Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Fresh bottle, just opened. Pop & pour.

I have 09 & 10 of this second wine of Pichon Longueville. I just haven’t considering opening one yet.

As 2010 is a big vintage, I choice to pair this with the cheeseboard but writing notes before digging in. Something to soften the tannins of what I consider to be a brawny vintage that needs time. Cheese pairing is often chosen to pair with young, big reds as it coats the palate and softens the impact of big, brawny tannins.

This is quite nice, showing the quality of the vintage, yet being a second wine, you can open one now for what otherwise is a long age vintage for first wines.

The nose is somewhat expressive & inviting. Dark core of black currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, black cherries, some poached strawberries, hues of purple & blue fruits, anise, charcoal notes, anise, understated black licorice, French roast coffee beans, dark toast, steeped black tea, candied to withering dark flowers with candied violets.

The palate is clean with strangely not a ton of astringency. M+ dry, powdery tannins Ripe & juicy; black currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, black cherries, some poached strawberries, raspberry overtones and hues of purple & blue fruits. Anise, charcoal notes, sweet tarriness, anise, understated black licorice, French espresso roast, dark toast, steeped black tea, oak barrel shavings & powder, dry twigs/leaves, leather, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry herbs, dark earth, dry top soil, nice dark spice, caramel, dark & milk chocolate, mocha powder, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dry stone, withering dark flowers, red roses with slightly candied violets, excellent acidity, it’s balanced but will be better balanced w/ age, structure & tension show the brawn of the vintage, it’s getting to an elegant and polished finish that lasts two-minutes and falls on dry earth, oak and spice.

Showed some tiny, velvety sediment at finish.

This drinks now but I would wait another 3-5 yrs to open and will age nicely for another 10-15 yrs.

Definitely worth picking up if you find Pichon Longueville outside your price point. 92-93. Rounding up today from 91.6.

Cheeseboard is bourique cheeses, served with crackers and accompaniments including grapes, churney, honey, dried fruits and nuts

@EK225 — 9 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Pretty deep ruby with thin violet rim . Quite ripe and generously fruited , blackberry , dark cherry , touches of cocoa , toasty oak. On the palate this has more of the ripe dark fruits of the nose , blackberry , cassis , dark cherry with but with some spicy notes along with some grafite and toasty hints . Quite ripe but noticeable grippy tannins , and balanced acidity . Alcohol also appears well intergrated, though there is a roundness to this. Quite user friendly for Latour (remember though , this is the 3rd wine!) but that means that the 2019 is actually enjoyable to drink now but will probably repay aging over the next 5-10 years . Not particularly complex but well made and well balanced especially given the 14% alcohol . I don’t think that tasted blind this could be anything other than the Medoc, the more modern , warmer Medoc than 20 -30 years ago of course . The level of many other 2nd wines , though not their Grand Vins. Next day still showing well , a little more grafite and earthiness , cooler dark fruits. Tannins still quite noticable , saline tinged grafite finish. — 17 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep garnet ruby , quite thin garnet terracotta rim . This is quite classic and more austere on the nose after the 1990s , grafite , cedar, sweet spice , earthiness and mint. More dry and four square on the palate compared to the 1990s but enough stuffing to fill out. Cassis , plum and blackberry , coffee , grafite . Refreshing acidity , slightly grippy drier tannin. Sous bois , grafite , herbal character with good length and earthy cassis finish . This got better with time in the glass and probably should have been decanted . This shows there is some upside , from now , with time in the glass, and over the next 10 years. The wine that improved the most during the dinner , quite impressive . — a day ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The most showy bottle I’ve had of this wine, 95 Mouton is in a terrific place, and an absolute classic, with Paulliac power and concentration, fine grained tannins and hugely persistent finish. Fantastic with the legendary EMP duck! — 6 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee and chocolates.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5 year old, second wine from this Fifth Growth Bordeaux winery is drinking very nicely now.

Well balanced with nice complexity. Spicy, rich and fruit forward.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40. — 18 days ago

Joaquin Martinez

9.0

Incredible wine. Initially there was a lot of minerality and wet stone, and it was a smooth wine with silk tannins and tight fruit but as it decanted, it began to open. Fruit began to come to life and the tannins became present and the minerality took a back seat. This in all stages had a long finish. Would be fascinating to try the 2020 of this and more so the 2022 but regardless this wine was quality and will definitely try again — 4 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — a day ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite deep garnet , relatively thin garnet rim . This is quite reserved and cool on the nose , some grafite , tobacco , herbal tinged cassis . On the palate this is quite elegant and with good definition , grafite , cassis and quite fresh acidity gritty tannins . Quite serious and classic in style. Quite good tobacco , grafite tinged finish. Drinking well now but no rush , should show well over the next 5-10 years . A good example of this vintage and a good example of Batailley . — 7 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Gorgeous! Incredibly fresh with youthful vigor and classic Paulliac aromatic layers and a rich and concentrated palate with grippy tannins still! This one calls for a nice juicy steak! — 6 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep opaque core, thin ruby rim. Deep slightly spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , charcoal embers , grafite . On the palate this is quite intense but has good freshness , and ripe but firm , quite dry tannins . Creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , crushed rocks , quite saline and fresh in style , oyster shell and sea breeze hints . Well balanced alcohol and good length grafite , saline tinged finish . This is actually quite enjoyable , though obviously way too young , fresh and detailed with cool fresh dark fruit and grafite nuance. Better in 10 years and will last well a further 10-15 maybe more . Really enjoyed the style and balance of this . — 19 days ago