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chateau pichon longueville comtesse de lalande 2eme cru classe, pauillac 2018
JAMES SUCKLING
99
WINE ENTHUSIAST
98

2018 chateau pichon longueville comtesse de lalande 2eme cru classe, pauillac

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Why We're Buying

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a long name and an even longer list of accolades. As one of the 15 deuxièmes crus, its red blend serves as a model for structure and style. The cabernet sauvignon-forward blend also ranks among the priciest wines in Pauillac.

Critics Scores

JAMES SUCKLING
99

James Suckling

A deep and intense young red with blackberries and blueberries, as well as green olives and hints of fresh tobacco. But really black fruit. Full-bodied, tight and integrated with a refreshing and harmonious finish. Just floating on the palate. Great tannin backbone to this. A classic. Another flying carpet.

WINE ENTHUSIAST
98

Wine Enthusiast

Ripe and stylish, it is elegance personified and will be a very fine wine to age. Its structure and tannins are generous yet gently handled, giving density while preserving the bright dark fruit flavors.

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE
99

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The grand vin represents 50 of the crop this year. The 2018 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is made up of 71 Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc and 1 Petit Verdot with a pH of 3.85, an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 87 and 14 alcohol. Very deep purple-black colored, it is like hitting a brick wall to begin, needing considerable coaxing to start to reveal notes of crushed black cherries, warm blackberries, ripe blackcurrants and chocolate cake with nuances of violets, rose hip tea, charcuterie, tapenade and incense with wafts of new leather and iron ore. Full-bodied, concentrated and completely laden with tightly wound black fruit and savory layers, the palate gives a rock-solid backbone of firm, super ripe, super fine-grained tannins and soft background freshness, finishing very long with a veritable display of mineral fireworks.

JEB DUNNUCK
98

Jeb Dunnuck

The top wine is the 2018 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend of 71 Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc, and 1 Petit Verdot. Compared to the 2010 by director Nicolas Glumineau, this saturated purple-colored effort offers the classic elegance and regal style of the estate as well as plenty of pure Pauillac character. Crème de cassis, liquid violets, charcoal, and scorched earth nuances all give way to a full-bodied, deep, layered 2018 that has remarkable purity, building yet ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's in the same class as the magical 2016, and while I suspect it will be approachable with just short-term cellaring, it's going to age for 40 years or more. This estate has been on a qualitative roll over the past 5-6 years thanks to the talents of Glumineau, and this is unquestionably another great wine from him and his team.

DECANTER
100

Decanter

This has to be up there with one of the most seductive Comtesses on record with layers of alternating softness and concentration combined with a lot of 2016’s elegance and power. The nose on this stands out a mile, getting it right up on the podium before you even take a sip. Rich raspberries combine with peonies and curls of woodsmoke while the appellation’s signature slate, cedar, liquorice and tannic grip slowly builds up on the palate.

WINE SPECTATOR
100

Wine Spectator

This one nails it in 2018, with saturated, almost sappy kirsch, plum and blackberry preserve flavors at the core, inlaid with sweet tobacco, singed vanilla, worn cedar and fresh earth notes. A bolt of graphite provides support. Concentrated, long and very complete. One of the high water marks of the vintage.