Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from South Africa, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Italy, Spain and more….
Timed Online Auction, 27 June - 15 July 2024
Bordeaux
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one of the most significant second growths in Pauillac, Bordeaux. It neighbors first-growth powerhouse, Château Latour, with whom the estate shares a similar terroir and climate. This helps to explain the quality of the wine at Comtesse de Lalande, which is sometimes referred to as "nearly first growth". Originally, Comtesse de Lalande was part of a huge property formally known as Château Pichon Longueville, owned by the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville who died in 1850. Upon his death, his children Raoul and Virginie inherited half of the property each. Raoul's half became Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, while Virginie's became Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The Château de Lalande was eventually sold to Champagne Louis Roederer in 2007. The estate vineyards are planted with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. The vines are grown in deep gravel soils with clay, sandstone and limestone layers. The wine is fermented in stainless steel before being matured in oak barriques (50% new) for 18 months.
Second label of Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 'Pichon Lalande'. Formerly labelled 'Reserve de la Comtesse'. The blend is made up of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Deep garnet. Black fruit and lots of sweet toasty oak. Tea-leaf scent on the palate, the tannins a little firmer than needed to match the depth of the fruit core but it is just in balance. I think the tannins may outlast the fruit. I marked it down half a point on retasting.’ – Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16/20 (Feb 2024)
‘The excellence of this second wine vindicates the appointment of Nicolas Glumineau as technical director in 2012. The nose shows black fruit aromas, and there's immediate, lush, forward fruit on the attack. It's suave and concentrated, but also remarkably deep, weighty, robust and structured, with a long finish - this has clear ageing potential.’ – Stephen Brook, Decanter.com, 92/100 (Nov 2017)
‘The 2014 Reserve de La Comtesse is a delicious second wine. Soft, open-knit and caressing, the 2014 offers striking textural depth to balance its dark red/purplish fruit. Spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice wrap around the juicy, super-expressive finish. A burst of aromatic freshness gives the wine its sense of proportion. The Reserve de La Comtesse is one of Bordeaux's most polished second wines, which, among other things, makes it an ideal red to drink over the next decade or so. The blend is 59 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 41 % Merlot.’ – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 92/100 (Feb 2017)
‘Deep, with a core of steeped plum, cassis and raspberry paste notes that are easily carried by a graphite spine, while anise and roasted apple wood details fill in the background. Shows lots of briary energy through the finish. Best from 2018 through 2026.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 90/100 (Mar 2017)
‘The 2014 Reserve de Comtesse de Lalande has a very fresh and vibrant bouquet with lovely cedar-infused black fruit that sings of Pauillac-ness (apologies for the made-up word!). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and elegant with a keen line of acidity. This feels quite linear at the moment and perhaps the finish could have dealt more complexity commensurate with the aromatics. Yet there is bundles of freshness infused into this Deuxième Vin and there is a palpable salinity on the aftertaste.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 91/100 (Mar 2017)
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