Pichon Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2009

Wine Advocate

97

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/18/2019

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a little reticent to begin, slowly giving way to notions of warm black cherries, blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums and sautéed herbs with hints of damp soil, tobacco and beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound black fruit and earthy layers, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness making for a long, lively finish. Classic! 97+

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe3/15/2019

The 2009 Pichon-Lalande offers copious scents of boysenberry, cassis and blue fruit on the nose, a little smudged compared to the Pichon Baron but very pure. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very rounded in the mouth thanks to the precocious Merlot content, sage and orange rind developing towards the caressing finish. A very sensual Pichon-Lalande, tempting. A great wine although the 2010 has the upper hand. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting. Drink 2022-2040.

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe10/20/2017

The 2009 Pichon Lalande is ripe and decidedly flamboyant from the very first taste. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, with serious richness, the 2009 is also almost shockingly tannic. It won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, and yet, there is so much to look forward to. The warm, dry conditions yielded a dense, exotic Pichon Lalande, but there is serious structure beneath all of the fruit.

Wine Advocate

94

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Pichon Lalande '09 has a far more understated bouquet with black cherries, pencil shavings, cedar and mint - classic Pauillac in other words, but very intense and precise. The palate is understated on the entry. This is very elegant, refined, very Lafite-like in style with a harmonious, citrus fresh finish that is long and sensual. Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

Dark red. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, smoke, mocha, espresso and tobacco, with darker berry notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Rich, lush and seamless but not yet filled in, with its berry flavors complicated by earth and herb elements. Not the last word in concentration, but this sexy Pauillac is sweet, shapely and remarkably accessible today. Finishes long, suave and palate-coating, with perfumed red berry flavor and an obvious chocolatey quality from the merlot component.

WeinWisser

19

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Intensives Bouquet, Haselnussnoten, Kaffeeröstöne, Backpflaumen und Dörrfrüchte, irgendwie an den 2003er erinnernd in einer deutlich konzentrierten Form. Ein Mund voll Wein, fast den Gaumen sprengend, hat eine Üppigkeit, die man sonst in grossen Pomeroljahrgängen sucht, Pralinen und Kokos im langen Nachhall. Vieilleicht wird man diesen Pichon-Lalande in einer Blinddegustation sogar ab und zu mit einem Mouton verwechseln. 20118-2050

Wine Advocate

95

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982. Try in 2018.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe1/11/2012

Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish. A touch restrained now, but should blossom with cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2033. - J.M

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

93-96

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

(a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot; 13% alcohol; pH 3.79; 70 IPT; 50% new oak) Purple-ruby color. Initially reticent nose hints at minerals and blackcurrant, then opens to reveal spicy strawberry, violet and cedar. Quite dense yet suave on entry, with harmonious acids nicely framing the captivating blackcurrant, plum and cedar flavors. Conveys an impressive sense of depth and brooding power, yet remains remarkably light on its feet and easy to drink. Very silky wine, with polished tannins offering considerable structure and support to the ripe fruit flavors on the extremely long finish. An utterly seamless wine yet very serious wine that will offer considerable early drinking appeal but needs time to reveal all of its considerable potential. Pichon-Lalande has long been one of my favorite wines of Bordeaux but I've been unimpressed by many recent vintages, so I am very happy to report that the '09 is not just the best wine here in recent memory, but probably one of the best of all time.

Le Figaro

94-96

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe sombre. Superbe nez de fruits noirs, un peu d’épices. En bouche, l’attaque est dense et veloutée, le beau milieu de bouche suave séduit, tout comme le fruit. Très grande réussite qui dépasse le 2005 et le 2000. 75 % cabernet-sauvignon, 20 % merlot, 5 % petit-verdot.

timatkin.com

92

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010

13% alcohol. 75CS, 20M, 5PV I might be missing something here – Pichon Comtesse rarely shows really well when young – but this seemed a little below par for a second growth. Medium colour, coffee bean and vanilla oak, with fresh acidity and sweet red and black fruits. Lacks profundity? 10+ years.

Le Point

17,5

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Fruits noirs, cerise, frais, élégant, tendu, serré, tendu, plus sérieux qu'avant, long, frais, épicé en finale, tanins bien éveillés en finale. O=2016 G=25 ans

TAST

19

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Le vin divise notre équipe : l’un d’entre nous, d’où la note, le juge exceptionnel de raffinement, de subtilité aromatique dans la puissance, de délié dans son tanin, et le met en tête des trente derniers millésimes, d’autres ont un sentiment de vin moins complet, moins parfait formellement. On voit la difficulté de déguster des vins aussi jeunes, sous la pression du commerce qui va bientôt le mettre en vente. 19 ou 16,5 selon les dégustateurs.

