Pichon Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2022

Wine Advocate

100

par William Kelley le 07/03/2025

The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated, bursting from the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with scents of licorice, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's suave, seamless and complete, with faultless precision, pristine integration of tannin, controlled sweetness and a long, expansive finish. The 2022 manages to unite the sensuality that's the estate's calling card and the ripeness of the vintage on the one hand, with a sense of Pauillac classicism on the other, threading the needle to deliver one of the finest wines of the vintage and a benchmark Pichon Comtesse. It's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in barriques (three months more than was formerly the case), two-thirds of which were new. As I wrote en primeur, there's more than a hint of the 1982 about this wine, and like the 1982, the 2022 will offer an exceptionally wide drinking window.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

98

par Jane Anson le 07/03/2025

As ever this stands out from the pack. Elegant, finessed, deep diving into bitter black chocolate, mandarin rind, liquorice bud, anis, fennel, crayon, graphite and slate, with opulent depths to the blackberry and damson fruit, so many textural components to the construction of the wine, clever winemaking, love the gentlest wash of clove spice on the finish that speaks to the conditions of the vintage without ever overpowering. Great stuff, this will age for many years, but no need to wait as long as with vintages such as 2016, even 2020 - I suggest five to eight years here.

Decanter.com

99

par Georgina Hindle le 07/03/2025

Shiny and striking, this delights from the first sip giving a burst of strawberry and citrus acidity before salty minerality comes in the form of chalky tannins, graphite, pencil lead and slate. Really quite mineral. It's sleek and classically styled, no overt ripeness of fruit although there's concentration in the...

The Wine Cellar Insider

99

par Jeff Leve le 04/03/2025

Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

par Jeb Dunnuck le 28/02/2025

Looking at the flagship 2022 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, it's based on 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in two-thirds new oak and one-third in once-used barrels. Its similarly deep purple hue is followed by a magical, heavenly 2022 that has a layered, full-bodied profile that brings an incredibly floral character as well as a huge core of darker currant fruits, ripe, polished, velvety tennis, no hard edges, and a thrilling finish. It’s a quintessential Comtesse that brings the forward, supple elegance of the château while still offering plenty of classic Pauillac depth, structure, and character. Give bottles 5-7 years and enjoy over the following 40+.

Yvesbeck.wine

99

par Yves Beck le 25/02/2025

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc L'énergie, la clarté, la puissance annoncées par le bouquet de Pichon Comtesse frisent la consternation. D'entrée, le vin annonce sa grandeur, sans raccourcis, sans doute. Les nuances de baies noires, de graphite, de menthe poivrée, d'eucalyptus, de végétal frais, de sureau et l'éclat qui y est attaché impressionnent et invitent à déjà noter le vin sans l'avoir gouté. La dernière étape est donc un acquis de conscience… et de plaisir. Et le vin ne manque pas de souligner son aptitude à briller sans être envahissant, à séduire sans être doux, à convaincre sans hausser la voix. Il est élégant, profond, fin, expressif et interminable en matière de persistance. 2028-2057 99/100

Vinous

98

par Neal Martin le 12/02/2025

The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a very sensual, perfumed, floral bouquet with crushed violets and licorice infusing the black fruit. It needs time to really open in the glass, manifesting more underlying graphite scents with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins and quicksilver thread of acidity. It offers the sensuality of this Pauillac Classed Growth with structure and poise, just firming up a little with time, which is not a bad thing. This estate has enjoyed a scintillating run of form in recent years, and this latest bottled vintage shows that there is no end in sight.

Jamessuckling.com

99

par James Suckling le 03/02/2025

What perfect aromas of blackcurrants, lead pencil, violets, blood oranges and blood. Some iron. Medium- to full-bodied, this has incredible tannins that are completely loaded and integrated, melting into the wine with such a glorious mouthfeel. The finish goes on and on, lightly austere in the most sophisticated way. Racy and rigorously focused. 78% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Try after 2030, but already a new benchmark for this estate.

Vinous

97

par Antonio Galloni le 28/01/2025

The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a wine of somber intensity, one that will require years to be at its best. Dark fruit, leather, incense, licorice, plum and mocha slowly open in the glass. Pichon Comtesse is often more demonstrative at this stage, but the 2022 is decidedly reticent. I expect it will be slow to reveal all of its character. I tasted the 2022 three times and found it consistently closed.

Wine Spectator

98

par James Molesworth le 22/01/2025

This brims with notes of dark currant, blackberry and black cherry preserves that sparkle subtly with reserved energy, while sweet tobacco, licorice snap, chestnut, violet and ink notes work harmoniously through the long, crumpled velvet finish. A late humus echo provides a beautiful counterpoint, which just makes you want to go right back and start the experience all over with another sip. A total stunner. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2050.

Wine Maniacs

97-99

par Lin Liu le 30/05/2023

Decanter.com

98

par Georgina Hindle le 25/05/2023

One of my favourite wines from 2022, utterly seductive from the first sip, this is a stunning effort that shows the power of Pauillac in 2022 delivered with elegance and class. Heavily scented on the nose, full of dark fruits, savoury notes of salty chocolate and floral scents. Smooth and so appealing in the mouth, the texture stands out, deep and rich but soft and chalky, tannins have a subtle powderiness that spreads the mouth, cooling and refreshing giving the minerality while the cool black and blue fruits linger in layers expanding vertically. This is so refined and polished - it's serious no doubt, not super fun, but it doesn’t need to be, it’s rich and sumptuous with sweet blue fruits balanced by high acidity that keeps the focus and energy. Bright, bold, well worked, clean, crystalline and pure. Somehow delicate and punchy at the same time. A mind-blowing wine that you just have to marvel at with intensity, brightness and vibrancy, building as it goes. A long, clean finish leaves you wanting more, salivating for that next sip. 3.8pH. A potential 100-point wine. 3.8pH. 50% grand vin. Tasted twice.

