France · Bordeaux

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pichon Lalande — as collectors universally call it — is one of the most celebrated of all Bordeaux Second Growths, and for several decades has consistently outperformed that classification. The estate was created when the Pichon estate was split in 1850; the southern half with its grand château passed to the Comtesse de Lalande and has remained associated with feminine elegance and complexity. The 89-hectare vineyard faces Château Latour across the road in Pauillac, with a significant parcel in the St-Julien appellation that contributes Merlot and softness to the blend. The wine is built on Cabernet Sauvignon but with higher Merlot than most Pauillac neighbours, creating a plush, generous profile with tremendous aromatic complexity. Under the ownership of the Miailhe family and later the Rouzaud family of Roederer, the estate has maintained extraordinary consistency. Key vintages include 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2009, and 2010, the last two considered among the greatest Pichon Lalande ever made. The second wine, La Réserve de la Comtesse, is also highly regarded. At auction, Pichon Lalande commands prices close to First Growth level in great years, driven by its cult following and the relative scarcity of truly great bottles.