Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2017

WEINWISSER: "Undurchsichtiges Purpur. Was für ein royales Bouquet nach frisch gepflückten Alpenheidelbeeren, betörende rote Rosen, Cassis satt gepaart mit dunklen Schokotrüffeln. Im zweiten Ansatz Lakritze, Schattenmorellen und Rosmarin. Am eleganten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartige perfekt stützende Tannine und reifer Extraktsüsse. Im gebündelten Finale ein Feuerwerk mit Brombeeren, exotischen Hölzern und Holundergelee. Die grandiose Präzision und der unbändige Ehrgeiz von Nicolas Glumineau ist hier von Anfang bis zum Ende zu spüren und zeigt deutlich, wie gut ein 2017er sein kann. Chapeau!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Showing a virtuous depth of color, the wine opens with notes of lead pencil, truffle, smoke, tobacco leaf, vanilla and dark red fruits. The tannins are silky, polished, salty and creamy. The wine is full bodied, velvety and long, delivering complexity, sweetness and length. This a very sensuous wine that comes from blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine reached 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.78. The harvest took place from September 7, ending October 1."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is a little closed to begin, soon revealing floral notes of lilacs and lavender over a core of black raspberries, warm blackberries and forest floor plus touches of star anise and stewed black tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is a bundle of energy and tension with softly played tannins and beautiful floral and black fruit layers, finishing with a long-lingering whisper."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A sleek, precisely dialed-in Pauillac, with a pure and racy beam of cassis, blackberry and dark plum fruit inlaid with a mouthwatering iron note. A backdrop of singed alder and sweet tobacco waits in reserve, while the finish sails through with great cut. Possesses a regal feel. Best from 2025 through 2040."

DECANTER: "Tasting in a blind lineup across Pauillac, it is instantly clear that what you get in this glass is better clarity of fruit, a darker and more serious texture across the palate and some lovely saffron and cinnamon notes to fill out the body. This feels like a Pauillac and even though it doesn't have the concentration of bigger years, there is a lot to be delighted about here. Silky tannins, burnished confidence, well-handled oak. Wait just another five years then ready to go with a carafe. Drinking Window 2022 - 2048"

JEB DUNNUCK: "Pure elegance and class, the 2017 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot (representing just 50% of the production) that spent 18 months in 60% new barrels. Nicolas Glumineau has done an incredible job at this estate and this wine is consistently one of the classiest, most elegant wines in just about every vintage. Pure Pauillac notes of creme de cassis, lead pencil, green tobacco, and gravelly earth give way to a medium to full-bodied, soft, supple, flawlessly balanced 2017 that shows the more straight, classic style of the vintage. It needs 4-6 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully for 25+ years or more. Tasted twice."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Floral, cool and high-toned aromatics. Fragrant violets and blackcurrant. Compact yet intense, this is bursting with summer-pudding fruit. Darker cassis comes with bright acidity through the mid palate, which finishes fresh but long. The tannins are fairly gentle, allowing the fruit to shine, but there are plenty there for ageing potential. A subtle example that might shine even more when tasted in isolation."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This smoky wine is structured and full of dry tannins. Acidity comes with the black-currant fruits that are slow to develop but will get there. Drink this wine from a great estate from 2024."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A tight, compact young Bordeaux with medium body, polished and round tannins and a medium finish. Not a big wine, but some very classy currant and raspberry character and just a hint of lead pencil and polished structure. Drink after 2022."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, ein Hauch wie von amerikanischem Holz, zart nach Dill, schwarze Beerenfrucht, feines Rioja-Bukett. Straff, gute Komplexität, dunkle Beerenfrucht, extraktsüßer Kern, integrierte Tannine, gute Länge, salzige Nuancen im Finale, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial, etwas monolithisch."