2001 Pichon Lalande
By Chateau Pichon Lalande
2001 Pichon Lalande from Chateau Pichon Lalande, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2001 Pichon Lalande sits regally within the pantheon of fine Bordeaux vintages, offering a resplendent showcase of what makes Chateau Pichon Lalande so vaunted among connoisseurs and investors alike. In a year that both challenged and highlighted the mettle of the winemakers, this offering from Pauillac stands as a testament to judicious vineyard management and masterful winemaking.
Seasoned Finesse: Crafting Elegance in 2001
Where many Bordeaux estates contended with the climatic rigours of 2001 – cautious optimism followed by bouts of rain – Chateau Pichon Lalande navigated the vintage with aplomb. The finesse exhibited in the 2001 vintage arose from a meticulous balance between ripe tannins and poised acidity, courtesy of Pauillac’s deep gravel soils and sustainable viticulture. It is this precision that underscores the wine’s investment pedigree.
An Exemplary Display of Terroir and Talent
The nose of the 2001 Pichon Lalande unfurls with an aristocratic grace, revealing layers of cassis, wilted violets, and the faintest hint of cigar box - classic signatures of Pauillac terroir. The palatal tapestry is woven with dark fruits, truffle, and graphite – each sip surrendering more secrets than the last. This vintage stands as unequivocally indicative of its origin; showing power without bombast, depth without opaqueness.
Graceful maturation has been kind to the tightly-knit structure that presaged longevity from barrel to bottle. Now, nearly two decades post-vintage, it commands respect with both its integrity and complexity intact; a beacon for discerning investors seeking wines with enduring appeal and appreciative potential.
A Timeless Investment: The Subtlety of 2001
For collectors evaluating fine wine investment opportunities, the 2001 Pichon Lalande is an undeniable asset. Here lies a wine that captures both time and place, distilling it into liquid opulence ready to stand the scrutiny of the market and pleasure seams. Its charm lies not just in its provenance or age, but in its current stage of evolution – it is a portrait painted in vinous hues of an exquisite year that continues to unfurl beguilingly with each passing season.
Market price (HKD)
HK$16,730.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
134.62
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. This has quite a precocious bouquet with raspberry jam, boysenberry, marmalade and pencil shavings. Very fine delineation and lift, certainly more backward than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with structure tannins, just a hint of brine on the entry, good depth of black fruit with a sinewy, grippy blackberry and cedar-infused finish. One has the feeling that this has more to offer over the next decade. Tasted March 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2011
A distinctive bouquet of violets, soy, pepper, blackberries, cassis, and tree bark gives this 2001 a singular style. This dense ruby/purple-colored blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and a whopping 14% Petit Verdot exhibits plenty of structure, wonderful sweetness, a closed style, but a rich, textured, persistent character. The unusually large percentage of Petit Verdot gives the wine more structure and less initial charm. This beauty needs some time in the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2004