Château Pichon Comtesse Pauillac 2020 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Louis Roederer champagne house acquired this renowned vineyard with the firm intention of restoring it to its former glory as a model grand cru after several disappointing vintages. A great deal of effort has been put into viticulture, increasingly inspired by organic methods, a state-of-the-art winery has been built, and the blends have increased the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon while retaining the contributions of the three other grape varieties, which give the vintage its originality. The wine has gained in vigor without losing its charm and finesse.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Pichon Comtesse has produced a magnificent 2020 (77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc) that is elegant and deep in color. The nose is remarkably refined and complex, with notes of redcurrant, ripe blackcurrant, violet, menthol, and dark chocolate. The palate builds gently around dense, voluptuous flesh and silky tannins, culminating in a long, very long finish full of freshness. A vibrant, intense Pauillac of admirable refinement. 2028-2040

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Pure class! This wine unfolds a subtle, silky, and refined texture, with vibrant notes of berries and absolute delicacy on the palate. Velvety tannins bring supreme refinement to the finish.

About the estate:

Part of the Rouzaud family (Louis Roederer champagnes) since 2007, the estate began a new chapter in its history almost a decade ago. Under the leadership of Nicolas Glumineau, it has since relaunched itself in the race for excellence and intends to regain the position of "super second" that it held in the 1980s, thanks to the production of a series of legendary wines (1982, 1986, 1989). While the 2000s were less successful, the latest vintages, delivering a more precise and straightforward wine, more marked by Cabernet, are much more convincing.

Wine Enthusiast

Vinous

About wine:

Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2020 has one of the most opulent aromatic profiles among Pauillac wines, with aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, graphite, and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied, with slender tannins and a silvery thread of acidity. Silky in texture, this wine maintains impressive balance on the finish, supporting the weight of the fruit with class. It improves as it is swirled, although the bottle I tasted just after bottling had a little more precision. Nevertheless, this is a fabulous Pauillac that flirts with perfection. Tasted blind at the annual Southworld tasting. 2032-2065

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

A soothing nose, like a large, calm lake with no visible horizon. The fruit is sensual and full-bodied, but with all the seriousness of a Pauillac. Black fruits blend with salty, meaty notes, saffron, and rosebuds. On the palate, the balance is breathtaking. The flavors unfold one after the other without ceasing, and the cashmere-like texture becomes denser towards the end, as if the wine were woven from a single silk thread of endless length. 2030-2060

Yves Beck

About wine:

Freshness is the watchword at Comtesse, but it does not reign alone; it is accompanied by power and subtlety. Exceptionally deep, the wine certainly shines with its density, but even more so with its dimension, elegance, power, and serenity. The tannins are of rare finesse and underscore the incredible potential of this wine, which is, without a doubt, Pichon's greatest achievement alongside 2010 and 2016. Tasted twice. During the first tasting, I wrote about its power, grace, fullness, and the beginning of a breathtaking achievement or realization. I think that would have been enough as a review, but I wanted to go into more detail... Especially when I give a three-digit score! 2027-2060

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

A fascinating wine in every sense of the word, whose aroma captivates you with its range of flowers, spices, tobacco, currants, smoke, cedar, and roasted plums. The intensity, purity, precision, and length are perfect for allowing you to experience all the layers of silky, fresh, and sensual fruit. The finish easily exceeds 50 seconds and never looks back. With a little time in the bottle, this gem could reach triple digits, it's that good! Drink between 2027 and 2065.