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Ratings & Reviews
Château Bernadotte
Château Bernadotte 2009
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2012
89 Points "This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best wines to yet come from this estate, owned by the proprietors of Pichon Lalande in Pauillac. Juicy, succulent, cedary black currant fruit intermixed with licorice, herbs and spice box are very pure, authoritative and substantial. Dark ruby/purple, medium to full-bodied and delicious, this wine should be drunk over the next 10-15 years. A sleeper."
Wine Journal - Neal Martin - December 19, 2011
90 Points "The Bernadotte 2009 has a slightly subdued bouquet at first, but opens ajar, offering blackberry, cedar and crushed stone. Very fine delineation... The palate is medium-bodied with a subtle, peppery entry and shows good weight on the mid-palate. ...showing very fine purity with a vibrant finish. That bouquet should awake with another 12-18 months, but which time this will be a very fine Bernadotte."
Château Bernadotte 2008 Archived REVIEWS
Château Bernadotte 2003 Archived REVIEWS
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2006
90 Points "...The 2003 possesses a dense plum/purple color, a rich, sumptuous perfume of roasted nuts, cedar, figs, plums, and black currants, medium to full body, silky tannin, low acidity, and a lush, hedonistic, sensual personality. It should drink well for a decade."
Château Pichon-Lalande
Château Pichon-Lalande 2009
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - April 2012
96 Points Cellar Selection "With a structure that runs between acidity and dark smoky tannins, this is a wine with potential opulence. Very rich in character; dense and dark. The black plum flavors are dominant, along with excellent acidity. For the long-term."
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - March 31, 2012
94 Points "Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish. A touch restrained now, but should blossom with cellaring."
JamesSuckling.com - James Suckling - February 15, 2012
96 Points "What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982."
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - February 11, 2012
95 Points Cellar Selection "A seductive wine, deliciously ripe with the softest, juiciest fruit over smoky new wood. The wine shows intense fruit as well as a soft Merlot core. The tannins are beautifully integrated in this ripely sweet wine."
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2012
95 Points "A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years."
Wine Spectator Insider - James Molesworth - January 11, 2012
94 Points "Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish."
Wine Journal - Neal Martin - December 19, 2011
95 Points "Tasted at the château, the Pichon-Lalande 2009 has a taciturn nose that demands coaxing from the glass. The Cabernet Sauvignon that begins to open offering blackberry, graphite, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is defined by its super-fine tannins and wonderful tension, a tangible symmetry that is reminiscent of the 1996. There is citric thread of acidity that lends the 2009 so much vivacity. It is extremely pure with blackberry, cedar and just a touch of pepper, firm grip on the finish and great persistency. This is a Pauillac to be reckoned with."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2008
Neal Martin's Wine Journal - Neal Martin - February 24, 2012
94 Points "The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very well knit, a little softer and more forward but very composed with a pure, velvety finish. This is a beautiful, filigree Pauillac that should repay extended cellaring."
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - April 2011
94 Points "Stylish wine, balanced, intensely elegant. It has freshness and also weight, encased in a structure that is poised, beautifully integrating black currant fruit and chocolate flavors."
eRobertParker.com - Neal Martin - January 2011
96 Points "A modern day classic? I think so, here, the wine transcending the potential it showed in barrel. ... Well integrated oak here, with subtle cedar and graphite scents developing with time. Good definition. The palate has vibrant, animated entry with fiery red-berried fruits, superb acidity and wonderful harmony, cashmere tannins caressing the mouth. It lingers for an extraordinary amount of time on the back palate with real structure and focus. Hints of black pepper sprinkled on the aftertaste. Brilliant."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2008 Archived REVIEWS
JamesSuckling.com - James Suckling - December 20, 2010
90 Points "A spicy red, with plum and currant bush character. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a fruity finish."
Wine Enthusiast Online - Roger Voss - December 31, 2009
93-95 points "A solid, almost chunky wine, but well balanced, the tannins fine and tight. The overall effect is of a wine that is warm and ripe, but there is also a tension there."
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009
94-96 points "Only 38% of the crop made it into the grand vin, and the result is a wine that blows away the 2005. Terrific texture and opulence, forward fruit, sweet tannin, and a lush personality are found in this dense purple-colored 2008 along with copious quantities of sweet berries, roasted coffee, underbrush, black currant, and black cherry fruit. Sensationally pure, textured, and full-bodied, this will be a flamboyant, showy offering in its youth, but it is capable of lasting 20-30 years."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2007 Archived REVIEWS
Wine Spectator - James Suckling - June 08, 2008
88-91 points James Suckling's Top-Scoring 2007 Bordeaux Barrels: "Firm and racy, with very good density for the vintage."
International Wine Cellar - Stephen Tanzer - May 2008
88-90 points "Bright ruby-red. Lively aromas and flavors of cassis, black raspberry, leather, menthol, bitter chocolate, violet and mint. Sweet, fresh and pure, with good intensity and depth of flavor. This spreads out horizontally to coat the palate, finishing with lovely subtle persistence. Very suave, scented wine."
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - April 2008
92-94 points "The fruit appears soft, mellow, layered with generosity, with only hints of tannins. The spice from the wood spills over into the rich sweet fruit flavors. To finish, it has vivid blackcurrant acidity."
