Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, 2017
We don't know how Nicolas Glumineau does it, but there's some sort of alchemy afoot at Pichon Lalande. The Reserve de la Comtesse 2015 is every bit as lovely as the sensational 2014 and perhaps has a little more voluptuousness and weight to the fruit. The bouquet offers clear Pauillac aromas of violets, roses, stones, pencil shavings and sweet cassis. This is so silky and refined for a second wine. There palate is ample with taut mulberry and crème de mûre flavours. There is a real sense of finesse and fluidity to the wonderfully textured, pure vibrant fruit. Top class! 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
The 2017 Reserve de la Comtesse has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It slips out with a quiet intensity offering scents of fragrant roses and tilled soil, leading to a cassis and Morello cherries core, plus a waft of graphite. Light to medium-bodied, the palate has great tension and freshness of fruit, featuring fine-grained tannins and a savory finish.
The 2017 Reserve de la Comtesse is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it strolls out of the glass with nonchalant notions of preserved red plums, black cherries, kirsch and black raspberries with wafts of wilted roses, cinnamon toast, fallen leaves and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is very pretty, with delicately played tannins and bags of freshness, finishing wonderfully fragrant.
The 2017 Réserve de la Comtesse came from a barrel that had begun its élevage in a new barrel and then transferred into a used one. It has a well defined bouquet with blackberry, oyster shell and subtle marine scents, a nose that is full of character. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and impressive density for a Deuxième Vin. A seductive, graphite tinged finish. This is an excellent follow-up to the 2016 and may even surpass it.