Wine Advocate

93-96

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2010

Tasted at the château and at the UGC. A limpid deep purple colour. This has a very fragrant nose, not quite as well defined as Pichon Baron, but very elegant and graceful with blackberry, raspberry leaf, pencil lead, graphite and wild hedgerow. Very pure and feminine. Second bottle at the UGC is actually better...much more precision here, the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) really showing through. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very compact, not as expansive as other wines, much more conservative than I was expecting, but very graceful with an unerring sense of symmetry. I cannot help feeling that the wine would benefit from a greater percentage of Merlot, especially on the finish, but over time is does expand in the glass, becoming more and more supple, with a sense of Cabernet invoked authority on the finish. This should coalesce beautifully by time of bottling. Tasted March 2010.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96

byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010

There is great power here – solid, dark and firm –showing muscularity, sinewy tannins and smoky intensity.

WeinWisser

19

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2010

75 % der Ernte (39 hl/ha) wurden als Grand Vin klassifiziert. 75 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Sattes Purpur- Granat. Fettes, reifes Schwarzund Backpflaumenbouquet, Kaffee, der obligatorische Hauch Pfefferschote, recht viel Havanna-Tabak, ziemlich füllig und mit verführerischem Kokosansatz. Saftig-eleganter Gaumen, ganz feine, integrierte Tannine, parfümiertes Vanillin im schmelzig-dichten Extrakt, eine wunderschöne, fast tanzende Cabernet-Frische zelebrierend, tolle Länge. Eine feminine und doch druckvolle Comtesse im typisch klassischen Stil. Kein Wein, den man in seiner Reife ehrfürchtig umschleicht, sondern ein Pauillac, von dem man möglichst schnell ein zweites Glas trinken möchte. Vielleicht schmeckt er schon bald wie der 82er?! 2017–2030

Falstaff

95-97

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Süßes Bukett nach Feigen und Dörrobst, zart nach Marzipan, florale Nuancen, zart nach Trüffel. Elegant, balanciert, frische Säurestruktur, feine schokoladige Noten, extraktsüße Frucht, bleibt sehr gut haften, ausgewogen, sehr animierend.

Wine Advocate

96-98

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

The blend for the 2009 Pichon Lalande is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat unusual at this estate which usually has more Merlot in the blend. As stated previously, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached levels of ripeness and intensity of flavor in 2009 never seen before in Bordeaux! The final blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot and a pH of 3.8 combines the best of a vintage such as 1996, in terms of structure, freshness, and precision, with the best of 1982, in terms of opulence, power, unctuosity, and thickness. The opaque purplecolored 2009 exhibits an intoxicatingly intense nose of red and black fruits, subtle smoke, charcoal, forest floor, and a hint of flowers. Unusually full-bodied for a wine from this estate as well as unctuously textured, voluptuous, and incredibly pure and precise, this dazzling wine should be drinkable at an early age, and evolve for 30+ years. (Tasted once.) Like most Medoc chateaux, Pichon Lalande began their harvest on September 22, and finished on October 7. Drink 2010-2040.

Periodic Review of Wine

96-98

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

The big achievements of 2006, 2000, 1995, and 1986 could have more company. The opaque ruby/purple colored Lalande is fascintaing to drink with lead-pencil dust, spilled-ink, blackberry, cassis, liquefied-minerals, white flower, and charcoal providing the aromatic fragrance, which by itself is worth the purchase. This is full-bodied and possesses a huge flavor along with superb complexity, density, and lavish fruit. The liquefied-mineral flavor reminds me of Larcis Ducasse and some of the Moueix wines. Additionally, there are hints of sensational purity and femininity. Wow! This is gorgeous! Maturity period 2017-2033.

Anthony Rose

93-95

byAnthony Rosethe4/26/2010

75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot, representing 37% of total production (Rêserve de la Comtesse is 50% this year), 13% alcohol and 50% new oak, this is a dense youthful ruby in colour, with a lovely nose, rich and full intense concentrated fruit quality, good fruit concentration, vibrancy and elegance all together, with undertones of mulberry and cherry fruit flavour, very subtle sub-threshhold oak, and vibrant balancing acidity. This wine is beautifully balanced and should be superb in the medium to long term. I was less impressed tasting at the château but it did much better in the Union des Grands Crus blind tasting for me.

Wine Spectator

95-98

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

Wow. This has an incredible complexity on the nose of currant, spice, mineral and flowers. Full-bodied, with a great density of fruit and tannins, yet polished and beautiful. This could be the new 1982 from here. Made from 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot and 5 percent Petit Verdot.

Decanter Magazine

18.5

bySteven Spurrierthe4/9/2010

Black red, wonderfully fragrant nose, rich and spicy and beautifully expressively textured fruit, plenty of extraction but pure harmony, vibrant and polished, seductive length and great future. Drink 2016-35.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/7/2010

Dark crimson and a little more complex-looking than the Réserve de la Comtesse. Heady and rich and spicy and lightly gamey. Very solid and dark and dense – almost brooding. Sweet, polished and fun. Just lacks a bit of bottom and density on the palate. Very flirtatious. Complete and savoury on the finish with very polished tannins. Appetising and not at all forced. But not the most ambitious 2009. Drink 2017-2030