Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2010, Pauillac, 2nd Grand Cru Classe, Bordeaux, France

For many wine lovers, Chateau Pichon Lalande is one of the best examples of Bordeaux wine from Pauillac. Sensuous textures, deep concentrated layers of ripe fruit, and a perfume filled with earth, tobacco, and cassis.

The large, 100-hectare vineyard is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. 

"Silky, sweet black fruit, black olive and truffle notes from the start. This is majestically impressive - it sparks to life in your mouth and breaks out an involuntary smile. The texture is just liquid silk and it slowly but surely builds through the palate, gaining in confidence and totally delightful. Bright, vibrant tannins make the most of the high levels of acidity that were available in 2010, while matching them pace for pace with concentrated fruit. For me this is getting better as it ages, starting to rival the 1982 at Comtesse, and I can't wait to keep tasting it over the decades to come. Last time I rated this wine, in 2016, I gave it 98 points, and I questioned whether to keep it there, which is already an exceptional score, but I want to mark just how clearly it stood out in this horizontal. 60% new oak." [Jane Anson, Decanter, 100pts]