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Pichon Lalande 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Also available in the following mixed case:

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Label

Tasting Notes

The Château Pichon-Lalande 2005 that was so divisive at birth but as I expected right from the beginning, this is maturing into a lovely Pauillac. It offers compelling tobacco and graphite scents on the nose, belying the Merlot content of this blend, reserved at first but opening gloriously in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and well-judged acidity. There is an effortlessness quality about this Pichon-Lalande. 'tis not the most powerful or decadent Pauillac but its is very sophisticated and refined. Drink 2018 - 2045

95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015

The 2005 Pichon Lalande, with its aromatics of cassis, forest floor and earth are followed by a medium-bodied wine that doesn’t have quite the length and richness the aromatics suggest. Nevertheless, it is medium-bodied, elegant, and pure, and a classic example for this château. Drink it now as well as over the next 15 or so years. It is showing better than my earlier notes suggest. Drink: 2015 - 2030

89
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

Beautiful currant, berry and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with tar and berry character, fine tannins and a long finish. I was expecting a little more from this, but it's still outstanding. Best after 2013.

93
James Suckling, Wine Spectator, March 2008

The 2005 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is made from 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it needs a bit of swirling to unlock pretty notes of kirsch, redcurrants, and black raspberries, followed by hints of black olives, tobacco leaf, and crushed rocks. The palate is medium-bodied and elegantly styled, shimmering with youthful black fruits, which are held back by firm, tight-knit tannins and a lively backbone. It finishes long and earthy. There is so much to love here about the style, however the structure remains impenetrable, dominating the delicacy the fruit. If you love tannic styles of great restraint, enjoy this now. Otherwise, hold tight for 5-10 years for the taming of the tannins, at the risk of losing some or most of that fragile fruit.

92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, July 2022

Love the colour of this, deep damson, generous and enticing. The tannins are just astonishingly finessed and generous, chocolate, cedar, cocoa bean, so well constructed, combining depth to the fruit with feather-pillow tannins. Clearly young, decades ahead of it, but this is already confident and enjoyable, effortlessly standing out from this lineup of exceptional wines. It lacks the weight and concentration of the 2009 or 2010 of Comtesse, but it's showing extremely well, and seems to be gaining in power. 50% new oak.

96
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, September 2022

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Fleshier than the average Pauillac 2005 and therefore fun! Though relatively precocious.
Drink 2015-2030

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

A bright ruby colour in the glass, this has a nose of pure blackcurrant and black cherry, with a hint of sweet vanilla and cedar. The palate is vibrant, again dominated by a core of ripe black fruits. There is lift from refreshing acidity and weight from new oak and wood spice. Though this is 2005, the fine-grained tannins have yielded enough into the body of the wine to make this a delicious wine to drink now. The finish is long, fine and well balanced, with hints of floral notes and wood smoke.

94
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, December 2015

Deep colour, full and fleshy, really seductive, some leafiness, but full of florality and exotic spices, a superbly smooth wine with more power than is evident now. Drink 2012-35.

18.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2006

Quite austere, firm Cabernet Sauvignon nose. Fresh with bright fruit.Not very plump but medium weight and balanced. Drink from 2012. Awarded 3 stars

15.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008

Came 35th out of 184 wines

16.87
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009

"Very deep, velvety, very good legs, distinctive fruit. Very delicious. I loved it!"

Michael Broadbent, April 2006
Read more tasting notes...

This estate has been sold to the Louis Roederer/Deutz champagne firm, but it appears the winemaking team will largely remain intact. Only 50% of the production made it into the 2005, a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. While not in the same league as Pichon Lalande’s greatest efforts (2003, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1986, 1983, and 1982), it is a lighter-styled, more linear, slightly herbaceous yet impeccably elegant wine offering notes of cedar, black currants, and plums. Medium-bodied and fresh, with moderately high tannin, it seems to be an improved version of the estate’s 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

88/90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Only 50% of the production made it into this blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The Merlot harvest began on September 20, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was brought in in early October. Deep ruby-hued with purple highlights, the lighter-styled 2005 Pichon-Lalande (reminiscent of Pinot Noir) is a racy, elegant, finesse-filled Pauillac without the power, flesh, and substance of previous vintages. Its delicacy and vibrancy have resulted in a singularly styled effort for this impeccably run estate. I would not be surprised to see the 2005 put on more weight after 4-5 years of bottle age; it should keep for two decades.

89/91+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Tasted at the château as part of a private vertical. The 2005 Pichon-Lalande was always a tricky wine to pin down but it is rapidly turning into a very impressive wine. The colour is still youthful, whilst the nose is very well defined with blackberry, raspberry, cassis and iodine fruit that expands in the glass, but remains a little tight-lipped like many 2005s at this stage. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, a superb bead of acidity, precise black fruit interlaced with fig and dates. There is a gentle grip on the finish but it still seems a little closed. Cellar this for another 4 or 5 years. Tasted March 2014.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, September 2014

Tasted blind in a peer-group tasting, the Pichon-Lalande showed a ripe plumy nose with blackberry and raspberry, not quite as defined as the sample poured at the chateau. With time in glass there are scents of cedar wood, a touch of Xmas cake and cassis, all the time gaining vivacity in the glass. The palate is very ripe, beautifully defined with excellent balance. Finesse here, a well-bred Pauillac with a bright, cedar-infused finish that will hopefully just put on a little more weight. Excellent. Drink 2010-2035. Tasted January 2009.

95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, July 2009
93
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Love the aromas here of currants, licorice, exotic fruit, and berries. Complex. Full and silky, with gorgeous tannins. This is really long and reserved. Very close to 95-100. I will see in bottle.

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Dark crimson - this wine really glows with health. Sweet, chocolatey and rich but with enough life and freshness to make a great whole. Only just broachable. Very promising.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, August 2015

Mid crimson. Scented and flattering. Some real sweetness on the nose and then acidity insists. Not heavy nor especially dense. Positively tangy! 13%
Drink 2018-2040

17-
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Not the most intense crimson. A little austere on the nose. Then quite opulent and red fruit candy flavours on the palate. Not the noblest 2005 Pauillac. Rather raw and simple. Hint of green. Drink 2012-2018. Date tasted 18th Feb 09.

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, July 2009

Very dark crimson. Broad and opulent on the nose - scented. Fresh and relatively simple. A little green note? Neat and compact but not as dense as some. Certainly a ripe vintage with dry tannins and representative of 2005, but correct rather than a wow wine. Very competent and well balanced. Finishes quite suddenly. (I tasted the 2004 alongside and was most impressed by its vivacity and depth. It could be even better than the 2005!) More obvious sweetness than the 2004. Drink 2012-25

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.