2021 Chateau Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande - Grand Cru Classe - Pauillac AC

Decanter.com - 95 pts - GH: *A gorgeous fragrance on the nose, scented and deep with green peppercorns, blackcurrant leaf, cedar, tobacco and sweet cinammon. Succulent and juicy - the high acidity hits straight away. Lean and direct, but smooth, tannins have a faint graphite grip. Tangy alomst grapefruit on the palate with red berries and freshness throughout leading up to a long-lasting flavour at the end which is added to by a salty minerality. A subtle estate magic is on show. Still young and tight, this will need a few years before opening.* - 12/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Frische Kirschen, zart nach Cassis, etwas Tabak und Edelholz, verhaltenes Bukett. Saftig, feine Extraktsüße, reife Tannine, etwas Nugat, mineralisch, engmaschig und frisch strukturiert, zeigt Länge, insgesamt noch recht unterentwickelt, eine Frage der Zeit.* - 03/2024

The Wine Advocate – (94-95+) pts – WK: *This estate is one of the most dynamic in contemporary Bordeaux, so it's no surprise that the 2021 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a terrific wine’though its a very atypical blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot, cropped at a derisory 15 hectoliters per hectare, hints at what a challenging year this was in the vineyards. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, blackcurrants, iris, licorice, black truffles, cigar wrapper and sweet soil tones, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a supple but serious profile. It will see 60% new oak and, in all likelihood, a classical élevage of fully 18 months.* - 04/2022

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20 pts: *Ein Paradebespiel an Sinnlichkeit, Raffinesse, Kraft und Fülle; erstklassiges Tannine, grosse Länge; (noch) ein hervorragend gelungener, durch und durch verführerischer Klassiker.* - 06/2024

WeinWisser – 19/20pts - TW: *88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 10%Cabernet Franc. 60% Grand Vin, 15 hl/ha, 12,9 Vol.-%, pH 3,75. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, betörender Iris-Duft, frischgepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, Schokopastillen, helles Graphit. Im zweiten Ansatz Pauillac at its best: frischer schwarzer Bergpfeffer, edle Cassiswürze, Havanna und getrocknete Rosenblätter. Am vibrierenden Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, alles am richtigen Platz, engmaschiges Tanningerüst, kakaoartig und perfekt geformter Körper. Im konzentrierten, ewig langen Finale explodiert der Pauillac, Waldhimbeere, Graphit und erhabene Adstringenz. Punktet dieses Jahr mit unglaublicher Präzision und Finesse, erinnert Nicolas Glumineau an 1996. 2028-2052.* – 05/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JL: *Characteristic elegance but the Pauillac character still evident. Fragrant nose with darkfruit and floral notes and just a hint of chocolate. Persistent fruit through the mid palate with finely edged tannins. Well structured with good energy and drive, the finish persistent. Balanced and harmonious.* - 04/2022

quarin.com – 94 pts - JMQ: *Belle couleur sombre et soutenue. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité et pur. Tendre à l'attaque, juteux en milieu de bouche, le vin caresse le palais, agréable, très bien construit et savoureux. Il s'achève sur une bonne longueur, sans jamais marquer le tannin. Assemblage : 88 % cabernet sauvignon, 10 % cabernet franc, 2 % merlot. Degré d'alcool : 12°9 - pH : 3,75 - IPT : 76. Rendement : 15 hl/ha, soit 70 % de moins que la normale. Le cru a été affecté par la coulure et le mildiou. Pour sa première année de conversion bio, ça a été une grosse épreuve. Dates de vendanges : du 22 septembre au 8 octobre. 2030- 2048.* - 04/2022

James Suckling – (94-95) pts: *This is really spicy with peppercorns, cloves and Chinese spices, especially on the finish. Blackcurrants, too. Medium-bodied, firm and polished with a long, intense finish. 88% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 2% merlot.* - 05/2022

Vinous.com – 98 pts – AG: *The 2021 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a towering wine. Just as it did en primeur, the 2021 dazzles from start to finish. The Cabernets are very high in the blend, and that comes through in a Saint-Julien endowed with ton of explosive vertical lift. Lavender, dried herbs, mint, spice, rose petal and a kick of orange peel are some of the notes that run through this striking Pichon Comtesse. The aromatics alone are compelling, but everything about the 2021 speaks to class personified. Bright saline notes extend the finish. In a word: sublime.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 95 pts – NM: *Just as I found from barrel, the 2021 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is stubborn on the nose at first, opening with a few swirls of the glass to reveal blackberry, cassis and light juniper aromas. The oak here is beautifully integrated. The palate is classical in style, the Cabernet patently in the driving seat—as you would expect, given it constitutes 88% of the blend. I really admire the finish on this ’21, as it appears to have gained delineation, /mineralité/ and a little more persistence on the finish. This is an impressive Pauillac, brimming with freshness and character. Whilst it might be predestined to be overshadowed by surrounding vintages, best not to ignore this gem.* - 11/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *With a nice depth of color for the vintage, you find flowers, blackberries, black cherries, tobacco wrapper, cigar box, and spice in the nose. There is a sweetness to the fruit, combined with salinity, soft tannins, and freshness on the palate, finishing with a strong touch of salt that accompanies the peppery, chewy red fruits in the endnote. This is a modern-classically styled vintage for Pichon Lalande. The wine blends 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. 12.9% ABV. pH 3.75. This is the second highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the estate. The harvest took place from September 22 ending October 5. Yields were incredibly low at only 15 hectoliters per hectare, almost 70% below a normal harvest. Drink from 2025-2055.* - 05/2022