Page 7 - Wine Journal
Pichon Comtesse de Lalande scales a new height
Her name was Virginie de Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. She was one of the Médoc’s most illustrious characters of the 19th century. Her namesake wine is Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (AOC: Pauillac), commonly referred to as "Pichon Lalande". Its peers in Pauillac appellation include such luminous names as Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour, and Pichon Baron.
It is considered a Super Second, wines classified in 1855 as Second Growths but can stand up to the quality of First Growths nowadays. On the ground, a visitor to Pichon Lalande cannot fail to notice its other half (Pichon Baron) across D-2, the dirt road that cuts through legendary wine estates in Médoc. (Background: Complex French laws on inheritance make the split of family estate among siblings a compulsory affair). Pichon Baron ended up with more land, Pichon Lalande ended up with a one-of-a-kind next
"History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes." Heard of that one before? The wine world is likely seeing its illustration in Château Palmer 2018, which was released earlier today. "Sold out" is the universal response from our friends in Bordeaux to anyone inquiring about availability. It is often followed by another Q&A: "Alter Ego? None was produced". If that sounds like inside baseball, allow me to elaborate.
Friends who know me also know that I am a big fan of Château Margaux - one of the iconic First Growth names that I do not hesitate to purchase nowadays. However, have you heard of Neal Martin's description of Château Margaux 1961 before: "Destined to forever be in the shadow of the impeccable 1961 Palmer, the 1961 Château Margaux remains an attractive wine, if not one that reached its full potential." (Rated 86 by RP initially, revised to 89 by Neal Martin in 2016). On Château Palmer 1961, on the other hand, Neal Martin wrote: "The bouquet is difficult to capture
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Château Pontet-Canet 2019Special Price $124.85 Average US Price $141.00 -
La Dame de Montrose 2019Special Price $38.85 Average US Price $56.00 -
