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: *Deep almost opaque ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Elegant wood spice nuances, a touch of nougat, a hint of cardamom and candied orange zest. Complex and substantial palate offering, blackberry nuances, well-in tegrated, supporting tannins, chocolate notes on the finish. A structured wine with great ageing potential. Stylistically as closed as Latour is rare.* - 05/2022

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

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 – (96-98) pts – AG: *Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Let's start with the good. The 2021 Pichon Comtesse is epic and certainly among the great wines of this vintage. Sadly, the coulure and mildew in the first year of organic farming plus dehydration at the end of the growing season took with it fully two thirds of the crop. In other words, there's not much wine to go around. Rich and sumptuous in the glass, yet clocking in at 12.9% alcohol, the 2021 is beautifully layered and totally sensual from the very first taste. Hints of red fruit, flowers, mint, white pepper and dried savory herbs develop with a bit of coaxing. The Cabernet Sauvignon, at 88%, is very high by historical standards. Quite simply, the 2021 is a tour de force from Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau and his team. If there is one wine readers will absolutely jump on en primeur it is Pichon Comtesse. Should the bottled wine turn out as well as this sample, pricing is likely to jump materially because of the tiny production. Don't miss it.* - 05/2022

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2021 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande needs more coaxing from the glass than previous vintages. Blackberry, juniper and iris flower scents reluctantly unfold, though tasting a second glass, I found the nose more forthcoming. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. The Cabernet is in the driving seat, imparting black fruit, a touch of graphite and chimney soot. Edgy, with a structured and quite serious if slightly short finish. A cerebral proposition for serious Pauillac lovers. 2026-2050.* - 05/2022

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