The 1981 Pichon Lalande has been uncorked and other ramblings....

[JimHow]

I received three durands as gifts last summer at our BWE weekend in Maine, this is the first time I've ever utilized one, worked like a charm! A nice spiciness on the nose upon uncorking, the color looks healthy, still rotating capsule, the high shoulder bottle looks like it's in excellent shape upon initial sips.

[JimHow]

This is a lovely, elegant Pichon Lalande, feminine, quite different from the stoic, trojan, martial LLC from last night. Cab Fan once referred to this as the "Gwyneth Paltro of Bordeaux wines." Still holding up strong, the color is very similar to last night's LLC, a healthy deep ruby fading appropriately at the rim, I get the sense this bottle was in a little better shape than the LLC, with its elevated cork, from last night. A lovely spiciness, cassis, Pauillac lead pencil. This puppy had a spinning capsule, label conditions for sure, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, it likely just means it has been sitting in the same humid cellar for a long time. This is lovely, elegant, almost understated 1980s Bordeaux, the likes of which I don't think we will ever see again. I see "12" on the torn label, I can't tell if it is 12.0 or 12.5, but it is gorgeously balanced, this is right at that point where the 70s turned into the 80s and everything changed in Bordeaux, the year before 1982. Delicious! Rating: 93 points.

[JCNorthway]

Those early 1980's Pichons (specifically 1981-1983) were lovely wines. It's amazing that, though they did not show a lot of tannins early on, they have managed to age gracefully for over 40 years.

By the way, how many of us have backup Durands?

[stefan]

>>
how many of us have backup Durands?
>>

Despite having bought five in my lifetime, I do not have any backups (meaning no more than one in any house in which I have wine).

[JCNorthway]

Despite having bought five in my lifetime, I do not have any backups (meaning no more than one in any house in which I have wine).

Only you, Stefan.

[Comte Flaneur]

Sounds lovely!

Of that golden era for Pichon Lalande - 1978 to 1989 - the 1979 and 1981 vintages are my favourites after the 1982.

It is amazing how well they have held up considering how well they drank at a young age.