Wine Advisor
Pichon Lalande 1928
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
One of the finest wines I've tasted from this great château, the 1928 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande wafts from the glass with aromas of cedar wood, dried red fruits, plums, dark berries, sweet spices, camphor and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's elegantly layered, with melted tannins, ripe acids and a long, sapid finish. While it's obviously far from youthful as it closes in on its centenary, it remains impressively vibrant.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Fine Wine Experience’s Pichon-Lalande vertical in London. Certainly a little paler than the ’34 with wide tawny rim and light mahogany core. The bouquet is actually quite similar to the ’29 but with a little more conviction with slightly bretty, leathery notes complemented by spice, ginger, sandalwood and dried honey. Good definition with moderate vigour. The palate is sweet on the entry, very well balanced, obviously fully mature with honeyed, almost toffee-ish/molasses notes towards the ripe finish. This must have been very plush in its youth but there is still some pleasure here. Drink now-2012+ Tasted December 2008.
About the Producer
Pichon Lalande is arguably the best known Super Second Pauillac for its quality consistency and quintessential Bordeaux claret expression. Neighbouring Chateau Latour and lying just right opposite Chateau Pichon Baron, Pichon Lalande, as its name suggests, has long seen extended female owner influence since the 1850s. Back in the 1850s, the original Pichon Lalande got broken down into two-fifth being renamed as Pichon Baron and three-fifth remaining as Pichon Lalande upon the passing of Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. The three-fifth was run by the three daughters of the Baron himself and over the course of a few years, Pichon Baron and Pichon Lalande took on distinctive styles - with the former being more a masculine expression and the latter, feminine. Female ownership and influence continued, with little interruption, till the modern days. Pichon Lalande's string of female leaders have contributed to the continuous modernization of Pichon Lalande's vineyards and cellars; as well as the doubling of vineyard area during the 1970s - 90s. Today, Pichon Lalande's feminine expression continues to prevail - whilst the team is placed under the leadership of a former opera singer turned winemaker gentleman named Nicolas Glumineau. Conversion to biodynamic viticulture (fully by year 2021), continuous investments in precision winemaking facilities see Pichon Lalande continue to be revered among leading critics. Pichon Lalande is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It is the predominant Cabernet Sauvignon presence in Pichon Lalande's wines that make this wine such a capable representation of Pauillac's deep gravelly terroir.
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