Neal Martin's Wine Journal - Neal Martin - April 2008
90-92+ points "A bright purple colour. The nose is rather compact, slightly lean with notes of blackberry, Morello, smoke and a stalky element. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins more noticeable compared to previous vintages, with blackberry, earth, graphite and a touch of iodine. The finish has a little more weight, but like other Pauillacs it is rather mean on the finish at first, although with time in glass it gains more cohesion and reveals some fine tannins and great purity of fruit. A delicate peppery quality towards the finish. I have a feeling this could turn around and surprise me because the longer it stays in the glass, the better it becomes."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2006 Archived REVIEWS
Food & Wine - Ray Isle - October 2009
Benchmark Bordeaux "Pichon-Lalande, with its exotic floral aroma and deep cassis fruit, is definitive Bordeaux. Though the wine is primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, the high proportion of Merlot (roughly 35 percent) in the blend seems to make it velvety even when young."
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - March 2009
94 points "The success of this wine owes as much to Merlot as to Cabernet. The Merlot has created the ripeness and smoothness of the wine. While the Cabernet keeps it firm and closed up, there is a base of rich, sweet fruit here that will show over the next two years."
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2009
95 points "The 2006 Pichon Lalande, which blows away the 2005, represents a return to the velvety-textured, rich, sexy style most readers would associate with Pichon Lalande. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot no Petit Verdot was included in the final blend exhibits a dense purple color as well as abundant aromas of chocolate, coffee, cedar, black currants, and a subtle touch of smoke, a rich, savory, full-bodied mouthfeel, plump, fleshy fruit, and a superb finish. This is a 21st century version of the brilliant 1996."
International Wine Cellar - Stephen Tanzer - May 2008
91-93 points "Bright ruby-red. Subdued but precise aromas of cassis and licorice. Juicy, fine-grained and sophisticated if reserved today. This is actually less opulent and obvious today than the lush, smokier 2006 Reserve de la Comtesse (87-89) but wonderfully broad, sappy and chewy, not to mention dynamic. Really spreads out to coat the palate on the very long finish and leaves the taste buds vibrating. This youthfully reserved wine should be a beauty. "
Château Pichon-Lalande 2005 Archived REVIEWS
International Wine Cellar - Stephen Tanzer - May 2008
90 points "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."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2004 Archived REVIEWS
BusinessWeek - Robert Parker - July 23, 2007
92 Points "It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as scents of cocoa, espresso roast, black cherries, and cassis. Medium- to full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy, this wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for two decades."
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - June 2007
Outstanding, 92 Poin "The 2004 Pichon Lalande is a strong effort for the vintage...it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as scents of cocoa, espresso roast, black cherries, and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy, this classic wine cuts a stylistic persona somewhere between the 1995 and 1996. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades."
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - June 2007
94 points "There is only one question about what is otherwise a magnificent wine—whether the current dominant wood flavors will soften and blend enough. If they do, then the powerful fruit, spice and freshness will all come together in a stellar wine."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Stephen Tanzer - May 2007
90 points "Ruby-red color. Dark plum, graphite, minerals and mint on the nose. Offers a subtle sweetness leavened by lively acidity and nicely framed by a firm tannic spine. A wine of modest flesh but considerable suavity. Very well balanced and persistent, with the mineral notes repeating on the back. Very Pauillac."
Château Pichon-Lalande 2003 Archived REVIEWS
Executive Wine Seminars Blind Tasting - February 06, 2007
91 Points "Medium-deep saturation...Very attractive nose features sappy blackberry and cassis aromas with hints of chocolate, mint, and vanilla ice cream. There’s a smoky, tobacco component as well; this wine has seen new oak....We notice that it keeps getting better in the glass. Very long finish."
Réserve de la Comtesse
Réserve de la Comtesse 2009
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - March 31, 2012
91 Points "Bright and sappy, with kirsch and damson plum notes streaking along, followed by tangy iron and floral notes alongside. There's good zip and cut along the finish, with a lingering mineral edge."
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2012
91 Points "Made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the second wine, the 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse, exhibits notes of forest floor, white chocolate, licorice, black currants and vanillin-infused black cherries. It possesses a sweet, round, generous style given its high glycerin."
Neal Martin's Wine Journal - Neal Martin - December 19, 2011
91 Points "The 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse has an intriguing bouquet with touches of undergrowth and a hint of liquorice underneath those ripe black fruits. The oak sticks out a little at the moment but it will integrate with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of soy on the entry. It fans out nicely across the mid-palate, the Merlot very expressive at the moment with a dash of white pepper towards the cohesive finish. Nice length and posture."
Réserve de la Comtesse 2008
Réserve de la Comtesse 2008 Archived REVIEWS
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - April 2009
88-90 points "The second wine, the 2008 Reserve de la Comtesse, reveals a gorgeous sensuality as well as a seductive, lush, exuberant style. A blend of 49% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this pure, fleshy 2008 is ideal for drinking in its first decade or life."
Réserve de la Comtesse 2007 Archived REVIEWS
Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - April 2008
90-92 points "There is some good density, fine black plum juice, folowed by delicious, fresh Cabernet acidity."
Neal Martin's Wine Journal - Neal Martin - April 2008
88-90 points "There is a touch of greenness on the nose. Well-defined, inviting but not exactly a giving bouquet. A hint of shellfish develops in the glass after just a couple of minutes. The palate is medium-bodied, good fruit concentration and acidity, nice cohesion with good weight towards the finish. Like the Bernadotte, the Merlot content is lending this wine an attractive roundness and although the finish does not have great depth or persistency, it has a caressing texture that is most endearing. This will make find drinking over ten years although I hope the nose evolves more complexity during barrel maturation."
Réserve de la Comtesse 2006 Archived REVIEWS
The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2009
89 points "This beautiful, velvety, seductive effort offers sweet black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with notions of forest floor and roasted herbs. Luscious, fruity, savory, and long, it will provide enjoyment over the next 10-15 years."