I recently opened a pair of Pichon Lalande (1993 & 1994) wines and I decided to do a pair again as a vertical tasting with a simple dinner.  Both the 1988 and 1985 Chateau Pichon Lognueville Comtesse de Lalande wines cost under $75, have 12.5% alcohol and scored 18 points on the Dionysian scale of a possible 20.

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Chateau Pichon Lalande has long been my favorite Bordeaux. They age well, and even in off vintages , they tend to show well, making them excellent food wines.

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A Basic Spinach and Baked Marconi dish permitted the wines to be the main topic of concern during the meal. The cheese in the dish helped soften the still slightly tannic Bordeaux showing that they still have more years to go.

This Second Growth Grand Cru of the 1855 Classification once again proved to be fragrant with tobacco and some cassis. Made in Pauillac in Bordeaux’s Haut Medoc  left bank area, the 1988 had more hints of leather than the ’85. Both had long lingering aftertastes. I wish I could afford the 2009 or 20010’s.  In vino veritas.