The bottle of Chateau Pichon Lalande 1976 was bought by me shortly
after release and stored properly. There were no cork or other issues.
The year 1976 was very hot and there was little rain in Bordeaux. The
harvest started very early. The quality of 1976 Bordeaux reds was all
over the map. Some lasted only a few years and a few are still good.
This wine had some rather good reviews in the 90s, and Michael
Broadbent rated it 4-star out of 5 then, ahead of several first
growths.

The color is still deep with a bit of age showing around the rim. The
wine is loaded with dark fruit. There is still plenty of tannin, but
it is of medium character and now not too intense. There is barely
adequate acid for my taste. I suspect this wine has started a slow
decline, but it likely will be decent a few more years. I find it now
a bit heavy for a Bordeaux with a body more usual for a Rhone or
perhaps quality southern Italian red wine.

Buying 1976 Bordeaux today is somewhat like Russian roulette unless
you know something about each wine considered. You can not go by
"pecking order" for most years. The wine may have needed to be
discarded a few decades ago, or it may still be holding on well.

In article
>,
cwdjrxyz > wrote:

> The bottle of Chateau Pichon Lalande 1976 was bought by me shortly
> after release and stored properly. There were no cork or other issues.
> The year 1976 was very hot and there was little rain in Bordeaux. The
> harvest started very early. The quality of 1976 Bordeaux reds was all
> over the map. Some lasted only a few years and a few are still good.
> This wine had some rather good reviews in the 90s, and Michael
> Broadbent rated it 4-star out of 5 then, ahead of several first
> growths.
>
> The color is still deep with a bit of age showing around the rim. The
> wine is loaded with dark fruit. There is still plenty of tannin, but
> it is of medium character and now not too intense. There is barely
> adequate acid for my taste. I suspect this wine has started a slow
> decline, but it likely will be decent a few more years. I find it now
> a bit heavy for a Bordeaux with a body more usual for a Rhone or
> perhaps quality southern Italian red wine.
>
> Buying 1976 Bordeaux today is somewhat like Russian roulette unless
> you know something about each wine considered. You can not go by
> "pecking order" for most years. The wine may have needed to be
> discarded a few decades ago, or it may still be holding on well.

Just finished the las of my 1978 Pichon Lalande this past weekend and
this too was fading on the fruit and acidity. Not nearly as good as I
remembered it but still a little zip in the bottle.