CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE 'Comtesse de Lalande' 2eme Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 2023 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2023 opens with refined confidence: ripe blackcurrant, cassis and black cherry threaded with pressed violet, rose petal, graphite and smoked cedar. Gentle aeration reveals crushed bay, dark olive and a hint of cigar box. Medium–full-bodied, it has a silky start, lively acidity and finely grained tannins that support without weight. Pure concentrated black fruit is framed by polished olive and a touch of liquorice; the mid-palate unfurls toasted cedar, dark chocolate and warm baking spice, while a mineral seam and saline thread lend precision to a long, resonant finish. Oak is judicious and integrated. Drink now with decanting or cellar fifteen to thirty years. Top scores: WA 97–99; JS 98–99; Decanter 98. Very highly rated.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2ème Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac 2023 opens with refined confidence, a poised Pauillac expression that balances power and floral lift. The bouquet presents ripe blackcurrant, cassis and black cherry, threaded with pressed violet and fresh rose petal, while graphite, smoked cedar and a fine pencil lead note lend savoury depth and clarity. With gentle aeration, crushed bay, dark olive and a hint of cigar box emerge, adding complexity and a clear sense of terroir.

On the palate the 2023 is medium to full bodied, offering a satin smooth entry, lively natural acidity and finely grained tannins that provide structure without undue weight. Primary fruit is concentrated and impeccably pure, black fruit and plum framed by polished black olive and a discreet touch of liquorice. The mid palate unfolds in layers, showing toasted cedar, rich dark chocolate and warm baking spice, while a mineral seam and saline thread give forward momentum and precision to the architecture. Oak is judicious and well integrated, offering gentle vanilla and nutmeg spice that support the fruit core.

Texture is silky yet tensile, the wine balancing elegance and grip as it evolves in the glass, revealing savoury strata of leather, graphite and a faint ironstone note. Secondary nuances of dried herb, sous bois and tobacco leaf add nuance without detracting from the wine s primary clarity. The finish is long and resonant, returning to black fruit, bittersweet cocoa and a floral echo that lingers invitingly.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande combines historic château pedigree with meticulous vineyard management and precise cellar work, including small parcel vinification and cautious élevage to preserve freshness and ageing potential. Drink now with decanting for immediate complexity, or cellar with confidence for fifteen to thirty years to allow tertiary notes of truffle, cedar chest and cigar leaf to develop and harmonise. Serve at 16 to 18°C with roast beef, lamb, game or mature cheeses to complement its refined power and aromatic finesse.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (97-99) points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2023 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a brilliant wine that will be worth a special effort to track down. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries and cassis mingled with licorice, lilac, iris root, violet, burning embers and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with a deep, layered core of cool fruit that largely conceals it's ultra-refined structuring tannins. At a very measured 13% alcohol and 3.67 pH, it unites all Pichon Comtesse's sensuality with unimpeachable Pauillac classicism. The 2023 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

JAMES SUCKLING ***** 98-99 points
17 Apr, 2024 – 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.

DECANTER 98 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 08 Apr 2024) Part of Best Pauillac 2023 wines tasted en primeur
Drinking Window: 2033 - 2049
This smells divine, lovely lush blackcurrant and black cherry characters on the nose with pencil led, graphite, liquorice and menthol elements - very Pauillac on the nose. Gorgeous weight, supple and agile, great movement and energy to this. Acidity makes this buzzy, tangy and bright but not over the top, this keeps its structure and retains a serious directness from start to finish. Generous licks of minerality adds some cool classicism to it. Sleek and refined, precise and very drinkable. One of a number of brilliant Pauillac wines in 2023. Winemaker Nicolas Glumineau wants it to be racy and it’s certainly racy. 50% grand vin production, 50% second. 3.67pH, 14.7% press wine only Cabernet. Ageing 19 months, 60-65% new oak and then one wine barrels.

VINOUS 96-98 points
Drinking window: 2029 - 2060
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. - Neal Martin. Tasting date: April 2024

JANCIS ROBINSON 18++ points
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.
As is often the case, an intriguing contrast to Pichon Baron. Doesn't shy away from the power but has an extra layer of focus and directness that takes it to a higher level. Real lead-pencil character here. Very fine, long and all in great balance. Classic Pauillac with concentration and a sense of place. This should develop into a great Pichon Lalande. (AWH)

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96-98 points
Barrel Sample. A beautifully smoky wine from the Comtesse with rich tannins that are in balance with acidity. The black fruits of the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon are very forward giving a richly textured wine that will age very well. Organic and biodynamic. — Roger Voss

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ABOUT CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE 'Comtesse de Lalande'
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, ranked 2ème Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, is one of Pauillac’s most revered estates, celebrated for producing wines of precision, aromatic elegance and remarkable ageing potential. The domaine traces its origins to the 17th century and occupies prime gravelly terroir on the left bank of the Gironde, which provides excellent drainage and heat retention, conditions that favour Cabernet Sauvignon while allowing Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to add aromatic complexity and textural balance. Vineyards are managed with parcel by parcel attention, careful selection of rootstock and clones, and strict yield control to ensure concentration and clarity of fruit, while sustainable practices increasingly guide soil health and vine longevity.

In the winery, traditional savoir faire is blended with modern precision, grapes undergoing meticulous sorting before fermentation in temperature controlled vats, where maceration and extraction are adapted to the character of each parcel to achieve harmony between tannin and aroma. Élevage takes place in fine French oak, a considered proportion of which is new each year, providing structural support and subtle spice without obscuring varietal purity. The château’s historic cellars and ongoing investment in technology and cellar management reflect a commitment to consistency and the expression of terroir.

The Grand Vin typically displays Pauillac’s signature concentration and terroir clarity, offering a complex bouquet of blackcurrant, black cherry and cassis, layered with cedar, graphite and floral lift, framed by fine, energetic tannins and a saline mineral thread. On the palate the wine combines depth and precision, delivering both immediate allure and the capacity to evolve into complex tertiary aromas with prolonged cellaring. Second and reserve cuvées provide earlier accessibility while reflecting the estate’s stylistic focus on balance and refinement. Through meticulous vineyard stewardship, thoughtful winemaking and respect for its heritage, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande continues to set a standard for Pauillac elegance and longevity.