Alexandre Ma

97-99

par Alexandre Ma le 17/05/2023

Noble, truly noble. I can find no more fitting word than "noble" to describe Château Pichon Comtesse 2022 (En Primeur). Remarkably, even after enduring the inferno-like heat, Château Pichon Comtesse 2022 still effortlessly exudes elegance. The scents of plum, apricot, and blueberry are like pigments splashed onto a white canvas, with purple juice flowing down, creating a natural painting that locks in the palate's memory. Delicate and tender upon entry, yet resolute and forceful upon finish; it possesses both the soft, graceful charm of Château Pichon Comtesse and the robust power of the Pauillac region. The 2022 vintage marks the winery's first attempt at sulfur-free fermentation, a change that didn't compromise the wine's aromas and instead rendered the taste even purer, even revealing a rare saline nuance in the finish, showcasing the boundless possibilities of "Pichon Comtesse"

Vinous

96-98

par Neal Martin le 17/05/2023

The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was picked 6 to 27 September at 30hL/ha, the drought chipping away so that one-third was eventually lost. This has 13.65% alcohol and pH of 3.80. There is 17.5% pressed wine, the highest ever. This has a subtle bouquet, not understated but it unfurls in the glass (unlike others that explode.) Blackberry and cedar, light touches of mint, a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety texture with lovely balanced, gentle but insistent grip, slightly granular as it fans out with black fruit, cedar and light graphite notes. This is a very suave Pichon-Lalande that will age with style.

The Vintage Journal

95-96

par Andrew Caillard MW le 17/05/2023

Deep crimson. Intense balck cherry, blackcurrant, chinotto aromas with hints of spice. Beautifully concentrated black cherry pastille, cassis fruits, a touch of chinotto/ Amaro and well balanced marzipan notes. Finishes cedar firm and long. Very good richness, concentration and mineral length. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon 17% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc (Around 60% new oak)

matthewjukes.com

19

par Matthew Jukes le 15/05/2023

The Wine Independent

98-100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 15/05/2023

A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little coaxing, aromas of blackcurrant jelly, juicy plums, and wild blueberries waltz out of the glass, followed by nuances of red roses, damp soil, tar, and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with impressive tension created by mineral-laced, crunchy black fruit layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and savory. pH 3.8.

Yvesbeck.wine

98-100

par Yves Beck le 10/05/2023

L'intensité du bouquet est une chose, la complexité un autre et la pertinence encore une autre. Et chacun de ses critères est plussoyé par le bouquet. Que de grandeur et de précision. Le vin est d'une excellente densité et parfaitement soutenu par des tannins compacts, puissants qui se révèlent le long du palais pour atteindre leur amplitude en fin de bouche. L'acidité, structurante, ne manque pas de conférer de la tension et de la persistance. C'est certainement un des très grands Pichon Comtesse…. Avec le 2020 et le 2010 ! Puis le 1982… etc. etc.

Bettane & Desseauve

97-98

par Bettane & Desseauve le 10/05/2023

Splendide constitution, définition remarquable de son terroir, puissance, souplesse, finesse au plus haut degré.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 10/05/2023

One of the gems from Pauillac is unquestionably the 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. A hypothetical blend of the 2019 and 2020, it's a full-bodied, concentrated, opulent Comtesse offering beautiful blue fruits, some chocolate, leafy herbs, and undeniable minerality, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. Despite the higher Cabernet Sauvignon component, this stays silky, expansive, and incredibly sexy. It's going to be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age but should have a lengthy drink window. Hats off to director Nicolas Glumineau for another legendary wine from this château.

Vinous

96-99

par Antonio Galloni le 09/05/2023

The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is magnificent. In recent years, Estate Director Nicolas Glumineau has pushed Pichon Comtesse to the limit. Maybe even a bit too far. But the 2022 is in the end a super-classic wine that emphasizes mid-weight structure, aromatic presence and persistence more than size. Sweet floral, savory and mineral accents run through a core of ripe, racy red-toned fruit. All the elements are so well balanced. Tasted four times. Drinking window : 2032-2062

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100

par Jeff Leve le 05/05/2023

With an inky, dark, garnet hue, the wine asks for a bit of coaxing before its leather, cedar, spice, flowers, truffle, mint, currants and dark cherries show in the perfume. The wine is pure silk on the palate. There are no edges or corners. Everything feels in place. It is completely seamless. The wine is pure, fresh, and expansive. The mid-palate picks up its currants and plums, while the finish holds them in place, and expands in all 4 directions, with perfect balance in its 60-second plus finish. This is the best vintage of Pichon Comtesse ever produced! If you have the extra money, this is the wine to buy as it will provide dividends for decades as it ages and evolves. The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.65% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 27. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Only 50% of the harvest goes into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2065.

Wine Advocate

97-99

par William Kelley le 02/05/2023

The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one wine where a comparison with this estate's magical 1982 doesn't appear to be far-fetched. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, plums, violets, rose petals, tobacco leaf and pencil shavings, it's full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a layered, seamless core of fruit that largely conceals its chassis of powdery structuring tannin. Concluding with a long, expansive and beautifully perfumed finish, it's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that has the potential to equal or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages at this address. It checks in at a very classical 13.6% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.80.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

par James Suckling le 19/04/2023

I love the aromatics here with botanicals as well as currants, blackberries and oranges. Full-bodied with incredible tannins that build on the palate with finesse and focus. Featherlight but always there. Stealth in structure. Very vertical. Savory. Superb. 78% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 5% cabernet franc.