Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande

Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, 2ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2012

Name: Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, 2ème Cru Classé, Pauillac
Brand: Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande
Price: 668.74 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2012 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

Nicolas Glumineau, formally of Montrose, now the Technical Director of Pichon Lalande explained that the estate undertook two green harvests, but still some fruit did not completely turn black, so they used the optical sorting table to remove these berries. The grand vin is crafted from 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. This is classic - violets, black fruit gums, lead pencil shavings, crème de cassis, spice; a perfumed beauty. It possesses a restrained elegance; it is by no means a blockbuster, but it has grace, charm and classical lines. This is a sumptuous, elegant Lalande that will reward eight to ten years cellaring.

critic reviews

92/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2012 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is medium to deep garnet colored. It bursts with flamboyant scents of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and redcurrant preserves, plus suggestions of lilacs, bay leaves, and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular, with firm, chewy tannins and a savory finish.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2037

date of review 02/2023

94/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Medium ruby in colour, less intense towards the edge of the rim, suggesting a touch of evolution. This shows vanilla and sage spice, crushed dark cherries, with a mid palate dominated by velvety but still firm and present tannins. A wave of fresh acidity comes in on the finish and supports a rolling out of vanilla and sweet spices. The vintage profile is identifiable in the weight of the body, and the sweeter, drinkable style of the wine. 55% new oak, first year with Nicolas Glumineau as director (overseeing blending but not viticulture), with 50% 1st wine in production, harvest October 1-18.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2040

date of review 11/2022

91/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2012 Pichon-Lalande has a rather musky bouquet at first, juniper and mint infusing the black fruit, not quite translating the essence of Pauillac as well as others, though still attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and silky smooth. There is a veneer of high quality oak here, quite plush on the finish yet at the same time, nicely controlled. Good potential, though I would like to see improvement aromatically. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2038

date of review 09/2022