1 double-magnum per lot
Details
TWO OF THE FINEST VINTAGES FOR PICHON-LONGUEVILLE, LALANDE:
THE PERFECT 1982 AND THE MAGNIFICENT 1996!
The vineyards of Château Pichon Lalande cover a total of 75 hectares at southern extremity of the Pauillac commune, near the township of St. Lambert. Indeed, some of the vineyard is actually located in the commune of Saint Julien and up to 1959, some bottles were labelled as AC Saint-Julien. The soil is Gunzian gravel with a clay subsoil and is planted with a high proportion (35 of Merlot. This lends the wine a more corpulent, sometimes voluptuous texture, lending it more approachability in its younth and imparting more finesse when mature. The remaining cepage is around 45 Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 Cabernet Franc and a notable 12 Petit Verdot. The grapes are handpicked, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel vats at around 330 for 18 to 24 days. The wine is then put into barrel (50 New Oak) for 18 months and racked every 3 months.
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
Château Pichon-Longueville, Lalande--Vintage 1982
Pauillac, 2me cru classé
Levels: lot 75 into neck, slightly damp stained label; lot 76 into neck, damp stained label, slightly raised cork
A Big Wine! Color still holding up well. Lots of intensity and amplitude in the nose though I get the impression that the wine is still tight and could use a few more hours to unveil itself. The proportions of this wine are still colossal. Most impressive and rarely mentioned is its formidible mid-palate. Lots of life in this wine. Vintage characteristics very evident in this stage of evolution. A tremendous Pichon Lalande! Tasted from standard size bottle at Christie's Pre-sale tasting, Nov 21, 2002 ST
"I have had this wine a half-dozen times over the last eleven months, and have rated it either 98, 99, or 100 on every occasion. It is a fully mature, sumptuous, gloriously perfumed, luxuriously rich Pauillac the likes of which are rarely encountered. The color is a dark plum/ruby with amber at the edge. Spectacular aromatics offer up cedar, smoke, jammy black and red fruits, minerals, licorice, and toast. Unctuously-textured and full-bodied, with low acidity, fabulously sweet, rich fruit, surprising definition for a wine of such lushness and intensity, this is one of the vintage's most compelling and profound efforts. It has been delicious since birth, but absolutely stupendous over the last decade. How much longer can it hold onto its magic? My guess is that it should be consumed over the next 5-7 years." Robert Parker Jr., Wine Advocate Issue 129, June 2000
1 double-magnum per lot
THE PERFECT 1982 AND THE MAGNIFICENT 1996!
The vineyards of Château Pichon Lalande cover a total of 75 hectares at southern extremity of the Pauillac commune, near the township of St. Lambert. Indeed, some of the vineyard is actually located in the commune of Saint Julien and up to 1959, some bottles were labelled as AC Saint-Julien. The soil is Gunzian gravel with a clay subsoil and is planted with a high proportion (35 of Merlot. This lends the wine a more corpulent, sometimes voluptuous texture, lending it more approachability in its younth and imparting more finesse when mature. The remaining cepage is around 45 Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 Cabernet Franc and a notable 12 Petit Verdot. The grapes are handpicked, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel vats at around 330 for 18 to 24 days. The wine is then put into barrel (50 New Oak) for 18 months and racked every 3 months.
Property of a Gentleman
Recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
Château Pichon-Longueville, Lalande--Vintage 1982
Pauillac, 2me cru classé
Levels: lot 75 into neck, slightly damp stained label; lot 76 into neck, damp stained label, slightly raised cork
A Big Wine! Color still holding up well. Lots of intensity and amplitude in the nose though I get the impression that the wine is still tight and could use a few more hours to unveil itself. The proportions of this wine are still colossal. Most impressive and rarely mentioned is its formidible mid-palate. Lots of life in this wine. Vintage characteristics very evident in this stage of evolution. A tremendous Pichon Lalande! Tasted from standard size bottle at Christie's Pre-sale tasting, Nov 21, 2002 ST
"I have had this wine a half-dozen times over the last eleven months, and have rated it either 98, 99, or 100 on every occasion. It is a fully mature, sumptuous, gloriously perfumed, luxuriously rich Pauillac the likes of which are rarely encountered. The color is a dark plum/ruby with amber at the edge. Spectacular aromatics offer up cedar, smoke, jammy black and red fruits, minerals, licorice, and toast. Unctuously-textured and full-bodied, with low acidity, fabulously sweet, rich fruit, surprising definition for a wine of such lushness and intensity, this is one of the vintage's most compelling and profound efforts. It has been delicious since birth, but absolutely stupendous over the last decade. How much longer can it hold onto its magic? My guess is that it should be consumed over the next 5-7 years." Robert Parker Jr., Wine Advocate Issue 129, June 2000
1 double-magnum per lot
Provenance
Acquired by the current owner upon initial commercial release