Two châteaux face each other across the road from Latour, both named Pichon Longueville, both carved out of one family estate when it was divided in 1850. The Comtesse half took the vineyards nearest Saint-Julien, and with them an unusually high proportion of Merlot for Pauillac. That is why this house has always been the gentler and more perfumed of the pair.
It was classed a second growth in 1855 and has never been seriously argued out of that position. 1964 was an awkward year on the Left Bank: October rain caught the late pickers, and Pauillac took more of it than the Graves did. What has come through the decades has done so on structure rather than fruit weight.
Expect cedar, dried tobacco, iron and the tea-leaf character old claret takes on once its primary fruit has gone. Sixty-two years is longer than most wine of any kind is ever given.
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Producer: Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
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Vintage: 1964
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Appellation: Pauillac AOC
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Format: 75cl
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Region: Bordeaux, France
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Style: Red
Where it is likely to be now. This is a light vintage at the far end of its life, so treat it as a mature, delicate claret to be decanted gently rather than a wine with anything left in reserve.
Who it suits. A 1964 bottle for a 62nd birthday, and a good choice where the recipient knows enough about Bordeaux to recognise the name on the label.
Condition. Graded good by the merchant, meaning nothing about the bottle raised concern; the fill, cork and capsule are verified here before dispatch.
Provenance. Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.
Delivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.
Sold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.
