La Réserve de la Comtesse 2015

The 2015 Réserve de la Comtesse has a fresh, delineated bouquet of cedar-infused red fruit; undergrowth and humidor notes surface with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, and fresh and balanced though not overly complex. It just needs to manifest more nuance and personality on the finish to merit a higher score. This tasted better 12 months ago. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

This is an impressive second wine. It shows a lot of vibrant red berries, blackberries and darker plum fruits. The palate is impressive for the vibrant and lively acidity cast amid sturdy but supple tannins. Second wine from Pichon-Lalande. Try from 2021.

Tasted blind. Minty sweet. Nice and layered and zesty, with good drive. There is flesh here.
Drink 2024-2032

This is the popular second wine of Chateau Pichon Lalande. There is always a high percentage of Merlot in the blend here which makes the wine soft and easy to drink when young. Deep ruby colour, displaying a balance of black and red fruits on the nose. The palate is approachable with ripe and silky tannins providing a light framework for juicy bramble fruits. There is a hint of smoke on the finish that adds a gentle layer of complexity.

The second wine of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is the 2015 Reserve De Comtesse De Lalande and it’s a beautiful wine in 2015 that surpasses most Château’s grand vin. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as medium to full-bodied notes of cassis, plums, ground herbs and spring flowers. This is a ripe, sexy, opulent second wine that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 10-15 years. 2018 - 2033

Perfumed fragrant the nose is bright and fresh the start of the palate light with bramble and bilberry freshness. The fruit in the middle is ripe and sweet fleshy and velvety but bright at the back with a lighter fresher feel to the finish.

Attractive in its youth, as it often is, the second wine from Pichon-Comtesse ages well,
too. This is floral, fine and well balanced with skilfully judged tannins and oak and good
underlying structure. Impressive stuff. Drink: 2020-28

There is a large uplift in quality here which is evident in the calibre of fruit used in this wine. The depth and focus here is
admirable and the perfume, coming mainly from the Merlot, is charming. The work going on at Pichon Lalande to keep
Merlot a crucial element of their wines is fantastic, bearing in mind that 25% Pauillac is Merlot and that a lot of other
Châteaux are dropping from their blends! A huge success, completely related to the Grand Vin and also a standalone,
Merlot-soaked beauty. Well done.