Description: Chateau Pichon-Longueville is made from vines mainly situated on the historical terroir of the property. The wines produced are powerful, rich in tannins, and characterised for being both elegant and muscular. They have an exceptional length in the mouth, and possess a remarkable ageing potential.
Robert Parker: Wine Advocate # 182. Apr 2009. Reviewer : Robert Parker. - Firm, but sweet tannins (which suggests ideal maturity) characterize this 2008. Displaying good minerality along with plenty of floral, creme de cassis, blackberry, coffee, and white chocolate notes, this full-bodied, dense, promising Pauillac is built to age for 20-25 years.
Jancis Robinson: Published : May 2009 - Very vibrant blueish purple. Complete and neat. Low key but in the same idiom as Latour with 71% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tight and dry and not at all flashy. Serious stuff. May well develop into something really quite considerable.
Wine Spectator: Issue Web Only 2009 - Black licorice and blackberry aromas, with hints of spices. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a balanced finish. Refined and polished. Could use a little more midpalate. Score range: 88-91
–JSStephen Tanzer: May/Jun 09. By Ian D'Agata. (71% cabernet sauvignon and 29% merlot;) Dark ruby. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, blackberry and cedar display more obvious ripe fruit than usual. A true Pauillac on the palate, with great power and precision to its black fruit, cedar, and balsamic underbrush flavors. Finishes dense and long, with slightly dusty tannins. This reminded me of a fleshier version of the '88, or a more stylish version of the '98.
Vinification: Harvesting is manual, and the fruit destemmed before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks at 28°C to 30°C. Malolactic occurs in vat, after which the wine is transferred into French oak barrels (some may undergo malolactic here) for up to 18 months, using 70% new and 30% one-year old, with racking every 3 months.
