Pichon Lalande, 1996 Vintage, Grand Cru Classé Pauillac, Médoc

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33250 Pauillac
France
Tél. 05.56.59.19.40
Fax. 05.56.59.29.78


	A perfect combination of power and elegance. The body is rich and dense with soft tannins. The palate, just like the nose, displays an almost endless complexity.

	Mild winter with just one day of snow. Rainfall in the spring was well below the seasonal average (and remained so until mid-August). Temperatures in March and April were slightly above the seasonal average. Some rain and a drop in temperature on June 21st and 22nd caused a few pollination problems in the Merlot and the Cabernets. Good flowering of the Petit Verdots. Mid point of flowering June 7th.

	A fine, hot summer, but the second half of August was rainy. Mid point of changing colour August 12th.

	Beautiful weather in September, cool but very sunny. Good climatic conditions for a slow and even maturation of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest September 24th.

	Beautiful weather in September, cool but very sunny. Good climatic conditions for a slow and even maturation of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest September 24th.

	Cabernet Sauvignon: 75% Merlot: 15% Cabernet Franc: 5% Petit Verdot: 5%

Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate - April 1999

"The 1996 Pichon-Lalande is just as awesome from bottle as it was from multiple cask tastings…The color is a saturated ruby/purple. The nose suggests sweet, nearly overripe Cabernet Sauvignon, with its blueberry/blackberry/cassis scents intermixed with high quality, subtle toasty new oak. Deep and full-bodied, with fabulous concentration and a sweet, opulent texture…Could the 1996 turn out to be as extraordinaryas the 1982? 96/100."

Serena Sutcliffe - Tasting Notes - April 1999

"Imposing, very classic Cabernet Sauvignon nose. Cedary. Very cassis when you swirl it in the glass. Gradually becomes blackberry. Great richness and fat on the palate. Has all the components to make a bottle for 30-40 years to come but, as always with Pichon, you can broach it at any age because the structure is matched by richness."

James Suckling - Wine Spectator - January 1999

"Black color with intense Cabernet aromas of blackberries and currants and hints of mint. Full-bodied and very firm, with silky tannins and a long, flavourful and caressing finish. A racy and well-structured Pichon-Lalande. 92/100."