2000 Château Pichon Longueville Comtésse de Lalande
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Tasting notes
A knockout wine that competed for the bottle of the tasting. At 24 years old the tannins still place you firmly in Pauillac, as do the lush cassis and grilled blueberry fruits, and the layers of liqourice root, cigar, campfire, and sandalwood. 50% new oak. Harvest September 21 to October 9. Owned in 2000 by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, who had been in place since 1978 and remains at 98 years old one of the great figures of Bordeaux. Thomas Doh Chi Nam was technical director, as he was from 1992 through to 2011. It's been three years since I last tasted this vintage, and it's even better than it was then, really a wine to celebrate.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2000 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a strong minty bouquet that perhaps slightly overwhelms the terroir expression. I believe this comes from a high proportion of Petit Verdot (14%) that would have probably been eschewed nowadays. The palate is medium-bodied with intense black plummy fruit mixed with graphite and sage. This is a muscular though enjoyable Pichon, dense and almost brawny toward the finish, but what is missing is a sense of elegance and precision. Just a touch of greenness shows on the finish (in a positive way). A forceful Pauillac that will benefit from decanting.
I am loving the 2000 vintage in Pauillac at the moment, as it has finally, finally started to soften and open up. This is an excellent example of what you will find if you open the top Pauillacs from this vintage right now; blackberry, cassis, spiced cedar and liqourice notes that you expect from the appellation, with tannins that are still burly and ever-present but are now allowing the fruit to make it through. Touches of cigarbox and tobacco also show that things are starting to really soften up. Stubborn for years and it's still a fairly severe tone overall, not the most generous of profiles, but this is excellent and classic Pauillac. 50% new oak. Harvest September 21 to October 9.