Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Spectacular bottle — a month ago

Lawrence Bernstein

9.3

2/26 - amazing qualities all around. A fruit driven wine with lots or red plum and darker blackberry notes. Nice cedar and tobacco notes. Firm tanins. Outstanding mouthfeel. Soft finish. 93 — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2018 vintage. Last tasted 04.08.23 (9.5), 12.01.22 from a 375ml (9.5) and upon release 06.07.21 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after 45 minutes. Mysterious, dark-fruited and dusty nose. Medium body with excellent darkness of night color. Previous baby-fat overtures approximately 90% gonzo. Slimming down and getting more toned. In a state of transition with undeniable tension that can easily be misconstrued as underperforming. Last wine I tasted that was under this sort of metamorphosis at this level was the 1996 Pichon-Lalande about 1.5 years ago. Such a privilege to experience world-class wines in such a vulnerable moment. Everything is laid out bare/naked before you and you can see where the wine is headed and whether it will be following a trajectory that agrees with you. Definitely unusual to find this occurring in a wine this youthful but the 21st Century is smashing the old 20th Century clay tablets and digitizing. For most wine enthusiasts sampling this wine now, expecting some disappointment in the scoring. For myself, this is currently in the perfect symmetry of past, present and future. Will it show critically better in the future according to the accepted trials, palates, judges and juries? Probably. Will they experience the potential, doubts, insecurities and questions? Doubtful. This kid stays in this exact picture for another 2-4 years imho before striking another pose and I would love to taste this again during that time frame. An above and beyond thank you to FLB (Friday Lunch Bunch) regular Todd. 08.15.25. — 10 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Nicho punta mita — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.4

@Tom Garland : Well, hmm. Opened alongside a ‘95 Pichon LaLande and this left us scratching our heads.

Tried a glass at pop…uber locked up. Revisited after an hour in the decanter…improved. After two hours, it finally came alive. Needing some oxygen, this became a beautiful display of potpurri and dark floral notes…so perfumed. It fleshed out to show a sweeter espresso, dark cocoa, and ripe black fruit aromatically. Elegant and refined on the palate, with red and black berry fruit, spice, mineral/graphite and a savory truffle flair. Fine yet undeniable tannin at the finish. Undoubtedly still young, to my surprise. This may need another 5-7yrs to really get going, but I’m honestly not sure. From the few Maya wines I’ve had (including the ‘11 not too long ago), I expected fireworks. Odd. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

I had a few members of the Tasting Group crew join me in a sort of, "help me drink down my cellar" gathering. Everyone had an opportunity to dig through the cellar and select a bottle of their choosing; the identity of the wine was kept from everyone else and then presented double-blind though, since the bottles were being pulled from my cellar, it wasn't a true double-blind situation for me. This was poured into a decanter and served within two hours of opening. The wine poured a deep ruby color, slightly turbid with a nearly opaque core. On the nose, the wine bursting with dark-over-red fruits; black currants and black cherry along with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, coffee, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine was dry and the structure was, overall, quite firm. The fruit set was confirmed and while the wine came across as vinous and fully mature, there was a rather remarkable freshness about it...and almost ageless quality. The tannins and acid were so refreshing. And then there was the texture which, I have to say, was quite noble. It was really hard for me to get away from the Left Bank in Bordeaux, from a great, warmer vintage. The question was: St. Julien or Pauliiac. I called 2000 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. I don't hate my call. This was a banger and going back to my notes, I really liked it back then too! It's worth mentioning that the Stelvin enclosure is the real deal folks. This has aged beautifully and has years and years to go. I wish I had more. Alas, this was my last bottle. — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

This was great but not same level as prior bottles. Perhaps a slightly off cork ? Medium dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil and balsam with hints of cedar. Ever so slightly reticent tannins but overall great length and good complexity. Great now, but no rush. — a month ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Jack Tan

