Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2012

WEINWISSER: "59 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28 % Merlot, 8 % Cabernet Franc, 5 % Petit Verdot. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Aromatisches, schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, viel Heidelbeeren, Lakritze und auch zarte Rauchnoten, dunkles Malz und Karamell, gibt sich erstaunlich tiefgründig. Im Gaumen ein fein geschnürtes Paket von Noblesse und Charme, reife Tannine sind dessen Grundlage, klingt extrem lange nach. Toll gemacht. Bravo!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Intense black currant fruitiness makes this wine unabashedly forward. The palate bears weighty tannins behind that fruit, resulting in a wine that is already quite balanced and structured."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Earthy in character, there is a freshness to fruit, touch of citrus and espresso and truffle. Soft, polished, youthful and bright, there is a freshness and bright quality on the palate. Give this 7-10 more years before popping a cork. Produced from a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, picking took place starting October 1."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Wonderful nose of wet earth, mushrooms and berries. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Sleek and polished. Needs two to three years of bottle age to soften. 59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot."

DECANTER: "Slightly meaty and slighty spicy ripe fruit, with Merlot to the fore, good middle sweetness and a succulence that will impress over time. Drinking Window 2016 - 2032"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2012 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is a beautiful, elegant wine in this slightly more challenging vintage (at least for the northern Médoc) and is well worth cellaring and drinking. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, it has classic Pauillac lead pencil notes as well as plenty of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, and cedar. Medium-bodied, forward, and seamless on the palate, it shows the classic elegance of this estate, has ripe tannins, and is already impossible to resist. Enjoy this solid 2012 Pauillac over the coming 15-20 years."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zunächst etwas verhalten, zart nach Edelholz, dezente Kräuterwürze. Saftig, mittlere Komplexität, angenehme Fruchtsüße, integrierte Tannine, feiner Nougat im Abgang, mineralisch und gut anhaltend."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Looks quite a bit more evolved than the Pichon Baron with a healthy garnet/ruby hue. Sweet biscuity nose. Very appealing already. Less concentrated than the Pichon Baron tasted alongside but very charming."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The grande dame, the 2012 Pichon Lalande represents only 50% of their harvest production. It has soft, round tannins, endearing elegance, and up-front fruit. It is not a blockbuster, but its lush, richly fruity style is charming and seductive, with raspberry, blueberry, mocha and blackcurrant fruit and a deep ruby/purple color. This medium-bodied, supple-textured wine is surprisingly precocious and forward, and therefore best drunk over the next 15 years. The final blend was 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot."