Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2009

A Fruity and Earthy Wine from Pauillac

Pierre de Rauzan bought plots of vineyards in Pauillac to later be divided into what is now Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Pichon Baron. Part of the land de Rauzan purchased was given away as dowery in 1850, when his daughter married into the Baron de Pichon-Longueville family. This is where Pichon Lalande earned its name. Quite astonishingly, this winery was owned by a mere two families for three centuries – a rare feat for a Bordeaux Chateau. In 2007, the estate was then sold to the owners of Roederer Champagne and shortly thereafter, in 2012, the winery was extensively renovated to create a more modernized facility. The renovation included a new triple tiered cellar where everything moves by gravity, along with an underground barrel ageing cellar among other green initiatives within the vineyard. Today, the estate encompasses 220 acres of vineyards, with plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The vineyard terroir is deep gravel with clay and limestone, great for both principle Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. As of 2014, about 15 acres of land were set aside for experimenting with different farming techniques. Half is set up for organic farming, while the other half is used exclusively with biodynamic farming. The winery looks to continue to be as green and enviornmentally conscious as possible for future vintages.

The Pichon Longueville Comtesse Lalande 2009 is a wine you want to hold on for years to come. The 2009 vintage has been one of the most popular Bordeaux vintages in years, showing plenty of bold character and finesse. In the cellar, vinification of the wine takes place in 70 temperature controlled stainless steel vats where malolactic fermentation takes place. The wine is then aged in 50% new French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. The wine is bursting with notes of ripe cherry, floral, licorice, truffle and spices. On the palate the wine is silky, fresh and lively with dark berries. It has great layers of ripe fruit and a perfume filled with earth, tobacco and blackcurrant that will get even better with age.