Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 1961

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (95)

In 1978, I had the 1961 Pichon Lalande from a magnum in which it was quite unready, but since then I have had the wine several times from a regular bottle (most recently at the chateau in March 1988) where it was equally impressive, and approaching its apogee. The wine is dark, almost opaque in color, with a huge, ripe, plummy bouquet and savory scents of cedar, toffee, and chocolate. The 1961 Pichon Lalande is rich, full bodied, viscous, and deep on the palate with a luscious, silky finish. Stylistically, it is reminiscent of the 1982 and 1989.

Winespectator (96)

The mulled cassis, fig and boysenberry fruit has melded with anise, plum sauce, pain d'épices and charcoal notes while broad, velvety tannins let everything drape languidly on the lengthy finish. Black tea and warm cocoa notes line the finish, followed by the faintest echo of cedar. A beauty.—Non-blind Pichon Lalande vertical (July 2014). Drink now through 2025.