Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148 — 9 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep opaque core, thin ruby rim. Deep slightly spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , charcoal embers , grafite . On the palate this is quite intense but has good freshness , and ripe but firm , quite dry tannins . Creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , crushed rocks , quite saline and fresh in style , oyster shell and sea breeze hints . Well balanced alcohol and good length grafite , saline tinged finish . This is actually quite enjoyable , though obviously way too young , fresh and detailed with cool fresh dark fruit and grafite nuance. Better in 10 years and will last well a further 10-15 maybe more . Really enjoyed the style and balance of this . — 19 days ago

Ericsson

9.4

Good vintage. — 25 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — 19 hours ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Pretty deep ruby with thin violet rim . Quite ripe and generously fruited , blackberry , dark cherry , touches of cocoa , toasty oak. On the palate this has more of the ripe dark fruits of the nose , blackberry , cassis , dark cherry with but with some spicy notes along with some grafite and toasty hints . Quite ripe but noticeable grippy tannins , and balanced acidity . Alcohol also appears well intergrated, though there is a roundness to this. Quite user friendly for Latour (remember though , this is the 3rd wine!) but that means that the 2019 is actually enjoyable to drink now but will probably repay aging over the next 5-10 years . Not particularly complex but well made and well balanced especially given the 14% alcohol . I don’t think that tasted blind this could be anything other than the Medoc, the more modern , warmer Medoc than 20 -30 years ago of course . The level of many other 2nd wines , though not their Grand Vins. Next day still showing well , a little more grafite and earthiness , cooler dark fruits. Tannins still quite noticable , saline tinged grafite finish. — 16 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This seemed to be in a perfect spot showing red & black fruit, graphite, cedar, sweet savory spice, leather & tobacco — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite deep garnet , relatively thin garnet rim . This is quite reserved and cool on the nose , some grafite , tobacco , herbal tinged cassis . On the palate this is quite elegant and with good definition , grafite , cassis and quite fresh acidity gritty tannins . Quite serious and classic in style. Quite good tobacco , grafite tinged finish. Drinking well now but no rush , should show well over the next 5-10 years . A good example of this vintage and a good example of Batailley . — 6 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The most showy bottle I’ve had of this wine, 95 Mouton is in a terrific place, and an absolute classic, with Paulliac power and concentration, fine grained tannins and hugely persistent finish. Fantastic with the legendary EMP duck! — 5 days ago

Ericsson

9.5

Classic. Just classic on the color and nose. On the palate it has finer tannins, lifted acidity, and a long, polished finish that lingers on cassis and earth. One of the oldest Lafite’s I’ve tasted and feels like in last another couple of decades. Easy. — 25 days ago

AHF

9.3

Deep color, no bricking at 25 years. Nice wafting nose, lead pencil on palate, very smooth, a little drying tannins. — 12 days ago