Pichon-Longueville Lalande Pauillac 1982

100 points Robert Parker: "One of the monumental wines of the last century is the 1982 Pichon Lalande. Since bottling, it has flirted with perfection, and was a sprinter out of the gate, which gave rise to questions about how quickly it would begin its decline. However, at age 27, it retains all its glossy, rich, flamboyant cassis fruit, chocolaty, berry jam-like notes, and plenty of earthy, foresty flavors. This is a full-bodied, extravagantly rich Pichon Lalande seemingly devoid of acidity and tannin, but the wine is incredibly well-balanced and pure. It is an amazing effort! (Jun 2009)"

100 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Blame it on the excess of youthful excitement, but my original purchase of 1982 Pichon-Lalande has now been gone from my cellar for many years, and I would love to have those bottles back today, as this vintage has just gotten better and better with the passing of time and is clearly the greatest Pichon-Lalande after the 1961 that I have ever tasted! It had been four years between bottles and this recent showing at our vertical was sheer perfection and clearly the finest showing of the 1982 that I have seen yet, as the wine offers up stunning depth and aromatic purity, tied to a lovely veneer of exoticism that even the superb 1989 cannot keep pace with at this time! The bouquet soars from the glass in a celestial blend of plums, sweet black cherries, mocha, a lovely touch of musky violet, cigar smoke, summer truffles, gorgeous soil tones, almost a hint of smoked meats, menthol and toasty new oak. On the palate the wine is very pure and precise, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with stunning complexity and grip, melting tannins and a very, very long, very pure and utterly profound finish. I have always loved this vintage of Pichon-Lalande, but it seems that it has finally reached its true apogee of peak drinkability in the last couple of years and I have clearly underrated this wine in the past! 2019-2075+.. (Jan/Feb 2020)"

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "I've been lucky enough to have had the 1982 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande a half dozen times over the past few years and it continues to show magically. Tasted out of a magnum, it has a still lively plum/ruby hue as well as gorgeous Pauillac notes of blackcurrants, smoked earth, cedarwood, pencil lead, and forest floor. It's unquestionably fully mature and in that sweet spot where it has incredible aromatics, beautiful, sweet fruit, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. I don't see it falling off a cliff any time soon, yet there's no need to delay gratification either. This is a magical, heavenly Bordeaux I wish every reader could taste. (12/14/20)"

100 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc). So much depth to the fruit, this is still pulsating even as it knocks on 40 years old. Last tasted July 2018, and two years on it continues to deliver at the top of its game, but surely now is the time to drink to be sure of getting the full experience. You can expect soft tertiary notes of truffle and cedar but the fruit remains caressing and welcoming, with caramel-edged sweet black cherry and blackberry, fleshy and exotic. One to share, and to give thanks for. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing had been at Pichon for four years at this point and she oversaw a relatively generous 40hl/h yield. Harvest 16-30 September. Alcohol 12.5%. Drink: 2021-2035. (7/9/21)"

100 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "(45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc). This delivers on all fronts; a sharp, edgy, enveloping and forceful wine with so much life and lift. The nose smells of baked cherry pies with vanilla, exotic spices, cola, mint, blackcurrants and strawberries. Racy, showy and shiny with floral accents of potpourri as well as tobacco, cigar box and caramel. Smooth and supple, extremely well framed on the palate with bite and grip to the plush but also mineral-laced tannins. This is still shining brilliantly at more than 40 years old: confident and truly memorable. Lots of life to go for this beauty. Drinking Window: 2023-2042. (5/27/23)"

99 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Medium shiny ruby garnet, purple reflections, DELICATE ochre rim. Nuances of dark berries and spices, a touch of oak spice Juicy, lush, fine caramel core, silky tannins, cassis, DELICATE honey, light nougat, fine toasty aromas, sweet finish, great length, ripe cherries, long persistence. Still a fascinating wine that will offer many years of drinking pleasure. (12/31/18)"

98 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "Tasted at Roberson’s Pichon Lalande/Pichon Baron vertical. Although I have not encountered what might be described as a 'perfect' bottle of Pichon-Lalande ’82, this is nevertheless an absolutely delectable Pauillac at the top of its game. This bottle has a beautiful, complex, magnificent bouquet with cedar, pencil lead, truffle and smoke that just unfolds with every passing moment. The palate is medium-bodied, very refined and elegant with beguiling poise. Such a calm, almost nonchalant wine that does not go out of its way to impress, Morello, strawberry, a touch of pepper, cedar and a little tobacco decorating the finish that has quite brilliant delineation and poise. Stunning. Tasted September 2010."

18.5/20 points Clive Coates (The Wines of Bordeaux): "Full, rich, mature colour. Ripe and rich and aromatic on the nose. One bottle a bit more evolved than the other. The firmer bottle is rich and full-bodied and with plenty of depth and quality... Very lovely ripe, rich fruit... Long and complex and very fine. Now-2015+. (2004)"