Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 2008

Super-ripe black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice make a strong opening statement in the 2008 Pichon Lalande. The late harvest that year yielded a decidedly super-ripe, exotic Pichon Lalande with captivating inner sweetness and gorgeous textural finesse. Naturally, the 2008 is young. Very young. Even so, it is stunning. Readers looking for an under-the-radar vintage to cellar of Pichon Lalande will find tremendous satisfaction and pure pleasure in the 2008. An Indian summer saved what had up until that time been a rainy and not especially promising vintage.

This displays real elegance without sacrificing power and impact. Flavours of damson, liquorice, charcoal and tobacco are layered, sexy and polished. I'm not going too far when I say that I love this. You can start drinking it soon, but it will stay on this current plateau for a good while.

A tight and tangy red with currant, spice and dried mushroom character. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. This needs time to open. Decant two hours or wait until 2020.

The 2008 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has an expressive, open bouquet that is more forward than I would have expected (indeed, there was more degradation on the rim than you would expect.) The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit laced with cedar and sea salt. I like the harmony and the fleshiness imparted by the Merlot towards the finish, although I expect Pichon Baron represents the longer-term prospect. This is more enjoyable than cerebral. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

The 2008 is a beauty in the style of the 1988. Although not performing as well as I predicted last year, it is unquestionably an outstanding effort as well as one of the better values from Pichon Lalande in many years. Its dense plum/purple hue is accompanied by sweet aromas of red and black currants, charcoal, herbs, underbrush and a hint of truffles. This medium-bodied, rich, concentrated blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc is an elegant, supple Pichon Lalande that can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.

Deep red. Lively aromas of cherry, redcurrant, flowers, chocolate and tobacco. Intensely flavored, suave and sweet, with ripe acidity framing the flavors of bitter cherry, licorice and loam. Finishes with broad, building tannins and lingering smoky oak. This vibrant Pichon Lalande is built to age.

(63% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 5% petit verdot; 13% alcohol; 42 hl/ha; 50% new oak) Opaque ruby-purple. Lovely violety nose offers hints of orange peel, minerals and dried herbs. Somewhat more fleshy and dense than recent vintages, with moderate depth to the raspberry and redcurrant flavors, but turns a little austere on the long finish. Will this develop the generosity to merit an outstanding rating?