PICHON COMTESSE Reserve, 2nd wine of Ch. Pichon Lalande 'Comtesse de Lalande', 2022 Bottle

Description

The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse, the second wine of Château Pichon Lalande, is a stunning expression that highlights the estate's exceptional quality, earning impressive ratings. James Suckling awarded it 95 points, praising its al dente fruit profile of blackcurrants, dark plums, and orange peel, with a medium to full-bodied palate that builds intensity and power through polished tannins. The Wine Advocate rated it 93 points, noting its aromas of sweet minty berries, burning embers, and pencil shavings, complemented by a lavish, aromatic finish. Decanter also awarded it 93 points, highlighting its gorgeous aromatics, good density, and clear concentration of potent dark fruit flavors. With a drinking window from 2026 to 2038, this elegant wine promises to evolve beautifully, making it a compelling choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
The al dente fruit is so attractive with blackcurrants, dark plums and orange peel. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with tannins that start slowly, building at the end to a crescendo of intensity and power. It’s muscular and chewy but not overdone. A great second wine of Pichon Lalande. Needs time to soften and come together. Best after 2029.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2025 - 2042
Readers shouldn't overlook the 2022 Resèrve de la Comtesse, a lovely wine that's one of the most accomplished second wines of Bordeaux. Offering up aromas of sweet minty berries, burning embers, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, lavish and aromatic, with an almost exotic core of fruit, powdery tannins and a penetrating finish.

DECANTER 93 points
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2038 - Gorgeous aromatics, vibrant but deep too. Tannins make the impact straight away, there’s good density here, clear concentration this is carrying some heft in the really quite potent dark fruit flavours, spiced edges and sense of heat that comes through the underneath. Broad but focussed, definitely more streamlined than wide and plush, with almost chewy tannins but that have a pure cool blue fruit, liquorice and slate grip to them giving them edges and creating the linear focus. Feels well constructed, still on the tense nervous side but it has an appealing juicy grip too. 3.8pH. 50% grand vin, 50% second wine. 3.8pH. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. - Georgina Hindle Apr 23

VINOUS 93 points
The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse Is a sexy wine. Plush contours wrap around a core of black cherry, plum, graphite and dried flowers. The 2022 is unusual in that it includes all the Petit Verdot produced at the property. That's a decision that paid off handsomely. - Antonio Galloni