Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2010

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is the Grand Vin of this historic Pauillac estate, crafted from estate-grown fruit on Bordeaux's Left Bank. Renowned for its elegance, depth and refined structure, it offers exceptional ageing potential while expressing the distinctive gravel terroir of Pauillac.

Food Pairing: Pairs best with roasted lamb, beef tenderloin, duck breast, venison, mushroom dishes, braised short ribs and aged hard cheeses.

100 Points - Decanter

Silky, sweet black fruit, black olive and truffle notes from the start. This is majestically impressive - it sparks to life in your mouth and breaks out an involuntary smile. The texture is just liquid silk and it slowly but surely builds through the palate, gaining in confidence and totally delightful. Bright, vibrant tannins make the most of the high levels of acidity that were available in 2010, while matching them pace for pace with concentrated fruit. For me this is getting better as it ages, starting to rival the 1982 at Comtesse, and I can't wait to keep tasting it over the decades to come. Last time I rated this wine, in 2016, I gave it 98 points, and I questioned whether to keep it there, which is already an exceptional score, but I want to mark just how clearly it stood out in this horizontal. 60% new oak.

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

Gorgeous as well and on another level, the 2010 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is darker-hued with powerful aromatics of blackcurrants, leafy herbs, tobacco leaf, and chocolate. Full-bodied and round, it offers a lush, layered, and sexy profile on the palate, with a seamless mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins, and fabulous length. Based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, this seems to have turned the corner and is now showing its full potential.

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast

With signs of new wood on the palate, this is a wine that maintains the polished feel of the wines from Pichon Lalande. It has a stronger presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than in the past, making it more structured than its predecessors, with a dominance of black currant flavor. It shows the soft side of the vintage, but is also meant for aging. Cellar Selection.

94 Points - James Suckling

This is a pretty and refined Pichon Lalande. Aromas of blueberries and blackberries with hints of earth and mushrooms. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. I slightly prefer the 2009. Better in 2017.

93 Points - Wine Advocate

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande gives up notes of warm cassis, blueberry pie and kirsch with wafts of cedar chest, pencil lead, charcoal and charcuterie plus a hint of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the savory-inspired palate possesses a fair bit of chew with a lively backbone and firm finish.

93 Points - Wine Spectator

This features an intense core of plush-textured blackberry, boysenberry and black currant fruit, steeped with mulled spice, singed apple wood and anise notes. A strong, loamy feel courses through the finish, with latent grip. Very solid, but not where this wine should be in this vintage. Best from 2015 through 2030.