Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse Lalande Pauillac 2023
Country: France Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux
Varietal: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2023 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse Lalande
Description:
One of the great names of the Médoc and a true "super-second". The château is situated next to Château Latour and opposite Pichon Baron, with most of the vines a little further inland from the river. Pichon Lalande is one of the most demanded wines of Bordeaux. Characterised by a slightly exotic, spicy character, plump ripe fruit and a polished texture. The percentage of Merlot in the vineyard is high for Pauillac. The "Comtesse" is now owned by Champagne house Louis Roederer and managed by the brilliant wine-maker Nicolas Glumineau, the man who made the awesome Montrose 2009 and 2010 before coming here. A new winery has just been built and recent vintages have been amongst the best ever produced here. An absolute star wine with great pedigree and brilliant wine-making.
The 2023 was made from a yield of 40 hl/ha and no Petit Verdot made it into the blend which is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Maturation in 60% new oak. Alcohol 13%. Nicolas stated that extraction was deliberately gentle and that the style of the wine is like 2005 but with much better tannin management.
98-99/100 Points - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
"Wow. This is really excellent, with superb finesse and focus. It has tight density that is almost diamond-like in its brilliance. Medium to full body, with a quality of tannin that is incredibly seamless. Like silk in texture. A top Pichon Lalande. From organic and biodynamically grown grapes. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 3% cabernet franc. May be better than 2022."
"We are slap bang in the middle of one of the great eras of Pichon Comtesse, and once again this vintage shows why. So much character, finesse, balance and grip, this is classy, powerful, concentrated but effortless, precise and sculpted blackcurrant, damson, crushed roses, graphite. 14.7% press wine, 60% new oak, in conversion to organics, certification expected in 2026. Nicolas Glumineau director. Tasted twice."
"Another hit from a château in stellar form. Deep purple in colour, the nose has great purity, with cool blackcurrant fruit, seductive dark cherries, dark chocolate, espresso and fresh vanilla cream all coming through. The palate is seamless, with ripe and highly-refined tannins coating a core of fruit bursting with cassis flavour. The highwire act of this wine is to be so seductive, spicy and creamy, yet feel profound and serious with a real sense of place. Once again, they have pulled this off, with seemingly effortless power, integrated sweet and savoury wood spice and saline, lipsmacking acidity. Outstanding, a contender for wine of the vintage."
"The 2023 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was picked from September 6 until 29, with some rain on September 20 in the middle of Cabernet picking. But, Nicolas Glumineau remarked that the vineyard/fruit was in good condition; one day of rain did not affect the quality. The 2023 has a quintessential Comtesse bouquet, displaying pure and expressive black fruit laced with violet and graphite, delivered with impressive delineation. The palate is very refined on the entry. This is armed with beguiling symmetry—poised yet intense on the finish. It doesn’t exert huge grip because it knows it doesn't need to, and it fans out gloriously. Outstanding."
