Reserve de la Comtesse 2016

Reserve de la Comtesse 2016: A powerful, deep and elegant Pauillac

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande's second wine, Reserve de la Comtesse is produced in the Pauillac appellation. The vineyard is planted on gravel-based soil, very characteristic of the appellation. Reserve de la Comtesse 2016 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged for 12 months, 30% in new wood.

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande had an interesting 2016. Winter was mild and spring experienced a lot of rainfall, which led to mildew appearing on the vines. Luckily, a period of good weather allowed the grapes to mature. Summer settled in and development continued, without any problems until harvest.

Reserve de la Comtesse 2016 is a very good vintage. Powerful, deep and extremely elegant. To be consumed from 2042-2047. 

Wine Advocate-Parker :
The 2016 Reserve de Comtesse de Lalande is a blend of 37% Merlot, 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with a modest alcohol level of 13.1% and a pH of 3.71. It has a tightly wound bouquet that perhaps needed more coaxing than some of its peers, but it was worth persisting, as it unveils some lovely cedar-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin on the entry, moderate depth, a light marine influence upon the black fruit with a little creaminess on the finish. This is a fine Reserve de Comtesse that is on par with the excellent 2015 last year.