Château Pichon Comtesse Pauillac 2020 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Louis Roederer champagne house acquired this renowned estate with the firm intention of restoring it to its former glory as a premier cru, following several disappointing vintages. Significant efforts have been made in viticulture, increasingly inspired by organic farming; a state-of-the-art cuvier has been built; and the blends have increased the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon while retaining the contributions of the three other grape varieties, which give the cuvée its unique character. The wine has gained in vigor without losing its charm and finesse.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Pichon Comtesse has produced a superb 2020 vintage (77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc) that displays elegance and depth in its dark hue. The nose, with remarkable finesse and complexity, evokes red currants, ripe blackcurrants, violets, menthol, and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine builds gently around a dense, voluptuous body and silky tannins, culminating in a long, very long finish full of freshness. A vibrant, intense Pauillac of admirable refinement. 2028–2040

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Pure elegance! This wine offers a subtle, silky, and well-structured palate, with vibrant notes of berries and an absolutely delicate mouthfeel. Velvety tannins lend the finish supreme refinement.

About the estate:

Owned by the Rouzaud family (Louis Roederer champagnes) since 2007, the estate turned a new page in its history nearly a decade ago. Under the leadership of Nicolas Glumineau, it has since relaunched its pursuit of excellence and aims to reclaim the “super second” status it held in the 1980s, thanks to the production of a series of legendary vintages (1982, 1986, 1989). While the 2000s were less successful, the most recent vintages—delivering a more precise and straightforward wine, more distinctly marked by the Cabernets—are far more convincing.

Wine Enthusiast

Vinous

About wine:

Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2020 boasts one of the most opulent aromatic profiles among Pauillac wines, with notes of black cherry, blackcurrant, graphite, and cedar. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with supple tannins and a silvery touch of acidity. With a silky texture, this wine maintains impressive balance on the finish, carrying the weight of the fruit with class. It improves as it opens up, though the bottle I tasted just after bottling had a bit more precision. Nevertheless, this is a fabulous Pauillac that borders on perfection. Tasted blind at the annual Southworld tasting. 2032–2065

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

A soothing nose, like a vast, calm lake with no visible horizon. The fruit is sensual and rich, yet possesses all the gravitas of a Pauillac. Dark fruits blend with salty, meaty notes, along with hints of saffron and rosebuds. On the palate, the balance is breathtaking. The flavors unfold one after another without ceasing, and the cashmere-like texture thickens toward the finish, as if the wine were woven from a single, endless strand of silk. 2030–2060

Yves Beck

About wine:

Freshness is the defining characteristic of Comtesse, but it does not reign alone; it is accompanied by power and subtlety. With exceptional depth, the wine certainly shines with its density, but even more so with its complexity, elegance, power, and serenity. The tannins are of rare finesse and underscore the incredible potential of this wine, which is, without a doubt, Pichon’s greatest achievement alongside the 2010 and 2016 vintages. Tasted twice. During the first tasting, I wrote of power, grace, fullness, and the beginning of a breathtaking culmination or realization. I think that would have sufficed as a review, but I wanted to go into detail… Especially when I’m awarding a three-digit score! 2027–2060

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

A fascinating wine in every sense of the word, whose aroma captivates you with its array of flowers, spices, tobacco, currants, smoke, cedar, and roasted plums. The intensity, purity, precision, and length are perfect for letting you experience all the layers of silky, fresh, and sensual fruit. The finish easily surpasses the 50-second mark and never looks back. With a little time in the bottle, this gem could reach triple digits—it’s that good! Drink between 2027 and 2065.