Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2016

Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2016 is widely regarded as one of the greatest wines this storied estate has crafted in modern times. A benchmark Pauillac from an outstanding Bordeaux vintage, it marries power and precision with a remarkable sense of grace. This Second Growth from the 1855 Classification has long been adored for its unusually seductive style, and 2016 is a luminous, ageworthy expression that Bordeaux lovers will not want to miss.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Pichon Comtesse shows a deep, opaque garnet core with a vibrant purple rim, signalling both concentration and youth. The nose is layered and complex: ripe blackcurrant and plum mingle with notes of licorice, sweet tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, violets and a touch of graphite and warm earth. Subtle hints of cedar, cocoa and spice emerge with air, adding further nuance. On the palate, this is full-bodied yet impeccably refined, with great depth of ripe dark fruit wrapped in fine, velvety tannins. The structure is driven by bright, clear acidity that keeps the wine fresh and focused, while the mid-palate feels dense, seamless and complete. Flavors of cassis, black cherry and damson are interwoven with savory tobacco, earth, a whisper of smoke and floral undertones, leading into a very long, penetrating finish. This 2016 has enormous aging potential; well-stored bottles should easily evolve and gain complexity over 30–40 years, and likely longer.

Production
The fruit for Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2016 comes from prime Pauillac vineyards on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, planted on deep gravel soils with sand and clay over a subsoil of limestone—classic Cabernet country facing the Gironde estuary. This well-drained terroir promotes small, concentrated berries and naturally low yields. The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and undergo careful sorting to ensure only pristine fruit is used. Fermentation typically takes place in temperature-controlled vats, parcel by parcel, allowing each plot’s character to be expressed before masterful blending of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and smaller proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is then aged in French oak barriques, a significant proportion of them new, for around 18 months, building structure, polish and aromatic complexity while preserving the estate’s hallmark finesse.

Food & Serving
This 2016 Pichon Comtesse is a superb partner for classic dishes such as roast lamb with rosemary, ribeye or côte de boeuf, duck breast, venison, or other game birds, as well as truffle-infused dishes and richly sauced mushroom preparations. It also pairs beautifully with hard cheeses like aged Comté or Manchego. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its aromatic detail and balance. In its youth, decanting for 2–3 hours is recommended to open the bouquet and soften the tannins; as the wine matures, a shorter decant—just long enough to remove sediment—will be sufficient.

Producer
Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one of Pauillac’s most illustrious estates, classified as a Deuxième Cru (Second Growth) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Long known simply as “Pichon Comtesse,” it has built a reputation for producing some of the appellation’s most elegant and seductive wines, often described as having a touch of Saint-Julien-like charm within a Pauillac framework. Over the past few decades, significant investment in the vineyards and cellar has elevated quality to new heights, and recent vintages—especially benchmark years like 2016—have reaffirmed its status among the elite châteaux of the Médoc. The estate’s wines are now considered essential references for Left Bank Bordeaux, prized by collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

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