Château Pichon Longueville - Countess of Lalande - Pauillac 2015

Jeb DUNNUCK

97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

I tasted the 2015 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande on three separate occasions rating it 97 twice and 98 once. Checking in as a final blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this is a nuanced style of wine that grows on you with time in the glass, and the larger Merlot component always gives it a more supple, seductive texture. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, spring flowers, leafy herbs and lead pencil notes all flow to a full-bodied, ultra-pure, seamless beauty that builds on the palate, has fine tannin and a great, great finish. As classy as they come, it will continue to impress for two to three decades.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe11/8/2017

Mid crimson. Heady and dense and so thick it almost tastes as though you could stand a spoon up in this wine!! Lots of fun. Not too sweet and masses of structure but maybe slightly less sophisticated than the other Pichon? 17.5+

Vinous

96-98 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe10/20/2017

A wild, exotic wine, the 2015 Pichon Lalande is a freak of nature. Even at this early stage in its life, the 2015 is racy and plush to the core, with no hard edges and a level of flamboyance that is out of character for Pichon. No matter, the 2015 is fabulous. Super-ripe, dark and exotic, the 2015 will surely need a bit of time to shed some baby fat, but is utterly magnificent.

Vinifera

4 / 5

the5/31/2016

Belle robe sombre. Notes très pures de prune, fruits noirs, violette. Ensemble très réussi. Entrée en bouche veloutée. Grande texture, consistante, expansive. Corps de forme sphérique. Finale très pure sur des notes fruitées et empyreumatiques.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

This beauty is hard to resist. Deep, dark ruby in color, this wine opens with licorice, tobacco and cassis dusted with cocoa, herbs, spice and blackberries -- and that’s just the beginning. Pure silk and velvet in texture, this wine feels delightful on your palate and the sensuous experience carries all the way through. With a smattering of dusty tannins, the dark ripe fruits in the finish combine freshness and purity. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this wine reached 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.68 and was produced from about 50% of the harvest.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that was picked from 10 September with the young Merlot, finishing on 9 October. It includes 12.5% vin de presse (which incidentally was included in the blend). It has a very pure bouquet with expressive Merlot imparting black cherries and wild strawberry aromas that are embroidered with a thread of graphite. I noticed how it errs more towards black fruit with extended aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannin on the entry, the Cabernet Sauvignon here in the driving seat despite that level of Merlot trying to get in a look. Together they give a sense of completeness to this Pichon Lalande that has semblances towards the great 1996. Whereas this Pauillac has a tendency to be more approachable than others, in fact, the 2015 has the backbone and substance to suggest that it will require a minimum of ten years' ageing, but patience will be amply rewarded. Nicolas Glumineau has overseen a quite brilliant Pichon Lalande here.

Bettane & Desseauve

19 / 20

the4/28/2016

Splendide fruit croquant, allonge brillante, longueur subtile. Grand retour au premier plan de ce cru célèbre qui égalera ou même dépassera peut-être en finesse pure et raffinement de texture tous les autres pauillacs. Malgré ses inédits 70 % de cabernet-sauvignon, il ne ressemble pas à son voisin Baron, mais reste fidèle à la tendresse particulière qui a fait sa réputation, sans le moindre fléchissement en milieu de bouche. Au contraire, on est frappé par la constance de sa plénitude du début à la fin de bouche. Merveilleux tannin de cèdre. Dégusté cinq fois dont une à l’aveugle et une au château et cinq fois éblouissant.

Vinous

96-98 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

A dazzling, towering wine, the 2015 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has put on considerable weight in just the last few months. Today, the 2015 is vivid and intense, with a huge backbone of tannin and marvelous complexity. In 2015, the Cabernet Sauvignon is pushed higher as the Merlot was less consistent in its ripening. Graphite, charcoal, tobacco, crème de cassis and new leather are some of the signatures in what is shaping up to be a super-classic Pichon-Lalande. Simply put, the 2015 is one of the wines of the vintage. Tasted four times.

Decanter.com

92 / 100

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

Fragrance and depth on the nose but a sense of over-ripeness puts it out of step with the vintage at the moment – even with the Comtesse lift and freshness. But time will probably be on its side. 2022-2035

timatkin.com

96 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. This is a surprisingly tender wine with its opulent Merlot filling out the firmer Cabernet. The acidity cuts to the heart while leaving room for a fresher, crisper character that is juicy and delicious. This will be a very fine wine. 95 points

René Gabriel

20 / 20

the4/10/2016

68 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 29 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Reifes, komplexes Bouquet, mit vielen dunklen Beeren und mit schwarzen Schokonoten unterlegt. Im zweiten Ansatz einen ganz minimen Hauch von Dörrfrüchten, erste Zedern- und Tabaknoten zeigend. Im Gaumen füllig, eine reife, intensive Adstringenz aufweisend, Heidelbeeren und Black-Currantnoten, unglaublich viel Aromendruck im schier bulligen Finale vermittelnd. Mit Lafite der beste Pauillac! Also verdient auch er die Maximalnote. Wie schon im Letzten Jahr. Also ist der Pichon-Lalande in den letzten Jahren auf absolutem Höhenflug. Es war der letzte Wein im Union des Grands Cru Tasting auf Lafon-Rochet. Also konnte ich ihn sehr gut mit seiner Konkurrenz vergleichen. Das Ding hat mich schier umgehauen. Am anderen Tag habe ich ihn nochmals auf dem Gut nach verkostet. Das ist unglaublich viel Aromatik drin und er hat auch schöne Reserven. 20/20 2202 – 2055

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

This is absolutely beautiful with super tannin quality that gives you the most silky texture. Precise. It goes for minutes. Full and concentrated yet all in balance.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

This has excellent energy, featuring voluptuous blackberry and black currant fruit lined with cassis bush, bay leaf, wet stone and iron notes, with sweet tobacco filling in the background. The finish is broad and long, with a nice graphite edge. This is Pauillac.—J.M.