Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Réserve (de la Comtesse) Pauillac 2017

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has 102 hectares of vines in Pauillac, in the heart of the Médoc, ideally situated along the Gironde Estuary.

In three centuries, only two families have contributed to the worldwide reputation of the château and its wines.

In 1850, on the death of Baron Joseph de Pichon-Longueville, the Pichon Longueville estate was divided between Baron Raoul Pichon (later Château Pichon Baron) and his three sisters, forming the Pichon Comtesse estate. One of the three sisters, Virginie Pichon de Longueville, wife of the Comte de Lalande, gave the château its present name.

In 1925, the property was bought by Louis and Édouard Miailhe, who became the new owners after the successors of the Pichon Longueville family. From 1978, Édouard Miailhe‘s daughter, May-Éliane de Lencquesaing, breathed new life into the estate and promoted Pichon Comtesse wines worldwide.

The third family, owners of Champagne Louis Roederer, acquired the estate in January 2007. They aim to perpetuate the excellent work done by their predecessors and to attain the ultimate in quality and prestige.

Relying on the best of traditional and modern methods, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande built new winemaking facilities in 2013.

The vineyard covers a total area of 102 hectares, 11 of which are located in the commune of Saint Julien, which is unusual for a Pauillac appellation wine. The average age of the vines is 35 years. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%).

The terroir is composed of gravel resting on a sandy-clay base.

This ensures good drainage of excessive rainfall, while storing it in a natural reserve formed by the clay.

The château also benefits from a climatic advantage thanks to its geographical position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary.

The vineyard enjoys regular, moderate temperature variations, protecting it from excessive frosts and droughts.

The wines epitomise the remarkable balance of Pauillac, with a silky tannic structure along with an expressive and suave aromatic complexity.

"The 2017 Réserve has a well defined bouquet with blackberry, oyster shell and subtle marine scents, a nose that is full of character.

The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and impressive density for a Deuxième Vin.

A seductive, graphite tinged finish. This is an excellent follow-up to the 2016 an may even surpass it."

92 pts by @nealmartin123 , @vinousmedia , February 2020