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1995 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1995
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande  (Pauillac)
94
This needs some patience, as at least 2-3 hours of air are needed to help it soften and fill out. Roses, tobacco, scorched earth, cassis, cranberry and peppery herbs open the nose. There is weight and depth, a touch of herbs and crisp, crunchy red berries on the palate. The finish comes with a hint of green olives and a bit of dryness. Classic in style, this is firm, stern version of Pichon, but it manages to avoid some of severity found in most wines from the vintage. It is ready to go, although it could improve with more time.

This needs some patience, as at least 2-3 hours of air are needed to help it soften and fill out. Roses, tobacco, scorched earth, cassis, cranberry and peppery herbs open the nose. There is weight and depth, a touch of herbs and crisp, crunchy red berries on the palate. The finish comes with a hint of green olives and a bit of dryness. Classic in style, this is firm, stern version of Pichon, but it manages to avoid some of severity found in most wines from the vintage. It is ready to go, although it could improve with more time.

5,151 Views   Tasted
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With 1 hour in the decanter, the wine offers a full-bodied, concentrated experience filled with tobacco leaf, blackberry, herbs, cigar box and red fruits. The wine is less strict than many 95 wines, but there is some austerity to the wine that you definitely feel. Time is not going to add much more softness.

With 1 hour in the decanter, the wine offers a full-bodied, concentrated experience filled with tobacco leaf, blackberry, herbs, cigar box and red fruits. The wine is less strict than many 95 wines, but there is some austerity to the wine that you definitely feel. Time is not going to add much more softness.

6,259 Views   Tasted
Clearly, one of the top wines from this often austere vintage. Here, you find softness to the tannins, sensuality to the textures, vibrancy and just a bit of austerity in the finish. At 22, this is perfect to open today, and for the next 15-20 years.

Clearly, one of the top wines from this often austere vintage. Here, you find softness to the tannins, sensuality to the textures, vibrancy and just a bit of austerity in the finish. At 22, this is perfect to open today, and for the next 15-20 years.

6,428 Views   Tasted
One of the best wines of the vintage as it shows none of the often, harshness to the tannins. The wine is soft, round and silky, with complex aromatics and ripe, sweet, dark fruits, finishing with a voluptuous mouth feel.

One of the best wines of the vintage as it shows none of the often, harshness to the tannins. The wine is soft, round and silky, with complex aromatics and ripe, sweet, dark fruits, finishing with a voluptuous mouth feel.

7,094 Views   Tasted
Crème de cassis, flowers, black cherry, tobacco leaf, olive, cocoa and fresh herbs create the perfume. Soft tannins, with only a hint of rusticity, the wine is starting to show well. This is one of the few wines that transcends the high tannic, structured style of the vintage.

Crème de cassis, flowers, black cherry, tobacco leaf, olive, cocoa and fresh herbs create the perfume. Soft tannins, with only a hint of rusticity, the wine is starting to show well. This is one of the few wines that transcends the high tannic, structured style of the vintage.

11,433 Views   Tasted
1995 is a difficult year in Bordeaux. Many of the wines are hard, tannic and lack charm. That is not the case with Pichon Lalande. Floral, cassis, tobacco, truffle, smoke, earth, olive and spicy blackberry aromas crop up with little effort. Silk and velvet in texture, this supple Pauillac ends with a delicious, chocolate, black cherry, herb and plum finish. This is drinking great today. It should continue to improve for at least another 15-20 years.

1995 is a difficult year in Bordeaux. Many of the wines are hard, tannic and lack charm. That is not the case with Pichon Lalande. Floral, cassis, tobacco, truffle, smoke, earth, olive and spicy blackberry aromas crop up with little effort. Silk and velvet in texture, this supple Pauillac ends with a delicious, chocolate, black cherry, herb and plum finish. This is drinking great today. It should continue to improve for at least another 15-20 years.

13,961 Views   Tasted
Fresh aromas of cassis, blackberry, spice, olives, herbs, truffle, coco and cigar box fill the air. This concentrated wine is still tannic. But unlike most 95's, the tannins feel ripe and round. The wine offers ample freshness and structure, as well as silk and elegant textures, ending in a wave ripe, spicy dark fruits and hints of olives. This is one of my favorite wines from this ever increasing, difficult year.

Fresh aromas of cassis, blackberry, spice, olives, herbs, truffle, coco and cigar box fill the air. This concentrated wine is still tannic. But unlike most 95's, the tannins feel ripe and round. The wine offers ample freshness and structure, as well as silk and elegant textures, ending in a wave ripe, spicy dark fruits and hints of olives. This is one of my favorite wines from this ever increasing, difficult year.

10,211 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Pichon Lalande, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is not a wine to drink on the young side in most vintages. The wine is soft enough, but you miss out on the sublime secondary characteristics that come with age. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 2-4 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Pichon Lalande is usually better with at least 10-12 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Pichon Lalande offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15 and 40 years of age after the vintage.

Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande is the most voluptuous Bordeaux wine produced in the Medoc. Much of the wine's sensuous qualities come from the large portion of Merlot included in the blend. Pichon Lalande offers dark berry flavors, truffle, cassis, and cedar notes. The wine is pure silk and velvet textures.

Due to the softness of the wine, Pichon Lalande is often approachable earlier than other Medoc properties. But don't let that fool you into thinking the wine will not improve with age. It does! Ass it closes in on 40 years of age, the sublime 1982 Pichon Lalande is still going strong.

Serving Chateau Pichon Lalande with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Pichon Lalande is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Pichon Lalande is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Pichon Lalande is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

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