Pichon Comtesse Réserve, Pauillac, 2019
The 2025 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is a wine of charm and finesse. Classy aromas of violets, cedar and oyster shell interplay with graphite, briar and sweet earthy notes. Everything is beautifully integrated and cohesive, the core of dark sweet fruit caresses the palate. Wonderful texture. Succulent, juicy, lots of pleasure here. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
Enjoyable tasting the 1st and 2nd wines of Comtesse 2019 alongside each other. Now six years old, the Reserve is still muscular with grainy tannins, cassis, blackberry, slate, cocoa, ready for sharing.
A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is deep garnet-purple in color. It features notes of redcurrant jelly and blackberry preserves with suggestions of bay leaves, pencil lead, and tapenade. The medium-bodied palate is coated with bright, savory-sparked black and red fruit, framed by grainy tannins, finishing with good length.
The 2019 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse has an open-knit, slightly meaty bouquet with dried blood infusing the brambly red fruit. A little rustic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, moderate depth, off-dry with a nicely proportioned, pencil shaving-tinged finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
The 2019 Reserve de la Comtesse is striking, soaring from the glass with scents of violets and rose petals mingled with cassis and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, polished and succulent, its lively and seamless, with impressive concentration and a long, penetrating finish.