Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 1986

The 1986 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a vintage I have tasted several times, including at the château, but this bottle is one of the best I have encountered. It has a vibrant nose of blackberry intermixed with cedar and a light ferrous note, perhaps even a suggestion of paprika as it moves into its secondary phase. Showing plenty of undergrowth, the bouquet coheres beautifully in the glass as subtle clove aromas manifest over time. The palate is fresh and lively with black fruit aplenty and quite strict tannins that lend it an off-dry feel. One of the most saline bottles I can remember, this example displays exquisite delineation and a slightly softer landing than the bottle I tasted several years ago. Outstanding. Tasted at the château.