Pichon Comtesse Reserve (2nd Wine Pichon Lalande) 2019

The 2019 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse has an open-knit, slightly meaty bouquet with dried blood infusing the brambly red fruit. A little rustic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, moderate depth, off-dry with a nicely proportioned, pencil shaving-tinged finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

Score: 90

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2038 01 February 2023

The 2019 Réserve de la Comtesse is conspicuously deep in colour. The bouquet takes time to unfurl with exceedingly pure blackberry, raspberry and cassis aromas, the oak seamlessly integrated. The palate is very well balanced with fresh acidity, fine grain tannins, a touch of salinity developing towards the finish that has more grip than previous vintages. Superb.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2044 16 June 2020

A candidate for the second wine of the vintage, the 2019 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is stunning stuff that surpasses the Grand Vins of most châteaux. Pure cassis and darker currants as well as tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and spring flowers all define the bouquet, and it's pure class on the palate, with a seamless, elegant, supple mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It's one classy Pauillac that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades.

Score: 94

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2022-2042 11 April 2022

The 2019 Réserve de la Comtesse is elegant, silky and nuanced, with terrific presence and tons of pure class. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, blood orange, rose petal and spice all build with a bit of aeration. I am so impressed with the wine's breadth and textural intensity. The 2019 Réserve is without a doubt one of the best recent editions here.

Score: 94

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2027 - 2039 01 February 2022

Réserve de la Comtesse is especially fine in 2019. Wonderfully dark, fleshy and inviting, the Réserve is just striking today. A rush of dark red/purplish fruit builds effortlessly in the glass. More than anything else, the Réserve impresses for its sensual, inviting personality. It is an ideal second wine that is approachable and avoids being excessively serious, as some recent editions have been.General Manager and Winemaker Nicolas Glumineau describes 2019 as a year of drought, until rains arrived at the end of July and middle of August, which were very important for the maturation of the Cabernets in mid-October. Yields were 42 hectoliters per hectare, which is typical for the château. Glumineau added that the Merlots showed a wider range of quality, while the Cabernets were more homogeneous. In tasting, I found the two wines more differentiated stylistically, which has not often been the case.

Score: 91 - 93

Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux 01 June 2020

This is a very solid second wine of Pichon Lalande with blackberry, blueberry and sweet, dried-tobacco character. It’s full-bodied, chewy and polished.

Score: 93 - 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 08 June 2020

This is well structured and approaches 2010 in terms of its weight and depth of fruit. Deep spiced damson on the nose, you would be hard pressed not to say that this is as good as very many Cru Bourgeois 1st wines. Huge depth, similar to the 2018 but a little higher acidity, a little less round, a little more classic Pauillac in character. This is confident and serious with lots of tannins. A great 2nd wine, and a reminder of the consistently successful winemaking that is happening at this estate.

Score: 93

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024 - 2038 25 May 2020