Conrad Green

9.4

Bright and pretty. Some sour cherry notes. Fragrant and quite delicate compared to the other 61’s alongside — 2 months ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Mike Saviage

9.9

Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 4 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

medium ruby; spiced plums, leather, beef blood, cracked pepper, smoke; juicy red and black fruits; 15.1% ABV; blend of 61% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 4% Mourvèdre, 1st lot of the non-vintage blend; good value for Bien Nacido fruit at $32 — 6 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Sometimes dismissed as Burgundy’s lowliest category, Passetoutgrains - which loosely translates to “all grapes allowed”- is a type of field blend made with at least one-third Pinot Noir and no more than two-thirds Gamay, traditionally planted and fermented together. In a territory prime for Pinot Noir, where this grape often reaches astronomical prices, however, Gamay is however gradually being pullet out, making Passetoutgrains an increasingly rare find. This juicy, quaffable blend is two-thirds Gamay from Gilly-les-Citeaux and one-third Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny. — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Pichon Lalande is my favorite 2nd growth with a steak. Yup...it's #SteakandClaret night to quote my buddy Gary Westby. Further, it's certainly one of my favorite producers period. I've waited for this wine to be in the bottle for 10 years before finding out definitely how good it was or wasn't. You see, the 05 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional. It's drinking right now better than 00. 00 may turn out to be better, but not for some time. The real issue was the division of scores between RP & NM. Parker had this as low as an 86 and now has it at 89. Neil Martin has been consistently at 95-96. I found it simply inexplicable that Pichon Lalande could have bombed in such a great vintage. Tonight, I know they didn't. This wine is beautiful. Although, I don't believe it will cellar as long as their some of their very best vintages and many others I've enjoyed. On the nose, bramble, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries, graphite, baking spices, cedar, lightly perfumed violets and dark, fresh & dry red flowers. The body is medium-medium plus, tannins nicely resolved with 10 years to be completely resolved. Fruits of; ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries and pomegranate with a whiff of spice. There's notes of dry bramble, soft leather, fresh violets, graphite, cedar, dry stones, dark rich earth, limestone, tobacco, spice-box, vanilla, very light cinnamon & nutmeg. The finish is very long, elegant, ripe, round, smooth, good acidity and beautifully elegant...50-50 earth & fruit. I bought more bottles of this at $85 after it's was first released in futures and I do not regret it. $85 is proving to be a steal for this wine when it normally sells for between $100-$150 a bottle and higher. Might heavy up further after tonight if I find more around the same price. Oh yes...I'm with NM on the scoring. Photos of the Chateau, estate vines, newer tasting room & the Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. Forgive my long post, but my passion and love for this producer is profound. Producer history and notes...as I wrote in an earlier post for Pichon Baron, Pichon Baron and Lalande started as one entity. The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande was the creation of Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of the top Bordeaux estates today. Pichon Lalande was given its name when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women, Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. His three daughters received Pichon Lalande and his sons Pichon Baron. What happened next was Virginie, the wife of the Count of Lalande took over the management of the estate under the name of Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 she commissioned the popular, architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande, located in Bordeaux. Without heirs, Pichon Lalande passed down from aunts to nieces. Following World War I, the Miailhe brothers, bought Pichon Lalande in 1925. They were the ones who planted even more Merlot. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, the daughter of Edouard Miailhe became the new owner and general manager of Chateau Pichon Lalande in 1978. She expand the size of Chateau Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares to it's current 89 hectares. Chateau Pichon Lalande remained in the same family for more than 250 years! In fact, over three centuries, only two families have owned Pichon Lalande. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing sold Pichon Lalande to the owners of Roederer Champagnein in January 2007. This family-run company is managed by Frederic Rouzaud who owned several other wine estates in Bordeaux; Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau de Pez, Haut Beausejour and Chateau Reaut la Graviere. He sold Chateau Bernadotte in December 2012. In February, 2011, Sylvie Cazes was named the director of Chateau Pichon Lalande. She replaced Gildas d’Ollone. Sylvie Cazes was replaced in 2012 by current Director Nicolas Glumineau, who was previously at Chateau Montrose. In 2012, Pichon Lalande renovated the estate with a budget estimated at over 15 Million Euros. The new facilities included; building of a new underground barrel aging cellar and several new buildings...one that houses their new tasting room as shown. This renovation provided numerous improvements in their wine making. Most importantly, in the vinification. They created a new, triple tiered, cellar where everything moves by gravity. They also added numerous new, stainless steel, temperature controlled, double skinned vats. These new vats allow Pichon Lalande to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis as well as get much softer & gentle extractions. The 89 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Lalande is located adjacent to Chateau Latour and and across the road from Pichon Baron. The terroir of Chateau Pichon Lalande is deep gravel with clay and limestone soil and is planted to; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. — 9 years ago

