Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2015

Producer Information

The estate was founded in 1689 by Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan and the vineyard acquired its name a few years later when his daughter Thérèse received it as part of her dowry on her marriage to Jacques de Pichon Longueville, the first President of the Parliament of Bordeaux. It was divided upon the death of Baron Joseph in 1850 between his five children. However, only two of his children finally inherited the vineyards; Raoul and Virginie. Virginie married Count Henri de Lalande, giving her the title, and took over control of the domain. Her passion and the quality of her management made her a strong personality in the Médoc and she very much left her mark on the domain. In the 1855 classification, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande acquired the status of 2eme Cru Classé.

Vineyards

The 76 hectares of this vineyard border the property of Château Latour and stretch south of Pauillac towards the Commune of Saint Julien, whence it gets its extraordinary charm. The exceptional character of the wines produced here, are distinguished by their elegance and finesse.

Winemaking

The temperatures were carefully regulated during the fermentation and the maceration to obtain an aromatic and silky expression of the vintage. Overall, the alcohol-tannin-acid balance was excellent. Malolactic fermentation was minimal due to low temperatures. Maceration: 18 to 24 days.  The wine spends 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% new.

Vintage Information

After a cold winter the BUD BREAK on the vine was fairly late. 7th of April for the Merlot and 12th of April for the Cabernet Sauvignon. From April to July, a dry
and sunny period encouraged the steady development of the vine as well as a quick and uniform FLOWERING around the 4th of June. The VERAISON was quick,
from the 27th of July to the 6th of August across all grape varieties. In August and September colder, wet weather replenished the parcels which suffered water
shortage in the heat wave of July. The HARVEST began the 10th of September until the 8th of October; in spite of several showery periods, each parcel was
harvested at its optimum ripeness

 

Compared to several fresher decades, 2015 is a truly sunny vintage. At Pichon Comtesse, the vineyard was bathed in sunlight nourishing its grapes, bursting with juice and full of flavour. This vintage takes us back to the great classics of Pauillac, thanks to a wine that is lively, complex vibrant and… elegant.

Tasting Note

A well-balanced, supple and powerful wine, smooth and structured… it’s what Pauillac knows how to do best; offering great complexity with elegance. The aromas are of blackberry and blackcurrant with some violet and cedar. The palate is distinct, recalling blackcurrant, this wine is especially expressive in its deep, rounded structure, beautifully controlled, offering a finish that is lively with good, well-crafted tannins.

Food Pairing

Lamb, red meats, cheese, truffle and chocolate.

Serving Suggestion

Serve at room temperature.

Press

JamesSuckling.com: 97 POINTS, TOP 100 FRENCH WINES OF 2018
February 3, 2018, James Suckling

“This shows spices, pepper, blueberries and blackcurrants on the nose. Full body, very polished tannins and a long and beautiful finish. Shows such gorgeous texture. Precise and transparent. Try in 2022.”

Wine Enthusiast: 96 POINTS, CELLAR SELECTION
February 1, 2018, Roger Voss

“This is the new taste for this estate: richly endowed while remaining elegant and suave. Certainly, there is great concentration here as well as rich black fruits. But they are given a sense of style and poise that will remain with this wine as it ages. Drink from 2026.”

Vinous Media: 98+ POINTS
February 2018, Antonio Galloni

“The 2015 Pichon Comtesse is a towering wine, as it has always been. Rich, sumptuous and totally hedonistic, the 2015 melds together intense fruit with structure. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2015 is going to need a number of years and will then drink well for several decades. Grilled herbs, smoke, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that are layered into the dark-fleshed fruit for complexity. As good as the 2015 is today, it also has room to grow. Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau has done a tremendous job with the 2015s at Pichon Comtesse. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak, 55% new.”

AOC Pauillac, Bordeaux
68% Cabernet Sauvignon
29% Merlot
2% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot

Natural Cork
13.5%
No
No

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