Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Reserve de la Comtesse 2018
- wa92
- v92
- ws90
Category | Red Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande |
Origin | France, Bordeaux, Pauillac |
Alcohol/vol | 14% |
Other vintages
The story of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande begins in the late 1600's. Pierre de Rauzan, who was the estate manager of Chateau Latour and also a wine merchant, began buying property in the Medoc region. Upon the marriage of his daughter to a member of the Baron de Pichon-Longueville family, She received land that soon became known as Chateau Pichon Longueville. It remained as one estate until the 1850s when the estate was divided. The male heirs received the Portion that will be known as Chateau Pichon Baron while the female heirs received the part known as Chateau Pichone Longueville Comtesse de Lalande or Chateau Pichon Lalande for short. In the 1920s, the estate was sold at auction to the Miailhe brothers. The family continued as owners of the property until 2007 when the property was sold to Champagne Louis Roederer.
Historically the wine contained a large percentage of Merlot in the blend making it one of the more approachable wines from Pauillac.
Reserve de la Comtesse made its debut in 1973. The second wine of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, it represent 20%-50% of the production at the Chateau. It is from the same soil, the second wine benefits from the technology and reputation of the Grand Vin.
Wine Advocate
- wa92
A touch old-school, featuring savory, tobacco and rosemary accents amid a core of concentrated black cherry, red currant and plum paste flavors. Slightly austere, with chalky minerality harnessing the finish. A savory edge peeks in at the last second. For fans of the style. Best from 2022 through 2035.
Vinous
- v92
The 2016 Réserve de la Comtesse has a delightful bouquet of black fruit infused with sous-bois and pencil shavings – classic Claret through and through. The medium-bodied palate delivers crunchy black fruit laced with tobacco and cedar. This is a correct, quite “linear” wine, but one that I find well balanced, with a welcome pepperiness that emerges toward the grippy finish. It might not warrant superlatives, but it is clearly well crafted and endowed with understated nobility. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
Wine Spectator
- ws90
Bright and juicy, with a mix of red and black currant preserve flavors lined with notes of briar and licorice root, ending with a hint of tobacco. Not large in scale, but has good latent energy. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.