Comtesse de Lalande - Castle Pichon Longueville - Pauillac 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Deep ruby.  Musky, smoke-accented aromas and flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, violet and underbrush.  Plush and full-bodied, with suave flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate, herbs and scorched earth.  Shows good depth and density but doesn't have quite the length for outstanding.  (88(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

The dark ruby/plum-colored 2011 Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande is an elegant, suave, medium-bodied effort with abundant black cherry and red and black currant fruit. Nearly St.-Julien-like in its texture and personality, this is a well-made, finesse-styled Pauillac to drink over the next 10-15 years.

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

A 2011 with blackberry, dark-chocolate and smoked-meat character. Full body, silky tannins and a long, intense finish. All about balance and polish. Very fine. Needs three to four years to soften. Try in 2017.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/11/2014

Warm savory and tobacco leaf notes lead the way, with a cedary frame surrounding the lightly mulled plum and cherry fruit. Cassis bush and tobacco accents are embedded on the finish. Very solid, but lacks extra drive. Best from 2015 through 2027. 20,833 cases made.

Les Echos

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe12/4/2013

Le voilà dans une nouvelle époque et dans le cercle ultra fermé des rois de Pauillac. Ce vin ferme, tendu, assez charnu pour équilibrer son tanin avec le temps, est un coureur de fond à qu'il faut donner le temps d'épanouir une classe évidente.

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5-17 / 20

the5/31/2012

Le Pichon le plus marqué par les cabernets (78% de sauvignon et 12% de franc). Sans perdre de son moelleux habituel, il se montre plus strict et élancé, plus précis et racé, avec une admirable colonne vertébrale. Superbe potentiel.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Fruits noirs, mûre, myrtille, poivre noir, bouche dense, tannique, tendue, longue, vive, fraîche, beau fruit, élégant, milieu de bouche souple et garni, finale accrocheuse mais fruitée. O= 2018 G= 15 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

Purple ruby. Perfumed aromas of spicecake, flowers and coffee. Chewy in texture and a bit peppery, with bright flavors of redcurrant, Christmas spices and oak. Finishes bright and long, with a repeating floral quality. This could use a little more flesh but offers lovely balance and is a very successful wine in the context of the vintage.

TAST

17-17,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Vin ferme, tendu, assez charnu pour équilibrer son tannin avec le temps, lui aussi très cabernet, ce qui confirme une évolution de sytle voulue par les nouveaux propriétaires, mais à ce stade un peu moins éclatant et unitaire que ses voisins immédiats.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Viel Merlot wurde für den Zweitwein Reserve de la Comtesse verwendet, daher gibt sich die Assemblage für den Grand Vin so Klassisch wie sehr selten zuvor : 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Ertrag : 42 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Extrem schwarzbeerig mit rauchigem Tiefgang, dunkle Rosen, erhaben - aber auch gleichzeitig ziemlich diskret. Tolle Aromatik im Gaumen, Alpenheidelbeeren, viel Cassis, ausgeglichene, verlangende Adstringenz, die Tannine sind präsent, stützend und versprechen ein grossartiges Potenzial, intensiver Nachklang. Ein atypischer Comtesse-de-Lalande, weil er daherkommt wie ein tiefschürfender Pauillac aus einem grossen Jahrgang. Tolle Teamleistung. 2018-2045

Decanter.com

17,5 / 20

the4/30/2012

Very fine expression of Cabernet cassis, lovely refreshingly lifted fruit, great elegance and charm and hidden power to last. Drink 2016-2035. (17.5 points)

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

Only 40% of the crop made it into the grand vin, which achieved 12.95% natural alcohol. The final blend for the 2011 Pichon Lalande was 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Under the administration of the new owners, the Merlot component has been dramatically reduced in favor of more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. A strong effort, the 2011 boasts a dense ruby/purple color and abundant aromas of black currants intermixed with unsmoked cigar tobacco, serious body, more concentration than most of the classified growths, and a bigger, more structured style that may suggest a subtle change in the winemaking philosophy at this estate. This impressive wine is one of the vintage’s most interesting efforts. It should drink well for 15-20 years.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

The headline is that this vintage of Pichon Lalande has the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever: 78% accompanied by 8% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It is aged in 60% new oak and has an IPT of 75. It has a very strict bouquet, obviously dominated by the Cabernet with notes of blackcurrant, tobacco, graphite, a hint of Christmas cake and that tincture of blood orange evident in the second wine. The palate is medium-bodied with a linear, conservative entry that expands nicely in the mouth. It has fine acidity, good tension, fine weight but it is very tightly wound, more so than usual at this nascent stage. Leaving it aside, there is a hint of Lapsong Souchang and graphite towards the finish that shows a little hardness, but that should soften by the time of bottling. A very Pauillac-like Pichon, perhaps the little brother of the 1996? Tasted twice with consistent notes. Tasted April 2012

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

A record-setting amount of Cabernet Sauvignon was used in 2011 with 78%. The remainder was taken up with 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine will be aged in 60% new oak and reached 13% alcohol. Deep ruby in color with floral, cocoa, cassis, tobacco, olive and hints of mocha scents make up the perfume. The wine has medium body with fresh and bright cassis and boysenberry in the round finish. 92-94 Pts

Asian Palate

92-93 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

This is an elegant, classic Pichon Lalande with finesse and well handled ripe tannins despite its density this year. The palate is light though substantial with an attractive array of flavours -- cedar box, fresh Chinese red dates and hint of violets. A classic, well balanced Pichon Lalande that will age well.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/17/2012

Drink 2018-2028
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Very dark with a black core. Cedary and dark and pure. Bright, fresh fruit aromas. A little bit herbaceous on nose and the palate. Pretty leafy and quite green on the palate, the Cabernets making themselves felt. Very fresh, lightly structured, savoury, elegant. Not a great deal of depth but juicy in the middle and it is harmonious. Lingers though it really is a little bit green on the finish. Firm and pretty dry. (JH) 13%

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

This has good intensity, with a very lively core of kirsch, steeped blackberry and dark currant flavors supported by lots of pain d'épices and licorice snap on the finish. Shows drive and length.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/4/2012

This is powered by tannins while also keeping its fresh fruit intact. There is a mineral texture that’s layered with a juicy fruit character on the finish. —R.V

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

This is really fantastic for the vintage with a wonderful balance and finesse, yet a firm impressive tannin structure. It's very long and pretty. This has less Petit Verdot in the blend than in past vintages. 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.