Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2010

DECANTER: "Brilliant – double decant and wait an hour so the wine can better express its sensual aromas of faded rose, cassis, homemade strawberry jam, graphite and iodine freshness. The palate is enveloped in cashmere-like refinement, leading to a long finish with sea air and floral freshness. Best to hang on another five years for a proper drinking window, but if you insist, try it now with filet mignon. Drinking Window 2021 - 2055"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This is not holding on tight, as it nears the end of its first decade of life. The fruit is vibrant, with added touches of tobacco, flowers, spice, smoke, thyme and red berries, the silky, sexy textures and long, fruit-filled finish clearly announce that as this wine ages, it is only going to get better and better."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With signs of new wood on the palate, this is a wine that maintains the polished feel of the wines from Pichon Lalande. It has a stronger presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than in the past, making it more structured than its predecessors, with a dominance of black currant flavor. It shows the soft side of the vintage, but is also meant for aging."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand, feine Gewürzanklänge, schokoladige Nuancen, dunkles Waldbeerkonfit unterlegt, zart nach Orangenzesten, anziehendes Bukett. Saftig, reife Kirschenfrucht, zarter Nougat, feine, seidige Tannine, gute Extraktsüße, würziger Abgang, zeigt eine sehr gute Länge, bereits harmonisch, attraktive süße rotbeerige Note im Nachhall, bereits jetzt sehr delikat."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2010 is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that was raised in (I'm assuming) a good bit of new oak, although you wouldn't know this by tasting it. Revealing a still youthful ruby/plum hue with just a touch of lightening at the edge, it has a Saint-Julien-like perfume of darker currants, tobacco, earth, sous bois, and flowers, without that classic cedar and lead pencil character of most Pauillacs. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a wonderfully focused, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's still relatively closed and reticent, so give bottles another 4-5 years if possible"

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Intensives Bouquet, tiefgründig mit viel warmem Cabernet, Pumpernickelnoten, Kaffee und Dörrfrüchte, dahinter reichlich Cassis. Fester Gaumen mit gut stützender Säure, die Adstringenz ist verlangend, der Wein ist gross, sucht aber noch nach Harmonie. Erst in etwa 10 Jahren ergeht ein abschliessendes Urteil, bis dahin hat er dann auch seine feine Bitterkeit im Extrakt ausreifen lassen und in den Körper integriert."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande gives up notes of warm cassis, blueberry pie and kirsch with wafts of cedar chest, pencil lead, charcoal and charcuterie plus a hint of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the savory-inspired palate possesses a fair bit of chew with a lively backbone and firm finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Deep garnet with brick rim. Spicy and lifted on the nose: attractive stone-dust as well as plenty of fruit and the start of tertiary savoury notes. Powerful, dry but elegant in that tannic power. There’s tension and a long future here, the tannins still chewy."