1979 Pichon Lalande Bordeaux Red

1979 Pichon Lalande

93 JG

Featured Review

(Château Pichon-Lalande) The 1979 vintage at Pichon-Lalande is a ringing success and this is one of the best vintages from this era for current drinking from the estate. The deep and very refined bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of cassis, black cherries, cigar ash, a touch of chipotle pepper, gravelly soil, smoke, a bit of iron and a topnote of fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is medium-full, pure and focused, with a good core, lovely complexity and grip and a long, poised and meltingly tannic finish. While this wine is more of a proper middleweight in personality, it has superb intensity of flavor and does not want for more muscle. This is one of the very best wines of the vintage in 1979 and another year of Pichon-Lalande that is underrated and offers up particularly good value at auction. (Drink between 2018-2040). John Gilman

Cellar Tracker | 93 JG

Fully mature, this dark ruby-colored wine displays a fragrant nose of cedar, currants, vanillin, and spices. The wine is medium-bodied, with gorgeous levels of rich fruit, adequate acidity, and a long, soft finish. Beautifully balanced, it should continue to drink well for another decade.

Robert Parker | 93 RP

A surprise, showing plenty of ripe and exotic fruit for the vintage. Dark-ruby in color, with ripe plum and earth character. Full-bodied, with a long chocolate, berry finish. Drink now or hold.--Pichon-Lalande vertical.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 1979 vintage is a historical favorite of mine just because a number of pretty wines were made, such as Haut-Brion and Cos d’Estournel, and Bordeaux lovers completely forgot the year. Last night’s bottle was gorgeous still. It was so “clarety” as the British might say. It was fresh and crisp for a red with lots of character on the nose, from lead pencil to berries to spices. It was full-bodied still with firm tannins and a light, refined and delicate finish of currants, and hints of fresh herbs like lemon grass.

James Suckling | 92 JS

The 1979 Pichon-Lalande was born in an era when Michel Delon of Léoville Las-Cases assisted at the property and lent his magic touch. It has a lovely, leafy and autumnal bouquet plus touches of meat juices. Like the 1976, it seems founded on the Merlot rather than the Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a smooth texture, a gentle spiciness evolving with aeration and just missing a little length. I would not leave this too much longer, and it will not improve, but well-kept bottles should still give pleasure. Tasted at the Pichon-Lalande vertical in London.

Vinous Media | 90 VM

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.