Château PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE DE LALANDE 2010
In Pauillac, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande occupies an exceptional terroir on the edge of Saint-Julien, facing the Gironde estuary. The second Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the estate is historically distinguished by a relatively high proportion of Merlot in its vineyard, a characteristic that contributes to its style often being softer and more sensual than many neighboring crus. The deep gravel forms the foundation of the terroir, while the more clayey areas provide a precious water reserve and promote regular ripening. Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure, length, and freshness, while Merlot adds more flesh and velvety texture. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complete the blend with floral, spicy, and more vertical nuances. The 2010 vintage, exceptional in Bordeaux, combines concentration, perfect ripeness, and freshness in particularly rare proportions. Pichon Comtesse 2010 is thus among the great modern expressions of the estate, with a deep but never heavy architecture.
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2010 blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the wine, with a straight, deep, and very persistent framework. Merlot brings more roundness to the mid-palate, while Cabernet Franc enriches the bouquet with a floral and spicy dimension. Petit Verdot intervenes discreetly but strengthens the color, depth, and tension of the whole. The different lots are vinified separately to preserve their identity before the final blend composition. Aging in French oak barrels then accompanies the structure and allows the wine to gradually gain finesse. After more than fifteen years of evolution, the 2010 begins to soften its remarkable framework while retaining considerable aging potential.
The color shows a very deep garnet, still dense and supported. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black plum, accompanied by violet, cedar, and graphite. With aeration, blond tobacco, licorice, cocoa, and fine nuances of sweet spices gradually appear. The palate is ample and deep, with fine-grained tannins that give a sensation of perfectly controlled power. Merlot provides remarkable velvety texture, while Cabernet Sauvignon maintains impressive tension and length. The finish is very persistent, on black fruits, graphite, dried flowers, and spices, with freshness that further highlights its aging potential. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2010 will accompany a roasted rack of lamb, a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, pigeon, royal hare, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
