Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, 2ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2009
There's something about the Pauillac, St Julien borders in 2009. Las Cases and Latour are two of the standout successes, and neighbour Pichon Lalande should not be discounted either. One of the best Pichon Lalandes in years, we were fortunate enough to taste this three times with equally flattering results. The bouquet is packed with cut flowers, daisies, violets, pencil shavings, liquid minerals and cassis. This is a model of precision and detail. It is a big wine, but it possesses a strictness and tight knit structure than makes this balanced, refined and very classy. A really composed Lalande, which has a velvety texture and beautifully managed tannins. A really well crafted, stylish Lalande for the long-term.
critic reviews
Luscious and rich ruby colour, powerfully enticing aromatics, a ton of dark cassis and blueberry fruits, this is great quality, juicy with oyster shell salinity that pulses through the mid palate. Tobacco and campfire on the finish, this is approaching its drinking window but in no rush. Sylvie Cazes director at the time.
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot but without any Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Pichon Lalande has a deep garnet-brick color. It charges out with vibrant notions of crème de cassis, blueberry pie, and redcurrant jelly, followed by flamboyant suggestions of dried roses, cardamom, fragrant earth, and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich and impactful, featuring fantastically plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Absolutely scrumptious right now, it has a good 20-25 years of cellaring potential left, and I suspect there is way more gravitas in the pipeline.
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.