually has more Merlot in the blend. As stated previously, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached levels of ripeness and intensity of flavor in 2009 never seen before in Bordeaux! The final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot and a pH of 3.8 combines the best of a vintage such as 1996, in terms of structure, freshness, and precision, with the best of 1982, in terms of opulence, power, unctuosity, and thickness. The opaque purple-colored 2009 exhibits an intoxicatingly intense nose of red and black fruits, subtle smoke, charcoal, forest floor, and a hint of flowers. Unusually full-bodied for a wine from this estate as well as unctuously textured, voluptuous, and incredibly pure and precise, this dazzling wine should be drinkable at an early age, and evolve for 30+ years. (Tasted once.) Like most Medoc chateaux, Pichon Lalande began their harvest on September 22, and finished on October 7.

Score: 96 - 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2040 27 April 2010

What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982. Try in 2018.

Score: 96

James Suckling, - Maturity: 2018+ 15 February 2012

Wow. This has an incredible complexity on the nose of currant, spice, mineral and flowers. Full-bodied, with a great density of fruit and tannins, yet polished and beautiful. This could be the new 1982 from here. Made from 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot and 5 percent Petit Verdot.

Score: 95 - 98

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2010

(a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot; 13% alcohol; pH 3.79; 70 IPT; 50% new oak) Purple-ruby color. Initially reticent nose hints at minerals and blackcurrant, then opens to reveal spicy strawberry, violet and cedar. Quite dense yet suave on entry, with harmonious acids nicely framing the captivating blackcurrant, plum and cedar flavors. Conveys an impressive sense of depth and brooding power, yet remains remarkably light on its feet and easy to drink. Very silky wine, with polished tannins offering considerable structure and support to the ripe fruit flavors on the extremely long finish. An utterly seamless wine yet very serious wine that will offer considerable early drinking appeal but needs time to reveal all of its considerable potential. Pichon-Lalande has long been one of my favorite wines of Bordeaux but I've been unimpressed by many recent vintages, so I am very happy to report that the '09 is not just the best wine here in recent memory, but probably one of the best of all time.

Score: 93 - 96

Ian D'Agata, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2010

Black red, wonderfully fragrant nose, rich and spicy and beautifully expressively textured fruit, plenty of extraction but pure harmony, vibrant and polished, seductive length and great future. Drink 2016-35. (18.5 points)

Score: 18 - 19

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2035 01 April 2010

This aristocratic property is one of the top Super-Seconds and one of the most elegant and "feminine" wines of Pauillac. 75CS 20M 5PV. V perfumed with mulberries, minerals and a touch of complicating green. Bright and lifted. Vivacious fresh fruit and bright acidity . Clean and tannic with a cedary finish.

Score: 93 - 95

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010

Dark crimson and a little more complex-looking than the Réserve de la Comtesse. Heady and rich and spicy and lightly gamey. Very solid and dark and dense – almost brooding. Sweet, polished and fun. Just lacks a bit of bottom and density on the palate. Very flirtatious. Complete and savoury on the finish with very polished tannins. Appetising and not at all forced. But not the most ambitious 2009.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2030 31 March 2010

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