Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 5 months ago

James symons

9.4

Deliciously smooth and creamy, pairs perfectly with comte — 6 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Good Château La Fleur de Boüard Le Plus Lalande de Pomerol, Merlot 16 @18920, Pieroth, 251117 — 7 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Juan cortina sulaiman — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened just prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. As far as I know, this was the first commercially released vintage of La Fleur de Boüard but others may be able to confirm or deny that. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe dark fruits: back plums, cassis, pipe tobacco, Flintstones vitamins, purple flowers, dried green herbs organic earth and fine baking spices. “Yabba dabba doo!” On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Gosh, this is in a really lovely place right now; very well balanced! Thank Andy! Drink now through 2040. — a year ago

Ed Chang

9.2

Wine flight at Sunday Vinyl. So great to see @Bobby Stuckey and the crew. And nothing like a Macintosh set up for sound. “It is so choice. If you ever have the means I highly recommend it.” — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, blackberry, black plum, tobacco, menthol, leather, and mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is really delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or other Bordeaux-styled blend or a Tempranillo based blend from the United States, France or Spain. This saw French oak so I eliminated Spain. I thought the fruit was outshining the structure…so I liked the USA over France. And, based off the appearance, I thought this probably had 30+ years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from the United States, from California, Napa, Rutherford; 1994. Ugh…the 1990 vintage in Bordeaux has bit me twice now recently. Really awesome stuff! Drink now through 2040+. — 5 months ago

Ashish Pant

9.5

One of the best values around. I don’t know why I want to even alert others to this wine, it will make it more inaccessible, but all I can say: GET IT! — 5 months ago

Nick Heer

8.9

Cherry, cassis, lil spice. — 6 months ago

Dick Schinkel

9.3

From Magnum !
Great wine dine evening
At Restaurant Broederenklooster Zutphen The Netherlands 🇳🇱
93 DSP — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Garraud – Lalande de Pomerol / 2018
AOC Lalande de Pomerol – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
From the Esnée family estate, this red Bordeaux blend is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Garraud vineyards lie just north of Pomerol proper, where gravelly and clay soils echo the region’s reputation for plush yet structured wines.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush black cherry, plum compote, and cassis wrapped in notes of violet, cocoa, and cedar. Subtle graphite and earthy tobacco hints reflect the Cabernet Franc influence.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet polished, with supple tannins and a round mid-palate. Concentrated fruit depth balances with freshness, finishing long and silky with lingering spice.

Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherry glaze, roast lamb, or beef bourguignon. Mushroom risotto, charcuterie, or truffle pasta. Comté, aged Gouda, or Saint-Nectaire.

Verdict
A classic Right Bank profile: generous Merlot fruit framed by Cabernet Franc finesse. Traditional, powerful, and approachable, drinking beautifully now but with the structure to evolve gracefully for another 8–10 years.

Did You Know?
Lalande de Pomerol, though often overshadowed by its famous neighbor Pomerol, offers exceptional value. Many estates here share the same terroir characteristics, producing wines of impressive depth at a fraction of Pomerol’s price tag.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This bottle delivers Right Bank soul without the Pomerol price, rich yet refined, and an excellent “insider’s pick” for Bordeaux lovers. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

Fresh for 10 years. Plenty of tannins. Hint black olives, dark fruit, blueberry, faint touch of pepper. Needs at least 60 min of air. — a year ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

A high quality price ratio wine! Very approachable with soft tannins, dark fruit and sundry oak influences that make for a nice wine. This bottle cost less than $30!! — 5 months ago

Daniele Cuzin

9.0

Had the 2022 vintage in January 2026.
Maybe too young but appreciated. — 5 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.7

Drinking even more beautifully than 18 months ago. Beautiful nose, big fruits, and that whole cigar leaf thing going on, with hints of chocolate. But the reward here is the generously long finish. Wow! — 5 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

After 10 years in the bottle, a decidedly savory second wine from this storied Second Growth château. Meaty, almost Northern Rhône character after uncorking. After a day in wine fridge the charcuterie notes ease a bit, blackberry, stewed cassis start to edge forward, classic #pauillac graphite and mineral notes that carry through on palate. Lovely tension on the palate and persistent fine tannins through the finish. — 6 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

For me, this is perfectly aged. Still some nice fruit, but loads of clay-like minerality and cedar in the nose. Soft and palate-coating but with nice balance, the tannins are still present but are not obtrusive. Really long, clingy finish. Really fine. — 8 months ago

Daniel Jara

9.5

Vinazo ! Mi nuevo preferido, silky and smooth, redondo, taninos presentes , complejo — 9 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.1

Beautiful left bank BDX. ‘19 vintage at a nice stage now, opens up quickly. Classic earthy tones on the nose. Nice structure and layers of fruit. Delicious. Perfect with burgundy Tri tip BBQ for Easter. — a year ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

8.9

85M 15CF
Clay and gravel nxt to Pomerol.
Very perfumed with artisanal freely expression. Little sweaty. Closing serious and slightly harsh. — a year ago