1978 Château Pichon Lalande
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Tasting notes
The 1978 Pichon-Lalande has always been one of the best of the decade. Vibrant and detailed on the nose, fresh as a daisy, hints of oyster shell with black fruit vie for attention. Cohesive and delineated, the aromatics here just exude classic Claret. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-boned tannins. For a 1978 Pauillac, this dishes up admirable concentration with notes of blackberry, cedar, pine and a touch of black pepper on the finish. Very harmonious and quite tender and persistent on the close. Having tasted several bottles, this may well be the finest example and comes highly recommended. Tasted at the "Difficult Vintage" vertical at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
This has a very expressive nose, a touch of greenness but ebullient black fruits, tar, graphite and cedar all with very fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied, quite sweet and silky on the entry with good acidity, notes of black cherries, iodine and an almost sorbet like character towards the finish that shows a surprising amount of glycerine. This is certainly a great success for the vintage, kudos to the late-Michel Delon for fashioning such great wines in modest growing seasons. (NM)
An excellent 1978 (one of the top wines of the vintage), Pichon-Lalande's offering displays an aromatic profile consisting of roasted herbs, chocolate, cedar, tobacco, and ripe curranty fruit. Medium-bodied, with low acidity, some tannin, and a round, attractive personality, this wine has reached its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another decade. Anticipated maturity: Now-2007. Last tasted 6/97
The 1978 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has long been my favorite vintage from that decade, and it shaded the 1988 and 1998. After 46 years, the aromatics have retained amazing freshness and vitality, leaning more towards red fruit mixed with a light marine influence, cedar and wild mint. The palate is medium-bodied with nigh perfect balance. It is not the most complex Pauillac that you will ever drink, but this Pauillac over-delivers in terms of freshness. It exerts a gentle grip, the black fruit infused with oyster shell, a judicious sprinkling of black pepper on the harmonious finish. This is classic “old school” claret at its best.