8.9

Birthday. Great buy. Mellow and great finish. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1986 vintage. 5 bottles tasted for a 1986 vintage BDX dinner @ Mister A's-San Diego. This was up against other 1986's Pichon-Lalande, Beychevelle, Gruaud-Larose, Montrose and Cos. Double decanted and tasted over 5 hours. Respectable sed. Effin pop and pour now. Right right now. The clear winner. So good with balance and enough fruit without having to reach or rationalize. If you're not able to access for 7-10 years, you should be okay. Delicious. 3.14.24. — 2 years ago

Mike Evans

9.5

At peak and stunning, cassis with a bit of bell pepper and an elegance reminiscent of Pichon Lalande. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Red and black fruited perfume - Left Bank Bordeaux aromas and flavours. On the palate quite plush yet restrained and not as full bodied as I was hoping for. 2011 was a difficult wet vintage in many parts of Australia. I wonder if it was the same in NZ? Bob Campbell MW said 2011 was “moderately challenging “. in NZ. Nevertheless a polished wine. Postscript: I notice that Jancis compared the Sophia as a “generous antipodean answer to Pichon Lalande “ for the 2013 vintage of Sophia. — 3 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Yves vatelot killed the 01 vintage. 00-01 are, I think his most amazing wines. This one is standing tall even out of half bottle. It’s insane how much money he invested in these vintages vs what they cost. Really remarkable stuff that plays with all the big boys. In 2008 he put this up against 01 pichon lalande and 01 latour at dinner. Blind, this was right there with the big boys. Insane! — 5 years ago

Doug Powers

9.4

Another fresh and lively ‘86 Bordeaux, pencil lead, dark fruits, still pretty youthful and vibrant, great balancing acidity, solid structure, long finish, just a tad more power than the more elegant ‘86 Pichon Lalande from last night!! — 5 years ago

with Jim

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Papa cumple 2.5 lts — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. Excellent cork and fill. Decanted with minimal sed and tasted after 1.5 hours. One of the few outlier exceptions (Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pichon-Lalande, et al) that proves the general, big and bold, Pauillac rule. Delicate impressions from start to finish with impeccable balance. Medium body. Plenty of flavors and sensations without big, overt commitments to any of them. Playing the field and we are all the better for it. Drinking beautifully now without any perceived or obvious Scylla/Charybdis pitfalls in the next decade. 01.16.26. — 5 months ago

Mike Evans

9.5

The 1984 Hess Collection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was revelatory, with a pleasant amount of bell pepper and leather joining ample black currant fruit, no one guessing its age was within 20 years. It reminded me of well-aged Pichon Lalande. I’ve had a number of magical California Cabernets from the 1980s and this joins the list. Oh, and it was listed as 12.5% alcohol, which I believe. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2020 vintage. Supposedly from the same winemaker as Pichon-Lalande. Big. Some chunkiness. Some refined qualities. Decent thrust and balance. Value play without any specific, remarkable, go-to quality. 3.6.24. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1989 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Expected sed. Nice fill and one of the better corks I've seen in the last few years on a 1989 BDX. This is, by far, the oldest CLG I’ve had. The first few years are always filled with tons of fruit, richness, a rounded mouthfeel and very supple. This was tasting more like an 80’s vintage of Pichon-Lalande with the feminine characteristics except for a little beefiness around the 1.25 hours, post-decant, mark. Consistently delicious throughout the 2 hour experience. Not improving and semi-delicate but seems like it’s got 3-5 years left in this room before strolling into another. 12.15.23. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Legendary cabernet tasting with Jay Fletcher, MS.

2017 Heitz Cellar
2016 Yalumba, the Caley, Australia
2016 Beaulieu Vineyard clone 6, Rutherford
2009 Catena Zapata, Argentina
2018 Gaja. Darmagi. Piedmont
2013 Penfolds bin 707, Australia
2014 Chateau Pape Clement, Bordeaux
2015 Rampola, vigna D'alceo. Tuscany
2013 Duckhorn, the discussion, Napa
2017 Chateau pichon lalande, Bordeaux

The Penfolds and the Beaulieu clone 6 were the BOM! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James