Carter Snead

9.1

Twins’ bday!! — 4 months ago

Riccardo Arrigoni

8.9

Bevuto 2022 sboccatura ottobre 2021. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Blend of 61% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc & 1% Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black raspberry & blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, cacao and smoky oak notes. Fine polished tannins, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, just starting to drink well but will last for the next decade+. Tasting Sample! — 5 years ago

Ashley McNaughton

9.5

61% cab, 31% petite sirah, 5% merlot, 3% Malbec red blend, dry, flavorful, top of my list of wines I have had recently
It’s their anniversary wine so I don’t know what’s comparable on the shelf right now — 6 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2012 Vintage. 61% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 4% Cinsaut. Very nice but somewhat less than the 2013 Sans Liege Offering. The latter had more Grenache, but the perfume from 1% Viognier likely won us over. — 7 years ago

Steve Pollack

9.2

solid, a little sweet, not as cloying as 61 Kopke, elegant — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

My last bottle. Savored on an awful day; being and feeling alone. It’s funny how saving something for a “special” occasion can offer a different idea of the meaning of the word. October 19, 1987 was both my birthday and the stock market crash. Such a juxtaposition as like today with 89 Lynch Bages. Tomorrow might be 2000 Chateau Palmer. Happiness = Reality - Expectation. I’m in negative territory. — 8 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2020 vintage. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and equal parts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Basile Tesseron has done a great job at this Cru Classé and this 2020 is the best I have ever tasted. Blackberries, cassis and flowers. Juicy and focused, with lots of charm in a solid ripe tannic structure. Lovely finish with retronasal black fruit and minerality.Abv. 13,5%. As the estate was bought by the Lorenzetti family (Pédesclaux) I expect the quality to rise further in the future, so this is definitely an estate to watch. — 4 years ago

Mario Martínez Colino

9.0

61 DORADO EN RAMA. Espectacular solera de verdejo y palomino. Todo un trampantojo Cádiz-Rueda. El vino de la corte de los Reyes Católicos, por 25€ se puede beber un poco de historia. — 5 years ago

Michael Fagin

9.1

Very good. Sugar just right — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Foyt Family Wines Sonoma County No. 61 Pinot Noir 2016, California


Ruby in color medium-plus intensity and the wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of bing cherries, earth, strawberries, spices, vegetables, barnyard, light alcohol, black pepper and licorice.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with bing cherries, red candy, light wood, earth, strawberries, light vegetables, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This is a nice and easy drinking Pinot Noir from Sonoma County. Well balanced with a nice tang and a spicy finish. Showing mild complexity and a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself. A nice wine to sip on by the pool. Very tasty and a good quality wine.

I gave it a light chill and paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$40. — 6 years ago

David Wanek

9.8

Both still really good. ‘61 is maybe best wine I’ve ever had. ‘55 still hanging in there. More intellectual and less fruit. — 7 years ago

Steve Martinelli

9.2

Light and refreshing with nice strawberry, cherry and bread flavors. Delicate mousse. I am a big fan of Franciacorta Sparkling wine and this delivers. — 9 years ago

Barb Anderson

9.0

Perfumed brightness, tangy red fruit and a rich lingering finish. — 9 years ago