Pichon Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2017

Wine Advocate

96

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is a little closed to begin, soon revealing floral notes of lilacs and lavender over a core of black raspberries, warm blackberries and forest floor plus touches of star anise and stewed black tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is a bundle of energy and tension with softly played tannins and beautiful floral and black fruit layers, finishing with a long-lingering whisper. Drinking Window : 2021 - 2049

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a dark, powerful, somber Pauillac. Dark fruit, grilled herbs, smoke and licorice add to its distinctly brooding personality. In multiple tastings the 2017 has been incredibly tight and shut down. Readers will have to be especially patient. Estate Director Nicolas Glumineau has overseen a number of showy, majestic wines since he arrived at Pichon Comtesse in 2013. The 2017 appears to be cut from a different cloth, as it is incredibly reticent in the early going.

Wine Spectator

96

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

A sleek, precisely dialed-in Pauillac, with a pure and racy beam of cassis, blackberry and dark plum fruit inlaid with a mouthwatering iron note. A backdrop of singed alder and sweet tobacco waits in reserve, while the finish sails through with great cut. Possesses a regal feel. Best from 2025 through 2040. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

A tight, compact young Bordeaux with medium body, polished and round tannins and a medium finish. Not a big wine, but some very classy currant and raspberry character and just a hint of lead pencil and polished structure. Drink after 2022.

Le Point

17

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Boisé blond au nez, bonne structure tannique, bien enrobé, dense, charnu, charmeur, finale veloutée, on finit sur une texture soyeuse, épices.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The Grand Vin 2017 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande checks in as a rough blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, with yields a modest 36 hectoliters per hectare. Still again in 60% new French oak, it sports a deep ruby color as well as textbook Cabernet flair in its black and blue fruits, leafy herbs, violets, and building minerality. Hitting 13.1% alcohol, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless on the palate. It doesn’t have the weight of the 2015 but shines for its incredible purity and precision.

WeinWisser

19,5

byRené Gabrielthe5/31/2018

70% CS, 23% Merlot, 6% CF, 1% PV. Dichtes Granatrubin, satte Mitte, violetter Rand. Verstrâmt ein ero-tisches Parfüm nach reifen Schatten-morellen, frischen Alpenheidelbeeren und verführerischer Nougatschokolade. lm zweiten Ansatz susse Lakritze, wür-ziges Cassis und warmes Pumperni-cketbrot. Am royalen Gaumen mit seidi-ger Textur und feinmehligem Extrakt, eine geniale Symbiose von Dichte und Eleganz. lm langen Finale eine Offenba-rung aus Brombeeren und hellen Edel-hitilzern, die unglaubliche Prâzision macht dieses Jahr den Unterschied und katapultiert ihn an die Spitze in Pauillac. Neben Cheval Blanc der Rotwein des Jahrgangs!          
19.5/20 2028 - 2053

Vinifera

94

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Réducteur, mais on apprécie sa finesse et son port altier en bouche, aérien, presque crayeux. Vin subtil, fin, long et frais, avec une finale sur un tanin assez aristocratique. Quelle classe !

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is gorgeous, but it is also going to need time to come together. The sensuality and allure typical of so many Pauillacs is not at all evident here. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, charcoal and exotic spice make a strong opening statement in a powerful Pichon Comtesse that is not ready to show all of its cards. The 2017 was incredibly reticent in several tastings, which is probably a very good thing for its long-term potential. Today, though, the 2017 is dense, powerful and closed in on itself, without the layers that define the 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Showing a virtuous depth of color, the wine opens with notes of lead pencil, truffle, smoke, tobacco leaf, vanilla and dark red fruits. The tannins are silky, polished, salty and creamy. The wine is full bodied, velvety and long, delivering complexity, sweetness and length. This a very sensuous wine that comes from blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine reached 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.78. The harvest took place from September 7, ending October 1.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Pichon-Lalande was picked from 7 September to 2 October and underwent a 23 day cuvaison period. It is intense on the nose, the new oak coming through a little strongly since the sample came from a new barrel, the final blend consisting of 60% new wood. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, the Cabernet Sauvignon driving this alone with layers of black fruit laced with cedar and graphite. It is a very “Pauillac” Pichon Lalande, less opulent and giving than recent vintages and more in the style of say, the 1996 or 2010. There is very good persistence on the saline finish but it is clearly a wine that is going to require more cellaring than its peers. Tasted four times in total, each time this gained more substance and density.

Wine Advocate

94-96

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

This barrel sample is 100% new oak, whereas the final blend will be only 60% new oak. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is very deep garnet-purple in color with an incredibly fragrant nose of roses, lavender and baking spices over a core of crushed blackcurrants, wild blueberries and fresh plums plus touches of iron ore and underbrush. Medium-bodied and elegant with firm, grainy tannins, it's quite taut and muscular, with lots of perfumed and mineral layers and a long finish with lingering cinnamon and anise notes.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

95-97

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

Certainly a fine wine, this has ripe tannins that are balanced by the fine, black fruits. With its smoky and black currant character, it has the structure for aging, as well as the attractive fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2024.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is a really fascinating young Pichon Lalande with a dense center palate of currants, crushed stones, salt and seashells. Really long and intense. Wonderful energy. Showing character of some of the top years of the 1980s.

Wine Spectator

92-95

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Solid, with a rounded, enticing core of plum and black currant preserve flavors supported by savory and tobacco notes. Has sleek tannins and fresh acidity for ample length and a nice graphite edge at the end.—J.M.