2023 Chateau Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande - 2eme Cru Classe Pauillac

Decanter.com – 98 pts – GH: *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.* - 04/2024

Falstaff Magazin – 97 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral, schwarze Herzkirschen, etwas Cassis, ein Hauch von Nugat und Gewürzen, facettenreiches Bukett. saftig, komplex und elegant, feine Tannine, gute Frische, extraktsüßer Nachhall, gute Länge, wie aus einem Guss, ein stoffiger Begleiter bei Tisch, sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 98/100 pts: *Was für ein Tiefgang in diesem Wein, man möchte eintauchen, ein Cabernet-Duft wie aus dem Bilderbuch; zieht am Gaumen durch, baut viel Druck auf, bleibt hochelegant, Rasse, Klasse, Länge. Umwerfend.*

WeinWisser – 19,5/20 pts – GL, TW: *80 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, pH 3.67, 13 Vol.-%. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, zarte blaubeerige Konturen, verführerisches Veilchenparfüm und Graphit. Im zweiten Ansatz Heidelbeergelee und Blutorangenzesten. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, vibrierender Rasse, engmaschigem, ultrafeinem Tanningerüst und perfekt geformtem Körper, der durch Reinheit und Präzision besticht. Im konzentrierten, nicht enden wollenden Finale katapultiert sich der Pauillac nach vorne, edle Cassiswürze, tiefschürfende Mineralik und Holundersaft. "Back to the Future", beschreibt Nicolas Glumineau den Jahrgang und vergleicht diesen mit dem grandiosen 2005er. Dieser Pauillac darf auf keiner Einkaufsliste fehlen!* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 18/20pts – JL: *80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Seductive, elegant aroma. Dark fruit with a touch of zest and spice. Lovely texture of tannin, the palate fresh but suave and aromatic. Tannins present but very, very fine. Elegance and power combined. Bravo.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (95-98) pts – AG: *The 2023 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande marries elegance, power and sophistication. Soft, ripe tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, licorice, spice, pencil shavings, lavender and menthol. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. In 2023, Pichon Comtesse blends Merlot picked early for freshness and Cabernets picked later for tannin ripeness and flavor complexity. Readers will have to be patient, but the 2023 holds considerable promise for those who can wait. This is another stellar effort from the team led by General Manager Nicolas Glumineau. Tasted three times.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (96-98) pts – NM: *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.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (96-98) pts – JL: *Cuban cigars, cocoa, espresso, currants, blackberries, flowers, truffles, and smoke. On the palate, the wine is as complex as the nose. This gem is silky, sensuous, polished, fresh, and alive. The cherries, and currants, are pure. There is depth and sweetness. The wine is medium-bodied, but not light. According to the chateau, the 2023 represents their version of Back to the Future. I see their point. The wine will age effortlessly for decades, yet it is going to be fabulous to drink, even in its youth. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.67 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 27. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Only 50% of the harvest goes into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2029-2065.* - 05/2024