Pichon Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2012

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe11/1/2022

Medium ruby in colour, less intense towards the edge of the rim, suggesting a touch of evolution. This shows vanilla and sage spice, crushed dark cherries, with a mid palate dominated by velvety but still firm and present tannins. A wave of fresh acidity comes in on the finish and supports a rolling out of vanilla and sweet spices. The vintage profile is identifiable in the weight of the body, and the sweeter, drinkable style of the wine. 55% new oak, first year with Nicolas Glumineau as director (overseeing blending but not viticulture), with 50% 1st wine in production, harvest October 1-18.

Wine Advocate

91-91

byNeal Martinthe9/20/2022

The 2012 Pichon-Lalande has a rather musky bouquet at first, juniper and mint infusing the black fruit, not quite translating the essence of Pauillac as well as others, though still attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and silky smooth. There is a veneer of high quality oak here, quite plush on the finish yet at the same time, nicely controlled. Good potential, though I would like to see improvement aromatically. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe10/20/2017

As it always is, the 2012 Pichon Lalande is a wine of pure and total seduction. The 2012 is neither the biggest nor most complex Pichon Lalande, but it is among the most pleasurable wine in this tasting, especially for near and medium-term drinking. Silky and medium in body, with lovely brightness, the 2012 has so much to offer.

Wine Advocate

90

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

The grande dame, the 2012 Pichon Lalande represents only 50% of their harvest production. It has soft, round tannins, endearing elegance, and up-front fruit. It is not a blockbuster, but its lush, richly fruity style is charming and seductive, with raspberry, blueberry, mocha and blackcurrant fruit and a deep ruby/purple color. This medium-bodied, supple-textured wine is surprisingly precocious and forward, and therefore best drunk over the next 15 years. The final blend was 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Jamessuckling.com

92

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

Wonderful nose of wet earth, mushrooms and berries. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Sleek and polished. Needs two to three years of bottle age to soften. 59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJancis Robinsonthe12/11/2014

Cedary cassis. Tight, bright and delicious. It is fresh, has plenty of fruit, but shows signs of a serious structure for longevity. (JH)13% Drink 2020-2035

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-91

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

Good dark red.  Dark plum, raspberry, graphite and violet on the nose.  Smooth, fine-grained and sweet, with a floral quality to the plummy fruit.  Has the middle to support its tannins and acids, and finishes with good length.  Despite the difficult vintage, this struck me as a slightly more concentrated Pichon than the 2011.  Talented Nicolas Glumineau was called over from Montrose to be the new technical director in the wake of Sylvie Cazes's  departure

timatkin.com

94

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

Newly appointed from Château Montrose, Nicolas Glumineau said the team at Pichon took particular care to avoid over-extraction in 2012. The higher percentage of Merlot certainly helped, as this is a polished, assured performance from the Louis Roederer-owned property, with a combination of concentration and freshness on the palate and the backbone to age. Drink: 2020-35

Le Point

16

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits noirs, floral, gelée de framboise, bouche ample, moelleuse, crémeux des tanins, épicé, plein, fin, élégant. O= 2017 G= 13 ans.

Asian Palate

92

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

There is amazing depth and grace as well as concentration in this 2012. Fleshy and generous with very long finish. Velvety texture with supple tannins. There were two green harvests done in August and July to increase circulation. Not much botrytis according to the General Manager, Nicolas Glumineau. Harvest was October 1st until the 18th 2012, and towards the end there was heavy rain but the wines show no dilution. Tasted 2 samples and the one at the cellar was far better than the one at the UGC tasting.

Wine Advocate

88-90

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2013

I tasted the Pichon-Lalande three times over two weeks and it pains me to say that in 2012, the Grand Vin is not the success it ought to have been considering the percentage of Merlot in the vineyard. That is not to say that great effort was expended. There were two green harvests during the growing season which means that the yields were just 32hl/ha. The Grand Vin is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot harvested from 1 October until 18th October. They used three sorting: by hand, optical sorting and through the Ocillys de-stemmer The bouquet is a little disjointed and clearly does not possess the fruit intensity of its peers (through numerous comparisons). It just feels a little green and muted, startled by the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with a pointed, slightly harsh tannic opening, then the wine dips where the fruit ought to be and those tannins just dominate and slightly dry out the texture on the finish. It is less Cabernet-driven than the 2011, which was 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, but I feel that had they gone further and reduced the Cabernet Sauvignon further to allow the superior Merlot to shine, it would have made a better Grand Vin. I hope to re-taste this after bottling – sometimes the Comtesse can show awkwardly en primeur and it improves in barrel, so I will bear that in mind. Tasted April 2013. (88-90?)

Wine Spectator

89-92

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Juicy and forward in feel, with a core of red currant and cherry paste, backed by notes of savory, plum skin and roasted vanilla bean that steadily emerge through the finish. Gains weight with aeration, displaying a more rounded feel than most of this vintage's Pauillacs. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

17.5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Wine Advocate

91-93

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

Coming in at a lofty 13.2% natural alcohol, it offers up scents of black currants, white chocolate, berries, cedar and forest floor. Sweet tannin, a round opulence and medium body result in a classic, supple-textured Pauillac that should drink well young and keep for 12-15 years. It is very much in keeping with what most readers would consider the “house style” of Pichon Lalande, despite the fact that they are moving toward more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Petit Verdot in the final blend. Fifty percent of the crop made it into the final blend of 2012 Pichon Lalande, which includes more and more Cabernet Sauvignon under the new ownership of the Roederer Champagne firm. The 2012 is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.Drink: 2013 - 2028

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

Produced from a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13% alcohol, with a pH of 3.8. Sporting a deep color, the wine offers dark chocolate, black raspberry, mint and caramel scents. Soft, medium-bodied and silky, the wine ends with black and red berries, cocoa, and fresh herbs in the cherry-dominated finish. 91-93 Pts

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,8

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/25/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, frais, pur et floral. Belle entrée en bouche ample puis le vin se développe volumineux et plutôt plein pour l’année avec du goût, des tanins fins. C’est délicieux ! Il rappelle une note Pomerol dans le gras du toucher. Finale savoureuse et impossible à cracher. Assemblage : 59 % cabernet sauvignon, 28 % merlot, 8 % cabernet franc et 5 % petit verdot.

Jancis Robinson

16,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/24/2013

Drink 2020-2030Round, relaxed and easy though without massive concentration. Gentle and not the most ambitious, but fresh and lively and good punch. Attractive finish. Hums along… Very dry on the finish. 13%

Decanter.com

17,75

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Slightly meaty and slighty spicy ripe fruit, with Merlot to the fore, good middle sweetness and a succulence that will impress over time. 17.75/20pts ( 92/100pts)Drink: 2016 - 2032

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

Focused and very pretty with ultra-fine tannins and dark chocolate, dark fruit. Fine texture. A beautiful center palate and finesse here. Creamy tannins. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.