1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1989
94
Fully mature, medium-bodied, elegant, refined, soft and silky, with loads of sweet cherries, currants, spice, mint and cigar wrappers on the nose, and on the palate. This is not a wine to hold for further development. Drink from 2023-2030.

Fully mature, medium-bodied, elegant, refined, soft and silky, with loads of sweet cherries, currants, spice, mint and cigar wrappers on the nose, and on the palate. This is not a wine to hold for further development. Drink from 2023-2030.

3,405 Views   Tasted
Elegant, medium-bodied, refined, soft and silky, the wine lives in the intersection between secondary notes of tobacco, cedar chest, peppery herbs, cigar box and red currants. Popped and poured, this is slightly past its peak, so if you are sitting on any bottles, it is time to drink up.

Elegant, medium-bodied, refined, soft and silky, the wine lives in the intersection between secondary notes of tobacco, cedar chest, peppery herbs, cigar box and red currants. Popped and poured, this is slightly past its peak, so if you are sitting on any bottles, it is time to drink up.

4,764 Views   Tasted
Perhaps fading a bit more than expected, the wine is slowly losing its sweetness. Medium-bodied, elegantly textured with a nose red berry, earth, tobacco leaf, cedar and cigar box, the finish, while retaining most of its refined character is more tart than previous bottles, letting me know the fruit is starting to drop. This was a pristine bottle from an original case purchased on release, so I would not expect more from other bottles. The wine needs to be drunk up before it continues fading from here. Popped and poured, decanting is not your friend here, as air will only take away from the remaining fruit.

Perhaps fading a bit more than expected, the wine is slowly losing its sweetness. Medium-bodied, elegantly textured with a nose red berry, earth, tobacco leaf, cedar and cigar box, the finish, while retaining most of its refined character is more tart than previous bottles, letting me know the fruit is starting to drop. This was a pristine bottle from an original case purchased on release, so I would not expect more from other bottles. The wine needs to be drunk up before it continues fading from here. Popped and poured, decanting is not your friend here, as air will only take away from the remaining fruit.

4,244 Views   Tasted
Definitely at peak, while lacking the weight found in some vintages, this is a beautiful style of Pichon Lalande. Silky, elegant, fresh, and yes, sensuous, the wine feels great on your palate. The tannins are polished, the fruit is ripe and if you are lucky enough to have a bottle, or more in your cellar, you should be popping a cork.

Definitely at peak, while lacking the weight found in some vintages, this is a beautiful style of Pichon Lalande. Silky, elegant, fresh, and yes, sensuous, the wine feels great on your palate. The tannins are polished, the fruit is ripe and if you are lucky enough to have a bottle, or more in your cellar, you should be popping a cork.

5,633 Views   Tasted
Cocoa, mint, tobacco, truffle, roasted cassis, blackberry and fresh herbs create the beguiling aromatics. Silky, soft and sexy, with a fresh, cassis and olive tapenade finish. Fully mature, there is no reason to to hold your bottles any longer.

Cocoa, mint, tobacco, truffle, roasted cassis, blackberry and fresh herbs create the beguiling aromatics. Silky, soft and sexy, with a fresh, cassis and olive tapenade finish. Fully mature, there is no reason to to hold your bottles any longer.

6,980 Views   Tasted
Probably not a perfect bottle of this normally outstanding wine. The silky texture and sweet fruits, coupled with their cassis, earth, tobacco, thyme and spicy personality was there, but the weight and density seems to have faded. I really like the style of this wine, but this bottle was more advanced than I was expecting. My guess is, if you are waiting on a lot more development, pop a cork instead.

Probably not a perfect bottle of this normally outstanding wine. The silky texture and sweet fruits, coupled with their cassis, earth, tobacco, thyme and spicy personality was there, but the weight and density seems to have faded. I really like the style of this wine, but this bottle was more advanced than I was expecting. My guess is, if you are waiting on a lot more development, pop a cork instead.

6,625 Views   Tasted
Better on the nose than the palate as the wine is slowly losing its intensity and lush textures. The complex, truffle, tobacco, dark berry, cigar box and earthy aromas are a treat. But the bloom is off the rose on the palate. This is not falling apart. But it does require consumption over the next 2-5 years before dropping more of its fruit.

