Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 1982

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "One of the monumental wines of the last century is the 1982 Pichon Lalande. Since bottling, it has flirted with perfection, and was a sprinter out of the gate, which gave rise to questions about how quickly it would begin its decline. However, at age 27, it retains all its glossy, rich, flamboyant cassis fruit, chocolaty, berry jam-like notes, and plenty of earthy, foresty flavors. This is a full-bodied, extravagantly rich Pichon Lalande seemingly devoid of acidity and tannin, but the wine is incredibly well-balanced and pure. It is an amazing effort!"

DECANTER: "Tasting blind, I guessed this was the Latour. Just an incredible, stunning wine that hit me right from the very first moment and held its grip with the most confident of touches. Very much holding its colour and integrity of its fruit, even at this ripe old age. Such intensity on the nose, with blueberry, blackcurrant and spicy mint, this is knock-your-socks-off great. The tannins are among the firmest of the line-up, suggesting many years ahead of it still. You feel the walls of this wine, the flesh of the grapes, the smile of its fruit."

FALSTAFF: "Mittleres glänzendes Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Ockerrand. In der Nase intensives Bukett nach Brombeeren, Cassis, feine Holzwürze, Biskuit und Honig, exotische Gewürze, Zedernholz. Am Gaumen saftig, seidige Textur, stoffiger Körper, überzeugende Extraktsüße, perfekte Balance und Reife, feine Röstaromen, etwas Mokka, ungemein leichtfüßig, dunkle Beeren, süße Zwetschkenfrucht im Nachhall, ein unwiderstehlicher, großer Rotwein."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Polished silk is what this stunner feels like on your palate. There is depth, vibrancy, weight and length, finishing with a boatload of cassis, black cherry, tobacco, cigar box, cedar and olives that keep on going. Fully mature, it´s hard to believe that according to oldtimers, this wine has been that good since it was released!"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Superb wine, as it always has been. Stands up mightily to any first growth. Very sweet with violet topnotes. Gorgeous, with great balance. Forgive the lack of detail; this was wine number whatnot towards the end of a great day in Pauillac and St-Estèphe and the penultimate wine of a wonderful dinner at Pichon Lalande. It did not disappoint."

WEINWISSER: "Frisches, komplexes, erotisches, cremiges Bouquet, Erdbeergelee, Minze, Eukalyptus, Nougat, Lakritze, Schiefer, Rahmcaramel. Cremiger, dichter, fein opulenter Gaumen mit kräftiger, süsser, vielfältiger Aromatik, molliger, eleganter Struktur, feinem Tannin, sehr langer, dichter Abgang mit süssen Rückaromen. 19/20 trinken - 2025" - A.Kunz.