Wine Advisor
Pichon Lalande 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, this spectacular 2003 hits all the sweet spots on the palate. A glorious bouquet of cedarwood, jammy black currants, cherries, licorice and truffle is followed by a dense, opulently textured, full-bodied wine with terrific purity and freshness as well as deep, velvety textured tannins. Enjoy this beauty over the next 10-12 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Fine Wine Experience’s Pichon-Lalande vertical in London. Contrasted against the 2005 Pichon Lalande, it has a broader nose, with a noticeable seaweed accent coming through, infusing the blackberry, wild hedgerow, touches of tinned prune coming through and taking over from the estuarine scent. Full-bodied on the entry, quite chewy, slightly tarry, lush and opulent at first but underneath there is a little dryness and for me, some volatility showing through towards the finish. It remains a good Pichon-Lalande, but one out-gunned by the 2004. Drink now-2018. Tasted June 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Sometimes, tasting a wine multiple times in various settings is self-defeating. When tasted at the chateau in April 2005 it was a glorious Pauillac with a potent, pure blackcurrant, blueberry and cedar nose with brilliant definition. The palate was supremely focused with pure ripe blackberry, cassis fruit with fabulous purity. But in London just six months later that raw, vegetal notes rears its ugly head again. The palate is rich to the point that it is slightly sweaty and leathery, losing the definition it displayed in Bordeaux. I tasted this three times to check and check again, juxtaposing against Pichon-Baron. Possibly this was sickly after bottling so I will reserve judgment.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
This is just a tad overdone on the nose with a distinctive tertiary element to it. The aromatics improve with aeration, becoming more harmonious and defined. The palate is rich and decadent but with nice, clean black fruit, a touch of burnt toast and raisin with black pepper sprinkled over the finish. Solid grip on the long finish. Controlled sense of decadence here. Drink 2010-2020. Tasted January 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Fashioned from low yields of 39 hectoliters per hectare, Pichon-Lalande’s harvest began on September 17, and lasted until the end of the month. A powerful effort for this estate (13% alcohol), with a pH of 3.8, and total acidity of 3.15, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot possesses an opaque purple color to the rim as well as lovely aromas of spring flowers, creme de cassis, blackberries, and a hint of roasted espresso. Dense, opulent, and medium to full-bodied, with outstanding purity, and no trace of over-ripeness, it should drink well young, and last for 15-20 years. Although it reveals a more classic style than the 1982 did at a similar stage, its similarities with that vintage are unmistakable. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003 offers gorgeous aromas of blackberries, plum liqueur, sweet cherries, smoke, and melted licorice. Fleshy, full-bodied, and intense, displaying a seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 20 years or more.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting. An attractive, classic nose with cedar, sous-bois and pine interlacing the ripe black fruit. Very fragrant. The palate is very supple on the entry, rounded texture with fine tannins, blackberry, sandalwood, cigar box and sous-bois. Quintessential Pauillac, although it is very conservative on the finish. Tasted October 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A beautiful wine that is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, tipping the scales at 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.8, the wine has put on some weight since I tasted it last year and possesses broad, expressive notes of caramel, black currant liqueur, fig, and blackberries along with a hint of roasted coffee. Opulent, full-bodied, and concentrated with an exceptionally fleshy, expansive mid-palate, this wine has freshness, vigor, and delineation despite its rather plump, opulent, heady style. More and more this looks similar to the 1982 more than any other recent vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2022.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. The Pichon Lalande 2003 is a notorious wine that has so often displays off-putting vegetal notes. This is a much better bottle. It has a smudged bouquet of red berries, cassis, blackcurrant pastilles and a touch of violet. The merlot is very dominant here, rendering it almost like a Saint Emilion wine. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy texture, well-judged acidity and natural composure. It is a forward Pichon Lalande, but it is very refined and harmonious with a sensual caressing finish. Tasted March 2013.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2003 Pichon-Lalande is a decent if not exceptional wine. I found it horrendously inconsistent just after bottling, swinging from excessively ripe to green within the space of two bottles; it has since settled down. The nose of black currant and crème de cassis is a little smudged but offers satisfying purity and not too much warmth. The palate is rounded in texture, presenting fleshy dark plum and fig notes and commendable acidity given the growing season. The harmonious finish is starting to become a little ferrous with age. Tasted at a private lunch in London.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good deep red. Flamboyantly expressive aromas of raspberry, currant, earth, smoked meat, chocolate and pepper. Fat, full and voluptuous yet somehow light on its feet. This has a texture of liquid velvet. Wonderfully opulent wine with considerable inner-palate flavor complexity: raspberry, game, leather, mocha and chocolate. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins that coat the entire palate. A wonderful success for the year, and a wine that can be enjoyed already, even if its sheer material promises 15 to 20 years of life in bottle.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Ruby-red. Sexy oak, chocolate mint and licorice on the nose. Dense, roasted and full but retains very good shape and structure for such a fleshy wine. Flavors of cherry, tobacco, chocolate and toffee. This is wonderfully vinous for the year. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and impressive persistence.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 4% petit verdot) Full ruby-red. Reticent but complex aromas of black cherry, woodsmoke, cedar and chocolate. Sweet, suave and succulent, with notes of pepper, menthol, violet and Cuban cigar tobacco. Distinctly sappy and dense in the middle if a bit closed at this point. But builds impressively on the back end, finishing with firm tannins and a distinctly floral perfume.
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.
1928(1)1970(1)1979(1)1981(1)1982(4)1983(2)1985(3)1986(5)1988(5)1989(5)1990(3)1993(1)1994(3)1995(2)1996(6)1997(3)1998(7)1999(2)2000(10)2001(7)2002(13)
Package Size
1 x 1.5L1 x 3L12 x 75cl