Better on the nose than the palate as the wine is slowly losing its intensity and lush textures. The complex, truffle, tobacco, dark berry, cigar box and earthy aromas are a treat. But the bloom is off the rose on the palate. This is not falling apart. But it does require consumption over the next 2-5 years before dropping more of its fruit.

7,972 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, check. Truffles, check. Spice, earth and cassis check. Soft, silky textures too. But this bottle did not seem as fresh, lively or deep as the last bottle. I think this is fully mature and while it has not run out of steam, there is probably nothing to be gained by holding it further.

Tobacco, check. Truffles, check. Spice, earth and cassis check. Soft, silky textures too. But this bottle did not seem as fresh, lively or deep as the last bottle. I think this is fully mature and while it has not run out of steam, there is probably nothing to be gained by holding it further.

7,768 Views   Tasted
A beautiful mature nose, packed with earthy, forest notes, truffle, blackberry, tobacco and cassis is the first thing you notice. Plush, soft, round and elegant in texture,the wine finishes with fresh, ripe berries, olives and cassis. If you're not familiar with Bordeaux, this is the wine to get you going. If you are a Bordeaux lover, you already know, this is really good juice.

A beautiful mature nose, packed with earthy, forest notes, truffle, blackberry, tobacco and cassis is the first thing you notice. Plush, soft, round and elegant in texture,the wine finishes with fresh, ripe berries, olives and cassis. If you're not familiar with Bordeaux, this is the wine to get you going. If you are a Bordeaux lover, you already know, this is really good juice.

9,857 Views   Tasted
Tobacco leaf, forest floor, truffle, smoke, cassis, olive, floral, coffee and spice box aromatics lead to a sensuous, luscious wine filled with ripe, juicy cassis and fresh Maraschino cherries. This is fully mature. There is no hurry to drink it, it’s probably not going to improve much either.

Tobacco leaf, forest floor, truffle, smoke, cassis, olive, floral, coffee and spice box aromatics lead to a sensuous, luscious wine filled with ripe, juicy cassis and fresh Maraschino cherries. This is fully mature. There is no hurry to drink it, it’s probably not going to improve much either.

11,283 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, bitter chocolate, blackberries, cigar box, earth and cassis. Polished silky and velvet textures with a cassis, cranberry and cocoa filled finish. This is fully mature and if this bottle is a correct example, it does not seem like it has the stuffing to age and improve from this point on.

Tobacco, bitter chocolate, blackberries, cigar box, earth and cassis. Polished silky and velvet textures with a cassis, cranberry and cocoa filled finish. This is fully mature and if this bottle is a correct example, it does not seem like it has the stuffing to age and improve from this point on.

12,062 Views   Tasted
It's always a nice surprise when a bottle performs better than you expected. Tobacco, cassis, truffle, earth, spice, cedar, green olive tapenade and roses make up the complex perfume. On the palate, this Bordeaux wine feels like pure silk and velvet. The long, ripe dark berry finish lasts at least 40 seconds. Note to self, drink more Pichon Lalande.

It's always a nice surprise when a bottle performs better than you expected. Tobacco, cassis, truffle, earth, spice, cedar, green olive tapenade and roses make up the complex perfume. On the palate, this Bordeaux wine feels like pure silk and velvet. The long, ripe dark berry finish lasts at least 40 seconds. Note to self, drink more Pichon Lalande.

13,000 Views   Tasted
Earth, truffle, tobacco, cassis, spice, smoke and chocolate covered plums make up the complex perfume. Elegant, soft, refined and sexy, this mature Pauillac ends with layers of polished, silky dark berries.

Earth, truffle, tobacco, cassis, spice, smoke and chocolate covered plums make up the complex perfume. Elegant, soft, refined and sexy, this mature Pauillac ends with layers of polished, silky dark berries.

11,323 Views   Tasted
89 Pichon Lalande is llight ruby in color. The wine offers a perfume of tobacco, cassis, plums, green olive tapenade, earth and truffle. In the mouth, 89 Pichon Lalande is soft and round in texture. The finish is filled with bitter chocolate, cassis, hints of cranberry and some green flavors that take away from the overall experience of the wine. It's possible the wine has started to fade. This bottle seems to have lost some of its freshness. I plan on opening another bottle in the near future to see if it's the wine or the bottle that's started to fade.

