Wines Pauillac Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - 2022

Viniou Reviews

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2022 is a distinguished Grand Cru Classé from the Pauillac appellation in the Médoc, Bordeaux. Crafted predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, the 2022 vintage reflects the hallmark precision and elegance of this iconic château. The year was marked by a warm, dry growing season, which allowed for optimal ripening and concentration, resulting in a deeply coloured wine of remarkable structure and complexity. The terroir, composed of deep gravel beds over clay and limestone, imparts both power and finesse, while traditional vinification techniques and careful ageing in French oak barriques ensure a nuanced and age-worthy expression.

The Pauillac commune sits at the heart of Bordeaux’s Left Bank, renowned for its temperate oceanic climate moderated by both the Gironde estuary and Atlantic influence. This unique confluence protects the vines from extreme weather while also encouraging long and even ripening periods—ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon’s late-maturing tendencies. The gravelly soils offer excellent drainage, critical for vine health, and have been the secret behind Pauillac’s centuries-old reputation for producing some of the world’s finest and most age-worthy reds. The history of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is steeped in tradition, its wines often praised for their balance of generosity and refined structure, frequently described as the most ‘feminine’ of the Pauillacs.

This stately wine pairs beautifully with classic French roasted lamb, preferably with herbs de Provence, as well as beef Wellington, venison, or duck breast with a berry sauce. For a regional touch, consider a Bordelaise sauce, which accentuates the wine’s savoury character, or aged Comté and sheep’s cheeses that highlight its subtlety and depth.

To enjoy its complexity and young energy, decant the wine for at least an hour in its youth. Serve at a temperature of 16-18°C to allow the spectrum of dark fruits, graphite, and cedar spice to unfold. While already promising in 2022, this wine will reward patient cellaring, developing further nuances over the next two to three decades.