Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2022 Pauillac 2e Grand Cru Classé

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100/100 punten
The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated, bursting from the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with scents of licorice, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's suave, seamless and complete, with faultless precision, pristine integration of tannin, controlled sweetness and a long, expansive finish. The 2022 manages to unite the sensuality that's the estate's calling card and the ripeness of the vintage on the one hand, with a sense of Pauillac classicism on the other, threading the needle to deliver one of the finest wines of the vintage and a benchmark Pichon Comtesse. It's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in barriques (three months more than was formerly the case), two-thirds of which were new. As I wrote en primeur, there's more than a hint of the 1982 about this wine, and like the 1982, the 2022 will offer an exceptionally wide drinking window.

Falstaff, 100/100 punten
Deep dark ruby in colour with an almost inky, opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, a very inviting bouquet of cassis and clove, dark wild berries, ripe cherry, and fine nougat. The full-bodied, elegant palate is fresh and complex with a sweet, chocolatey texture, great length and harmony with tremendous drive, and a saline finish that is never-ending. The successor to the legendary 1982 is born, the most delicate Pauillac in a long time.