Pichon Comtesse Reserve (2nd Wine Pichon Lalande) 2020

Pauillac, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Réserve de la Comtesse is a big, big wine. Black cherry, grilled herbs, lavender, licorice and smoke are some of the many notes that add to an impression of brooding intensity. This is a very serious second wine. Maybe too serious. Then again, Estate Director Nicolas Glumineau is quite clear in his ambition to want to make 100% Grand Vin. The inclusion of 10% Petit Verdot in this year's blend is felt in both the wine's flavor and structural feel.

Score: 92

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2035 23 February 2023

The 2020 Réserve de la Comtesse is absolutely gorgeous. Far more expressive than the Grand Vin today, the Réserve is everything a second wine should be. Ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol, licorice and tobacco all flesh out in a sumptuous, racy Pauillac that impresses with its alluring personality. This is an especially fine vintage for the Réserve. The 2020 is 47% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot – in other words, a high percentage of PV that undoubtedly marks the blend.

Score: 91 - 93

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026 - 2040 04 June 2021

The 2020 Réserve de la Comtesse is absolutely gorgeous. Far more expressive than the Grand Vin today, the Réserve is everything a second wine should be. Ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol, licorice and tobacco all flesh out in a sumptuous, racy Pauillac that impresses with its alluring personality. This is an especially fine vintage for the Réserve. The 2020 is 47% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot – in other words, a high percentage of PV that undoubtedly marks the blend.

Score: 91 - 93

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2040 01 June 2021

The 2020 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse retains that generous licorice-tinged nose with blackberry and boysenberry fruit, an underlying mineralité emerging with time. The palate has a bit of muscle on the entry, beautifully structured and fresh, quite edgy and energetic, building discretely with just a little oak to be assimilated towards the finish. Be a bit more patient with this Deuxième Vin - it'll be worth the wait.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2038 08 February 2023

TThe 2020 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse is very harmonious on the nose, featuring plenty of blackberry, wild strawberry and light touches of salted licorice and estuarine scents; this is going to be very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine-grained tannins, not a powerful or deep Deuxième Vin, leading to a poised, quite spicy, peppery finish. This should give 12–15 years of drinking pleasure. -- Neal Martin (90-92) Neal Martin 2026 - 2038 Not Available May 2021

Score: 90 - 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2038 28 May 2021

The 2020 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse is very harmonious on the nose, featuring plenty of blackberry, wild strawberry and light touches of salted licorice and estuarine scents; this is going to be very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine-grained tannins, not a powerful or deep Deuxième Vin, leading to a poised, quite spicy, peppery finish. This should give 12–15 years of drinking pleasure.

Score: 90 - 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2038 01 May 2021

The second wine of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse, the 2020 Reserve De Comtesse De Lalande is a beautiful wine in the making that certainly tastes like a mini-version of the Grand Vin. Lots of crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, tobacco, and earth all define the nose, and it hits the palate with a forward, medium to full-bodied, supple texture that already begs to be drunk. I love its balance, the purity of fruit is terrific, and the tannins are spot on as well. It ranks as one of the top second wines in the vintage and will have two decades of prime drinking.

Score: 92 - 94

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 25 May 2021

Composed of 47% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Reserve de la Comtesse is redolent of cassis, redcurrant jelly and raspberry coulis, plus suggestions of chocolate box, lilacs and stewed tea, with a waft of unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating, juicy black fruits with a soft texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. This is a very different style from the grand vin, possessing a more playful, upfront and effortlessly delicious character that truly draws you in!

Score: 91 - 93

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024 - 2041 23 May 2021

A tight, focused red with currants, chocolate, walnuts and some flowers. Medium-to full-bodied with ripe tannins. Pretty second wine.

Score: 93 - 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 23 May 2021

Bright ruby colour with violet reflections. As with many second wines in Pauillac in 2020, you should expect fairly high tannins, although they are fine in construction and softly-expressed when things open up. Cocoa bean and coffee smoke on the finish. This is seductive but underplayed. Bright ruby colour with violet reflections. As with many second wines in Pauillac in 2020, you should expect fairly high tannins, although they are fine in construction and softly-expressed when things open up. Cocoa bean and coffee smoke on the finish. This is seductive but underplayed. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038

Score: 92

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024 - 2038 01 May 2021