Château Pichon Longueville - Countess of Lalande - Pauillac 2010

Vinous

98 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe10/20/2017

An eternal wine, the 2010 Pichon Lalande is a total showstopper. The first impression is one of explosive power, but time in the glass brings out the wine’s more delicate, floral side. Violet, graphite, crème de cassis, licorice and menthol overtones recall the 1996, but the tannins here are much softer, sweeter and more polished. In two recent tastings, the 2010 has been positively stellar. The alternation of hot days and cool nights led to a late harvest. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest did not start until October 7; by that date in 2009 all the fruit was in. Readers who can still find the 2010 should not hesitate, as it is a modern-day classic. That’s all there is to it. 98+

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/31/2013

Good ruby-red.  Sexy but youthfully restrained aromas of dark berries, black cherry, violet, licorice, graphite, herbs, bitter chocolate and menthol.  Densely packed but quite firm, even a bit pinched, with a slight tart edge to its fine-grained flavors of black raspberry, licorice and fresh herbs.  Juicy, nicely balanced, elegant wine with silky tannins and excellent length.  But comes across as almost too polished, and a bit herbal today.  This needs time in bottle to unwind. 91 (+?) points

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

This features an intense core of plush-textured blackberry, boysenberry and black currant fruit, steeped with mulled spice, singed apple wood and anise notes. A strong, loamy feel courses through the finish, with latent grip. Very solid, but not where this wine should be in this vintage. Best from 2015 through 2030. –JM

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

The 2010 Pichon Lalande is performing extremely well and at the top of the range I predicted several years ago. A final blend dominated much more by Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot), the wine is a tighter, more tannic and structured version of this famed Pauillac, which often tends to have more of a St-Julien-like personality than most Pauillacs. Structured, backward and tannic, yet showing a fat mid-palate that is more savory, broader and more expansive than I remember from barrel, this wine is somewhat reminiscent of the 1986, given the Cabernet Sauvignon domination of the blend. Full-bodied, impressively endowed, and less sexy and velvety than normal, this is a somewhat different style of Pichon Lalande than most readers have been used to. Whether you like it more or less will depend on your point of view, but this wine, unlike most Pichon Lalandes, needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years.95+

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/18/2013

A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the Pichon Lalande has a generous blackberry and cassis-driven bouquet that is pure and harmonious. It is floral compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with a caressing, creamy textured opening that is very seductive. The oak is nicely integrated here – a flattering 2010 in the context of the vintage with a sensual, silky smooth finish. It is a little more open than I was expecting, but it will still benefit from three to five years cellaring. Perhaps this is one of the few Pauillacs where I err towards the 2009, yet this still represents a superb wine from the estate. Tasted November 2012.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

This is a pretty and refined Pichon Lalande. Aromas of blueberries and blackberries with hints of earth and mushrooms. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. I slightly prefer the 2009. Better in 2017

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Intensives Bouquet, tiefgründig mit viel warmem Cabernet, Pumpernicklenoten, Kaffee und Dörrfrüchte, dahinter reichlich Cassis. Fester Gaumen mit gut stützender Säure, die Adstringenz ist verlangend, der Wein ist gross, sucht aber noch nach Harmonie. Erst in etwa 10 Jahren ergeht ein abschliessendes Urteil, bis dahin hat er dann auch seine feine Bitterkeit im Extrakt ausreifen lassen und in den Körper integriert. 2021-2060

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

the5/31/2011

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, Ertrag: 41hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Volles Black-Currant-Bouquet mit floraler Cabernet-Würze, auslandend, mit eichenholziger Süsse. Im Gaumen cremig, zeigt Souplesse und viel Schmelz in den fetten Tanninen, blaubeerig, endet mit mittlerem Druck und Aromatik. Ein atypischer 2010er, aber ein sehr typischer Pichon-Lalande, der eine gewisse Leichtigkeit vortäuscht. 2018-2037

Wine Advocate

92-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010 Pichon Lalande: I tasted the 2010 Pichon Lalande on three separate occasions, two consistent and one that underperformed, hence the question mark. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it reveals an opaque purple color as well as a thick, unctuous style with fresh blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with hints of graphite, herbs and coffee. The vintage’s tell-tale minerality is present in this structured, tannic, backward effort. It will require 5-6 years of cellaring and should age for 25-30 years. Drink 2016-2046 (92-95+ points)

La Revue du Vin de France

18,5-19 / 20

the5/31/2011

La volonté du cru de privilégier les cabernets se poursuit. Pichon Comtesse prend ainsi une forme plus droite, moins opulente, au final plus racée. 2010 marque une nouvelle étape dans ce sens. Le vin est brillant, d'une densité et d'une grâce que nous ne lui avons jamais vues à ce stade. La matière est superbe de texture, avec un immense soyeux qui enveloppe les tanins.

Asian Palate

95-97 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

Fairly deep ruby, with aromas of fresh blackberries, hint of violets and cedar, this full-bodied and impressive Pichon Lalande has very fresh, vibrant characters and wonderful density, depth and concentration. This is the most concentrated young wine they have made in a decade, yet the style is still elegant and lacking any heaviness. This is another hugely successful Pichon Lalande vintage, with the potential to age for many decades, but I prefer the 2009 by a small margin because of that wine's more seductive aromatics and lighter style.

Le Point

18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Fruits rouges, joli nez, expressif, bouche moelleuse, douce, bien mûre, un fruité frais apporté par les francs, tanins mûrs, finale réglisée, gourmand et tendu, savoureux, long. O=2018 G=20 ans

TAST

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Excellent fruit, long, tannin fin, grand équilibre, finesse évidente. Beaucoup de variabilité entre les échantillons cette année.

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/30/2011

Lovely expression of supple, rich fruit, beautiful middle palate, lacks perhaps the power of some wines in this vintage, but makes up for it in polish and elegance. Drink 2020-40. (18.5 points)

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

Pichon Comtesse de Lalande - Produced from 41 hectoliters per hectare, which is low for the estate, the wine is an assemblage of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Flowers, 5 spice, cassis, truffle, coca and tobacco scents open the aromatics. This rich, tannic vintage of Pichon Lalande offers a full bodied, fresh, concentrated wine brimming with ripe, juicy cassis, black raspberry jam, vanilla and spice. The wine ends with a long, clean, supple finish. 94-96 Pts

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/8/2011

A very juicy wine, suffused with acidity. Abundant dry tannins, even while the fruit and acidity domintate. There's a great sense of richness as well as freshness.-.R.V

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2011

Very sappy and intense, with mouthwatering acidity framing the cassis, violet and tobacco notes, followed by a supervibrant finish that features lots of cassis bush character. The Petit Verdot isn't as obvious on the nose as the 2000, which had 10 percent in the blend, but just as prevalent on the taut finish, where there's plenty of spice, drive and cut. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.