2021 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

The 2002 vintage in Pauillac was characterized by its dramatic turnaround and unexpected quality. The year began with a dry winter and spring, followed by a challenging summer with alternating heat, storms, and cool periods. However, the vintage was saved by an exceptional "Indian summer" starting from September 10th, bringing warm, dry, and sunny conditions. This late favorable weather allowed for extended hang time and optimal ripening of the grapes, particularly benefiting the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends typical of Pauillac. Harvesting occurred later than usual, from late September through mid-October, under ideal conditions. The resulting wines showed surprising concentration, balance, and freshness, defying earlier pessimistic predictions. While not considered a legendary year, 2002 produced classic Pauillac wines with good structure, ripe tannins, and the potential for medium-term aging, showcasing the appellation's ability to produce quality even in challenging years.

Variable summer conditions challenged vines, but the Comtesse's deep gravel soils maintained crucial balance through vintage difficulties. The estate's perfect exposure and precise harvest timing preserved aromatic complexity. The wine shows classic cedar notes, focused red fruits, and the refined tension inherent to this historic property.

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the esteemed Second Growth estate in Pauillac, produced an excellent wine in the 2014 vintage. After a mild, wet winter and spring, summer was relatively cool and damp, requiring meticulous vineyard management to control disease pressure and promote ripening. September brought a dramatic shift with warm, dry weather that extended through October, allowing for a late harvest under ideal conditions. The result is a classic Pichon Comtesse, combining elegance and depth with a remarkable sense of freshness and precision.

The 2015 vintage from Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a brilliant expression of a warm, dry year. The growing season began with a mild spring, followed by a hot, dry summer that accelerated ripening and concentrated flavors in the grapes. Timely rains in August refreshed the vines, while a perfect Indian summer allowed for harvesting at optimal maturity. The resulting wine combines the richness of the vintage with Pichon Comtesse's characteristic refinement and aromatic complexity.

The 2017 vintage from Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande demonstrates the estate's resilience in challenging years. Severe spring frosts significantly reduced yields across Bordeaux, though Pichon Comtesse's prime location provided some protection. Summer was relatively cool and dry, leading to an early harvest of small, concentrated berries. Despite the season's difficulties, the team produced a wine of surprising depth and elegance, showcasing the estate's ability to maintain its high standards even in trying years.

The château's prime gravel plateau and Gironde proximity provided crucial temperature regulation during summer's intense heat. September's perfect conditions allowed precise parcel-by-parcel harvesting across the estate's finest terroirs. The wine reveals Pichon Lalande's signature elegance with concentrated cassis and graphite notes reflecting this powerful vintage.

The estate's mix of gravel and clay soils provided precise water regulation through the warm, dry growing season in Pauillac. Early picking decisions preserved crucial freshness while capturing optimal ripeness in their riverside parcels. The wine displays classic Pichon Lalande refinement with cassis, violets, and graphite notes, while maintaining the estate's signature elegance despite the vintage heat.

Early budbreak and warm spring conditions in Pauillac prompted the estate's earliest harvest in its history. The château's deep gravel soils and proximity to the Gironde estuary provided crucial temperature regulation during the intense summer heat. The wine reflects the vintage's solar character while maintaining freshness, showing concentrated black fruits and graphite notes characteristic of this historic second growth's terroir.

Summer drought challenged much of Bordeaux, but Pichon Lalande's deep clay-gravel soils and proximity to the Gironde provided crucial water reserves and cooling influences. The estate's parcels facing the estuary benefited from maritime breezes during intense summer heat. The wine displays concentrated cassis and graphite notes balanced by fresh acidity, reflecting both the warm vintage and the château's privileged position in Pauillac.

The 2021 vintage in Bordeaux was challenging, with a cool, wet growing season that required meticulous vineyard management. Despite the conditions, Château Pichon Lalande crafted an elegant and fresh wine, reflecting the estate’s commitment to quality and its gravelly terroir.