Countess of Lalande - Château Pichon Longueville - Pauillac 2005

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2015

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.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe2/9/2015

Mid crimson. Scented and flattering. Some real sweetness on the nose and then acidity insists. Not heavy nor especially dense. Positively tangy! 

La Revue du Vin de France

17 / 20

the10/20/2014

Il évolue plus rapidement que ses illustres voisins et déploie des arômes légèrement lactiques au nez. L'élevage a sans doute été un peu appuyé. Mais le fruit est vigoureux.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Momentan etwas reserviert, feine Geraniolnoten im schwarzbeerigen Bouquet zeigend, etwas Nelkentöne und dunkle Edelhölzer. Im Gaumen fest, kompakt, gibt sich fleischig mit noch verlangenden Reserven. Wird wohl erst in etwa 5 Jahren beginnen. Momentan kann er seine frühere Wertund nicht ganz halten. 2018-2045

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/12/2009

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 château. 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.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Good full red-ruby. Very ripe, musky aromas of black plum, currant, menthol, dark chocolate, mocha and meat; less pristine than the 2006 but rather youthfully subdued today. Then lush and fat but not overly sweet in the mouth, with a nice balance between ripe fruit and harmonious acidity. A full, broad wine that builds slowly and lingers on the back end, which features substantial but ripe, round tannins. Can't quite match the young 2006 for vitality, but this is distinctly more exotic, in the style of the year.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/7/2008

The disappointing 2005 Pichon Lalande reveals a much lighter style than one expects from this estate. However, the new owners, the Louis Roederer/Deutz champagne firm, have recently brought in Hubert de Bouard (from St.-Emilion) as a consultant, and the 2006 appears to be a dramatic improvement over the 2005. For all its greatness, Pichon Lalande previously experienced hiccups in superb vintages, 1990 being a prime example. While good, in the context of the vintage, the 2005 is unimpressive. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this deep ruby-colored effort exhibits a slightly herbaceous nose revealing hints of roasted coffee, cedar wood, cherries, and black currants. Good acidity and elevated tannins give the wine a streamlined, medium-bodied, fresh taste. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2008

Jancis Robinson

16.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe11/21/2007

Not especially intense in colour. Something odd - just slightly underripe on the nose - very odd in 2005! Quite green on the finish. is the proportion of Petit Verdot just a little too high? Certainly this bottle is a little ungainly. Three bottles tasted and I still picked up this green note which I see from reviewing my primeur notes I noticed from barrel too.

La Revue du Vin de France

18.50 / 20

the9/3/2007

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/4/2007

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.

La Revue du Vin de France

the6/1/2006

Les grands merlots qui donnent tant de charme à Pichon Comtesse sont un peu en retrait. Le vin est campé sur ses cabernets qui lui donnent beaucoup d'élégance avec une petite dureté tannique qui devrait s'effacer devant la belle matière.

Le Point

18-18,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/11/2006

Violette, réglisse, menthe, tanins très soyeux, doux, long en bouche, frais, très doux, solide et ténu à la fois, vin d'une grande délicatesse. 2015

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/8/2006

Grenat foncé. Premier bouquet floral intense, une structure bien soutenue de Cabernets bien épicés, cassis, mûres, cerises, poires, une texture fine et homogène, au nez des notes de café torréfié, une bouche complexe et de très grand charme. En comparaison des autres grands Pauillac, il mise sur l'élégance et la finesse. 2011-2024

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/1/2006

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.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/1/2006

Good red-ruby color. rasberry, redcurrant, tobacco leaf and flowers on the nose. Red-fruity and refined in the mouth, showing none of the smoke, animal or chocolate qualities I associate with this château. Distinctly delicate and fine, with moderate density and suave, building tannins. A wine of finesse: only time, and elevage will tell if there's enough strength behind it. If there is, this 2005 will merite a score at the high end of my projected range.

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/1/2006

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. Drink 2012-2025

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17.50-17.75 / 20

the4/1/2006

Les derniers millésimes 2003, 2004 et 2005 sont pour moi supérieurs à 2000. Ce cru cultive l'élégance et y rajoute peu à peu une maturité, une étoffe et une densité inconnues jusqu'alors. Si le 2005 vous échappe, ne manquez pas le 2004. Le fruité est superbe. Et la bouche offre une densité comme j'en vois peu sur ce cru. Le vin fond au palais dans un grand équilibre. Riche mais très aérien, il s'achève raffiné et long sur un grain de tanin noble. Un grand succés. Quand ce cru possède une telle proportion de cabernet sauvignon dans son assemblage, c'est le signe d'un très grand millésime. Il y en a 65% dans le 2003 et 75% dans le 1996.

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

the4/1/2006

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 2012-2035.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/28/2006

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. —J.S.