Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac 2nd Grand Cru Classe 2017

 "Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is a little closed to begin, soon revealing floral notes of lilacs and lavender over a core of black raspberries, warm blackberries and forest floor plus touches of star anise and stewed black tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is a bundle of energy and tension with softly played tannins and beautiful floral and black fruit layers, finishing with a long-lingering whisper."

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 96 pts

At Pichon, the average age of the vines is 35 years, the sub-soils are made up of deep layers of gravel, and the 
top soils are ploughed.

Late summer weather provided ideal conditions for the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. Fine and dry weather, 
not too hot in the day and cool during the night brought about concentration in the berries, ripe tannins, very high levels of anthocyanins and perfectly healthy berries. The weight and the size of the berries were small. The berries to juice ratio was therefore high, and the volume of juice was low, and the wines were concentrated in substance.