2020 Chateau Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande - 2eme Cru Classe Pauillac 1,5 l - Magnum

Decanter.com -96pts - JA: *Softer and silkier than many Pauillacs in the vintage, this is a clear success. Hugely silky and seductive, with grip, power and finesse. One of the best of the appellation, with finessed tobacco, heather and plump blueberry and cassis fruit, expertly managing the low 30hl/ha yield. 60% new oak. Tasted twice. Drinking Window 2030-2048.* - 05/21

Falstaff Magazin - 96-98pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte reife Kirschenfrucht, feine Nuancen von Brombeer und Cassis, zart nach Kadamom, Gewürznelken und kandierte Orangenzesten, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, feine Süße, reife Pflaumen, ein Hauch von Nougat, reife Tannine, gute Länge, zarte Röstaromen im Abgang, sicheres Reifepotenzial.* - 05/21

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 95-97pts - LPB: *Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande begins on a single, well-defined, wonderfully pure note of ripe blackcurrants, opening out to a melody of redcurrant jelly, kirsch, ripe blackberries and tar, with emerging suggestions of dark chocolate, cardamom, ground cloves and violets, with a waft of black truffles. Medium-bodied, tightly wound and with loads of fantastically nuanced black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid frame of finely grained tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. The blend this year is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.* - 05/21

Weinwisser - 98-99pts - TW: *Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Konzentriertes Bouquet mit betörender Cassiswürze, Grethers Pastillen und frischem Brombeergelee. Im zweiten Ansatz Lakritze, belgische Nougatpralinen und verführerisches Irisparfüm. Am ungeheuer vielschichtigen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, kakaoartiges engmaschiges Tanningerüst, einnehmende Extraktsüsse und ein perfekt modellierter Adoniskörper. Im kaskadenartigen Finale katapultiert sich der Pauillac in eine andere Sphäre mit schwarzer Johannisbeere, dunkler Kirsche, dominikanischem Tabak und royaler Adstringenz. «Die Trilogie ist komplett», meint der stolze Direktor Nicolas Glumineau. Der kratzt (schon) wieder an der Bestnote! 2025-2055.* - 05/21

JancisRobinson.com – 18/20pts – JL: *Bright crimson hue. Generous, vineyard-nuanced fruit on the nose with complex cassis and graphite notes. Fruit equally generous on the palate, backed by an abundance of fine tannin. Lots of drive and persistence. Punchier and more masculine in style than 2019. Definitely one for the cellar.* - 04/2021

JamesSuckling.com - 97-98pts - JS: *his is extremely structured, but with a level of polish and refinement that highlights the excellence of the terroir. Very long and expansive on the palate, showing class and beauty. Powerful.* - 04/2021

Vinous.com - 95-97pts - AG: *The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is holding so much in reserve. Tightly wound and not fully expressive, the 2020 is going to need at least a few years to come out of its shell. Bright acids and persistent tannins give the 2020 a super classic, mid-weight feel. I very much like the wine's persistence. Readers will have to be patient with the 2020. The exuberance of some recent vintages is not present today. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, which means a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon than in recent years, and quite a bit more than in the past. Harvest ran from September 7 to October 1, which is about ten days earlier than normal. In the cellar, Estate Manager Nicolas Glumineau opted for light extractions, with minimal pumpovers of just one volume of wine per day, at no more than 25 degrees Celsius. Time on the skins was 21 days, pretty much the norm these days. Tasted two times. 2032-2060.* - 06/2021

Vinous.com – (96-98) pts – NM: *The 2020 Pichon-Lalande has a backward nose similar to that of its neighbor Pichon-Baron, and so I decanted the bottle for 45 minutes. It then revealed gorgeous scents of blackberry, wild hedgerow, seaweed (Japanese /nori/) and wild mint. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and gentle but insistent grip. Very intense but not ripe; there is a coolness about this Pauillac that I like, while the finish is very classically styled and leaves behind a persistent, slightly briny aftertaste. This is a magnificent, cerebral Pichon-Lalande that will deserve serious aging and the patience of anyone still waiting for The Cure's new album. Tasted three times, including directly from the château.* - 04/2021