Reserve de Pichon Comtesse 2022

A Pauillac Second Wine with wonderful precision and fullness

The estate

Second Grand Cru Classé de Pauillac, The beautiful Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac Second Grand Cru Classé, shines on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. In 2007, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande turned a page in its history in being acquired by the Rouzaud family, owners of Louis Roederer Champagne.

The vineyard

A benchmark among Pauillac wines, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande oversees a 102-hectare vineyard, 80 hectares of which are in production. The soils are composed of gravelly hilltops on sandy-clay subsoils, benefiting vines that are 28 years old on average. In conversion to organic farming, the vineyard is certified organic and 65% biodynamic.

Réserve de Pichon Comtesse is the estate's Second Wine.

The vintage

A mild, dry winter, particularly in February and March, with temperatures above seasonal norms, encouraged a relatively early budburst in early April. Thanks to its location close to the estuary and the resources deployed by the teams, the vineyard was not affected by several nights of frost. A dry, warm spring followed, leading to flowering at the end of May under optimum health conditions. June was very unstable and rainy, followed by violent hailstorms. Drought and heatwave set in during July. Despite these extreme conditions, the grapes ripened well ahead of schedule. The thunderstorms that occurred during the summer restored the vineyard, allowing the grapes to perfect their ripening.

Winemaking and ageing

Vinification by plot. Gravity-fed vats. Double-walled, temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Aged for 12 months in barrels (50% new) with a medium-long toasting. Traditional racking.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (54%)
Merlot (34%)
Petit Verdot (10%)
Cabernet Franc (2%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Reserve Pichon Comtesse 2022

Tasting

Nose
The nose is complex, mingling mineral notes of cedar and licorice with fruity (blackberry and blackcurrant) and floral (violet) fragrances.

Palate
Juicy and gourmet, the palate delights with its fruity framework (strawberry and cherry) and by its round and precise tannins drawing out to a long finish.