Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2008

2008 Pichon Lalande 

97 ANTONIO GALLONI: "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." 

18 RENÈ GABRIEL´S BX TOTAL: "Fruchtiges, duftiges, verschlossenes Bouquet, rote und blaue Beeren, Brombeeren, schwarze Kirschen, Röstaromen, Schokolade. Ausgewogener, voller, feingliedriger, frischer Gaumen mit feiner Frucht, gutem Tannin, kräftiger, süsser Aromatik, langer, voller Abgang. 18/20 2015 - 2034" - A. Kunz. 

94 THE WINEADVOCATE: "Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Pichon Lalande 2008 is backward on the nose: tightly coiled blackberry, raspberry, cedar and mint: classic Pauillac fruit profile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very well knit, a little softer and more forward but very composed with a pure, velvety finish. This is a beautiful, filigree Pauillac that should repay extended cellaring. Tasted January 2012." 

94 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Truffle, cigar box, black cherry and smoked meat aromatics are available right out of the box. The wine is polished, sensuous, rich, fresh and juicy. There is plenty of fruit on the back end, with lots of crisp freshness that just keeps on going, finishing with a hint to the red berry and spicy side of the style range." 

93-95 WINE ENTHUSIAST: "93-95 Barrel sample. A solid, almost chunky wine, but well balanced, the tannins fine and tight. The overall effect is of a wine that is warm and ripe, but there is also a tension there."