89 Pichon Lalande is llight ruby in color. The wine offers a perfume of tobacco, cassis, plums, green olive tapenade, earth and truffle. In the mouth, 89 Pichon Lalande is soft and round in texture. The finish is filled with bitter chocolate, cassis, hints of cranberry and some green flavors that take away from the overall experience of the wine. It's possible the wine has started to fade. This bottle seems to have lost some of its freshness. I plan on opening another bottle in the near future to see if it's the wine or the bottle that's started to fade.

11,433 Views   Tasted
This elegant, suave Bordeaux elixir is close to fully mature. Black fruit, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco, and chocolate kick the perfume off. The palate is treated to lush, opulent, ripe waves of flavor. Everything is in balance. The clean, rich, fruit filled finish is a treat to experience. I plan on finishing most of my bottles over the next decade.

This elegant, suave Bordeaux elixir is close to fully mature. Black fruit, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco, and chocolate kick the perfume off. The palate is treated to lush, opulent, ripe waves of flavor. Everything is in balance. The clean, rich, fruit filled finish is a treat to experience. I plan on finishing most of my bottles over the next decade.

7,267 Views   Tasted
This elegant, suave elixir is what the 83 used to be. Close to fully mature, black fruit, earth, herbs, spices and chocolate kick the perfume off. Everything is in balance. The palate is treated to very, lush, ripe waves of flavor. The clean finish is a treat to experience. Still going strong, I plan on finishing most of my bottles over the next decade.

This elegant, suave elixir is what the 83 used to be. Close to fully mature, black fruit, earth, herbs, spices and chocolate kick the perfume off. Everything is in balance. The palate is treated to very, lush, ripe waves of flavor. The clean finish is a treat to experience. Still going strong, I plan on finishing most of my bottles over the next decade.

7,237 Views   Tasted
Unlike most Pauillac's, the heavy percentage of Merlot makes this a very sophisticated, yet elegant wine. Gobs of cassis, black fruit and spices are easy to find. But for me, the real pleasure in Lalande is in the mouth feel. Close to fully mature, this wonderful Pauillac is all silk, velvet and satin in your mouth.

Unlike most Pauillac's, the heavy percentage of Merlot makes this a very sophisticated, yet elegant wine. Gobs of cassis, black fruit and spices are easy to find. But for me, the real pleasure in Lalande is in the mouth feel. Close to fully mature, this wonderful Pauillac is all silk, velvet and satin in your mouth.

7,289 Views   Tasted
With a cassis laden perfume accented by notes of black fruit, truffle, wet earth and coffee, this is fun to taste. For me the personality of Lalande is best experienced in the mouth for its lush, rich style which is evident in the 89.

With a cassis laden perfume accented by notes of black fruit, truffle, wet earth and coffee, this is fun to taste. For me the personality of Lalande is best experienced in the mouth for its lush, rich style which is evident in the 89.

7,224 Views   Tasted
This was as sexy as any Left Bank wine I've ever tasted. This supple, velvety wine personifies elegance. It might be a matter of style, but more often than not, Lalande’s unique quality always wins me over.

This was as sexy as any Left Bank wine I've ever tasted. This supple, velvety wine personifies elegance. It might be a matter of style, but more often than not, Lalande’s unique quality always wins me over.

7,248 Views   Tasted
The 89 continues improving each time I taste it. It seems to put on weight, density and become more complex every year. Cassis, wood and spices on the nose. This full bodied, lush, sensuous Bordeaux is very plummy with sweet, silky, black fruits and a sexy, opulent, finish.

The 89 continues improving each time I taste it. It seems to put on weight, density and become more complex every year. Cassis, wood and spices on the nose. This full bodied, lush, sensuous Bordeaux is very plummy with sweet, silky, black fruits and a sexy, opulent, finish.

7,323 Views   Tasted
Cassis, black fruit, plums, coffee and anise aromatics tease and please your nose while your palate looks forward to a full bodied, plush, lush experience completed by a long elegant finish.

Cassis, black fruit, plums, coffee and anise aromatics tease and please your nose while your palate looks forward to a full bodied, plush, lush experience completed by a long elegant finish.

7,267 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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