Pichon Comtesse - Réserve - Pauillac 2018

Vinous

91

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

My feeling about the 2018 Réserve de la Comtesse is pretty much the same as it was when I first tasted it en primeur. It is an attractive, gracious wine with plenty of immediacy and appeal, but not the depth of some previous editions. I imagine that mostly reflects the significant presence of young vine fruit here and the uneven quality of the growing season and vintage. I would prefer to drink the 2018 over the next decade or so.

Wine Advocate

92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

This second wine represents 41% of the crop. Composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Reserve de la Comtesse springs from the glass with vibrant scents of ripe blackcurrants, black raspberries and baked plums, plus suggestions of pencil lead, cedar chest, ground cloves and lilacs. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly crafted with fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness nicely framing the delicate fruit, finishing earthy.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

The second wine of the Château, the 2018 Reserve De Comtesse De Lalande checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Terrific classic Pauillac notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, leafy tobacco, and chocolate define this beauty, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, balanced, pure character, present yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. As I wrote last year, it tastes more like a Grand Vin than a second wine. The larger Merlot component shows here compared to its more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated big brother, and it's a much more plush, silky, sexy wine that already offers loads of pleasure. It's going to evolve for two decades and is well worth seeking out.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Medium-bodied, elegant, refined, soft and silky, the wine shows off its sleek red fruits the moment it leaves the glass and graces your palate. Purity and elegance, in a forward style, this is a gorgeous, well-priced Pauillac that can be enjoyed for at least a decade or more, while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop.

Wine Spectator

90

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

Bright and juicy, with a mix of red and black currant preserve flavors lined with notes of briar and licorice root, ending with a hint of tobacco. Not large in scale, but has good latent energy. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. –JM

Falstaff

93

byPeter Moserthe1/29/2021

Kräftiges Rubingranat, zarte Ockerreflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Zarte Röstaromen, feine Nuancen von Cassis und Brombeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Nougat, attraktives Bukett. Saftig, reife rote Kirschen, samtige, reife Tannine, angenehme Extraktsüße und Frische im Abgang, mineralisch und anhaftend, gutes Reifepotenzial.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe1/26/2021

Aromas of dried violets, blackcurrants, oyster shells, ink and bitter chocolate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Concentrated and tight with an nicely austere finish. Needs a few years to soften. Second wine of Pichon Lalande. Try from 2025.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Réserve de la Comtesse is matured in 40% new oak, 30% one year old and 30% two years old. It has a relatively opulent bouquet, although not overdone, armed with copious blackberries, iodine and violet scents that gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin and pure black fruit laced with graphite and white pepper, leading to quite a dense but focused finish. This is a powerful Réserve de la Comtesse that will require three to five years in bottle.

WeinWisser

18

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Vinous

89-92

byAntonio Gallonithe5/1/2019

The 2018 Réserve de la Comtesse is a very pretty second wine from Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Pliant, creamy and inviting, the Reserve is attractive, but also a bit laid back relative to recent vintages in which the Réserve was perhaps a more serious, structured wine. The Réserve is built around a core of younger vine's fruit. The more accessible style is most likely explained by the natural heterogeneity of the vintage itself. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Tasted four times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

Starting with the second wine of the estate, the 2018 Réserve De Comtesse checks as a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It's another rock star of a second wine that taste more like a grand vin with its terrific perfume of crème de cassis, blackberry, graphite, high-class tobacco, and earth. It's deep, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and has serious length.

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Classified Growth in quality with layers of ripe, sweet, lush fruits, Pauillac character, espresso, spice and green olives along with the backbone to age. Buy this beauty and drink it while waiting for the Grand Vin to mature.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Most of the plots that were planted since 2011 have gone into this. This second wine represents 41% of the crop. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Reserve de la Comtesse opens slowly to offers glimpses and dusty soil, Sichuan pepper, garrigue and tobacco over a core of warm black cherries, cassis and blackberry pie plus a waft of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with juicy black fruits and loads of earth/mineral nuances, finishing with lovely freshness and a quiet intensity. Very impressive.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

As with the first wine of Comtesse, this is one to look out for in 2018. It’s seductive but with a minerality and pull through the palate joined by plush raspberry and damson fruits – so much depth but also so pretty.
As the tannins close in the finish is a little tighter than the mid-palate and when you return to it after tasting the first wine the fruit flavours have been joined by liquorice and touches of woodsmoke, it’s delicious.
The split is 50/50 between first and second wine in 2018, with over 90% of the total production used. 1% Cabernet Franc makes up the blend. 9% press wine. 3.85pH, 87IPT.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

A rich and dense second wine of Pichon Lalande with a full body, round and juicy tannins and a fruit-driven finish. Chewy, too.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

92

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

90-93

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Cassis, blackberry, pepper and tobacco notes are in the mix, with good energy on the graphite-edged finish. Shows textbook typicity, and should be ready in the near term after bottling.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-95

byYves Beckthe4/1/2019

42% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Chaque grappe de Réserve de la Comtesse doit pouvoir aller dans le 1er vin. Robe pourpre violacé. L’identité de Pauillac se révèle en une fraction de seconde au nez. Mais pas seulement Pauillac, et c’est bien là le point essentiel, c’est la Comtesse ! Beaucoup de fruits et de minéralité au nez, accompagnés d’une agréable fraîcheur. Attaque friande, juteuse et fruitée. Au palais, le vin se révèle lentement, à l’image de ses tannins qui sont parfaitement intégrés et qui gagnent en puissance au fil du palais. Belle intensité aromatique, idéalement soutenue par la structure. Finale fruitée persistante. Un grand vin avec un beau potentiel. 2024-2038

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe4/1/2019

As with the first wine of Comtesse, this is one to look out for in 2018. It’s seductive but with a minerality and pull through the palate joined by plush raspberry and damson fruits – so much depth but also so pretty.
As the tannins close in the finish is a little tighter than the mid-palate and when you return to it after tasting the first wine the fruit flavours have been joined by liquorice and touches of woodsmoke, it’s delicious.
The split is 50/50 between first and second wine in 2018, with over 90% of the total production used. 1% Cabernet Franc makes up the blend. 9% press wine. 3.85pH, 87IPT.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2036