![]() ![]() The 1990 can be drunk now as well as over the next 25+ years. Ideally, readers should have both vintages in their cellars. It is far more fun to taste and drink (more hedonistic perhaps?) than the more structured, backward, yet exceptional 1989. On the palate, the wine offers sensational quantities of jammy fruit, glycerin, wood, and sweet tannin. It is equally concentrated, with a more evolved nose of cedar, black fruits, earth, minerals, and spices. The wine is opulent and flamboyant, with lower acidity, and noticeably less tannin than the 1989. AXA, the French insurance giant, bought Pichon Baron in 1987 and asked Cazes to manage it. Only three 1989 Bordeauxs surpass Pichon Baron, all first-growths that cost at least twice as much. The 1990 Pichon-Longueville-Baron exhibits more of the roasted overripeness of this vintage, but it manages to keep everything in perspective. By the 1989 vintage, the château was hitting on all cylinders. Both the 19 vintages exhibit opaque, dense purple colors that suggest massive wines of considerable extraction and richness. I originally gave a one point preference to the 1989, and I am still convinced that ultimately that wine will last longer and hit a higher peak of pleasure than the 1990, but, wow, the 1990 is showing great. Until 3-4 months ago, the wine could have been purchased for under $400 a case, but that seems to have changed as the results of numerous tastings have pushed the price upward. Great value."One of the finest values in top-class Bordeaux has been the 1990 Pichon-Longueville-Baron. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and backward during its youth. Pichon Lalande has outperformed with each of the 9 vintages I’ve tried and oftentimes these drink like the First Growths. 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note 128579 Views When to Drink Chateau Pichon Baron, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time Chateau Pichon Baron is not a wine to drink on the young side. Though not nearly an inexpensive bottle of wine, if you can verify provenance and find a bottle with a great fill level, I would give this a shot. Price: $300 (but this was shared by a good friend). Beautifully balanced and not showing any signs of its age yet. This is medium-bodied with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish. Meanwhile on the palate, I get notes of redcurrant, cassis, blackberry, black cherry, cigar box, scorched earth, green underbrush, bell pepper, gravel, and clove. We served this as a pop and pour and let it develop in the glass, with the nose showcasing aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, pencil shavings, tobacco, forest floor, cedar, graphite, green pepper, and eucalyptus. There’s absolutely no bricking either, which is fantastic. The 1989 Pichon Lalande is translucent deep ruby in color with deep garnet hues. Today’s Wine: 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de LalandeĤ5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot 12.5% ABV In 2007, however, May-Eliane sold a majority stake of the estate to the Rouzaud family, owners of Roederer Champagne, and management changes as well as renovations took place. One of her major endeavors, and possibly most famous, was growing the size of Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares of vines to 89. 209. Edouard’s daughter, May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, took over management in 1978 and became a prominent ambassador for Bordeaux wines while dramatically increasing quality of her estate. With no familial heirs, Edouard Miailhe and Louis Miailhe purchased Pichon Lalande following WWI. In 1850, with his death, the estate split between his two sons and three daughters and ultimately resulted in the division of Comtesse de Lalande and Pichon Baron. During the 18th century, the estate was dominated by women (Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus, and Marie Branda de Terrefort) throughout the winemaking process until Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville took over for his mother. With nothing short of a somewhat tumultuous history, Pichon Lalande’s ownership changed hands over the years and earned its name when the founder’s daughter Therese received it as a dowry for her marriage to Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande is considered by many to be a classic example of Pauillac, known for its deep, concentrated layers of ripe fruit accompanied by notes of cassis, tobacco, and earth. Though I’ve tasted a number of other vintages including 1979, 1996, 2005, and 2014, the 1989 vintage remained elusive…until today.Ĭhâteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru) estate based on the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. I previously (and somewhat recently) wrote about Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and have reviewed the 1966, 1986, 2003, and 2008 vintages on this blog. Today’s Story: Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande ![]()
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