The Perennial Pichon Lalande
Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one of the most important of the 'Super Seconds' and this Deuxieme Cru Classe Pauillac estate is a genuine First Growth contender. Credit must go to the stewardship the estate has had under the Rouzard family of Champagne Louis Roederer, and Frederic Rouzard, head of Roederer and President of Pichon Lalande.Situated next door to Ducru-Beaucaillou, Leoville Las Cases and bordering on Chateau Latour, Chateau Pichon Lalande is one of the most sought-after Pauillac wines, regularly outclassing their Second-Growth siblings in pure quality, and occasionally eclipsing the First Growths in side-by-side critical reviews. Adjectives such as 'Voluptuous', 'feminine' and 'silky' are words frequently employed in describing the stunning wine from Pichon Lalande, and the 2009 & 2010 vintages are all of those things and more, beautifully exhibiting the velvety properties of Merlot. Often softer and more approachable in its youth than other Medoc producers.
2009 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
98 Points Jane Anson - "This is gorgeous, beautifully balanced between fruit, freshness and finessed tannic hold, with an opulent and seductive texture that kicks things up another level. Has the Pichon Comtesse stamp of raspberry, blueberry, slate and violet. One of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the lineup, and a brilliant example of how Comtesse retains generosity and plump fruits even with concentrated Cabernet flavours. This makes you want to share it immediately, and for sure you can open and drink it now, but it will comfortably keep delivering for another 20 years or more. Does that sound contradictory? Welcome to the world of great Bordeaux."
2010 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
100 Points Decanter - "Silky, sweet black fruit, black olive and truffle notes from the start. This is majestically impressive - it sparks to life in your mouth and breaks out an involuntary smile. The texture is just liquid silk and it slowly but surely builds through the palate, gaining in confidence and totally delightful. Bright, vibrant tannins make the most of the high levels of acidity that were available in 2010, while matching them pace for pace with concentrated fruit. For me this is getting better as it ages, starting to rival the 1982 at Comtesse, and I can't wait to keep tasting it over the decades to come. Last time I rated this wine, in 2016, I gave it 98 points, and I questioned whether to keep it there, which is already an exceptional score, but I want to mark just how clearly it stood out in this horizontal. 60% new oak."
