CHÂTEAU PICHON LALANDE 2011

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2011

“Only 40% of the crop made it into the grand vin, which achieved 12.95% natural alcohol. The final blend for the 2011 Pichon Lalande was 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Under the administration of the new owners, the Merlot component has been dramatically reduced in favor of more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. A strong effort, the 2011 boasts a dense ruby/purple color and abundant aromas of black currants intermixed with unsmoked cigar tobacco, serious body, more concentration than most of the classified growths, and a bigger, more structured style that may suggest a subtle change in the winemaking philosophy at this estate. This impressive wine is one of the vintage’s most interesting efforts. It should drink well for 15-20 years.”  – 94/100, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

VARIETIES: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot
REGION: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
AGEING: Aged for 18 months in barrels, 60% new
GUARDING POTENTIAL: Enjoy now or will cellar well up to 20 years ±, at an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%
SERVE: Serve at 16ºC – 18ºC, decant it ideally 6 to 7 hours before tasting
FITS TO: Wonderful accompaniment to Pauillac Suckling Lamb, Cider-Roasted Wild Boar Shoulder, Beef Tenderloin with Porcini Mushroom and Morel Sauce, Roast Pigeon with Trompette de la Mort or Snacked Pata Negra Pork Pluma. Pairing well with Edam, Gouda, Saint-nectaire, Morbier, Tomme de Savoie or Salers, or even dessert of Opéra Cake or a Tiramisu
CRITICS SCORES: WE/94, RP/94, JS/93, WS/91

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2ème Grand Cru Classé – 1855, Pauillac Appellation | Range | Château Pichon Lalande 2011

Overview

Founded in 1689, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has quite a spectacular history. The quality and elegance of the wines have been the maxim of all the château‘s owners since master winemaker Joseph de Pichon Longueville‘s reign in the 18th century. For over thirty years, owner May Eliane de Lencquesaing modernized the château‘s installations in the truest respect for tradition. Her indefatigable passion elevated Pichon to a level equaled only by its consistency all over the world. In October of 2006, Lencquesaing joined forces with Champagne Louis Roederer, thus opening a new chapter in the long and magnificent history of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The vast majority of the vineyards are Gunzian gravel mounds of the classic Pauillac composition, with the deep bed of gravel placed over a substrata of clay and limestone. The commitment to sustainable farming practices extends throughout the 220 acres of vineyards, with over 27 acres fully converted to organic viticulture, and 37 acres farmed biodynamically.

Winemaking

After reception of the harvest, destemming and crushing, the grapes are placed in temperature-controlled wooden or stainless-steel vats, of variable capacity, allowing a precise and rigorous selection by plot. The heating and cooling system enables the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to be controlled with precision. The vatting period ranges from 18 to 24 days depending on the year. Frequent pump-overs are performed to extract maximum colour and tannins from the skins. Once blended, the wine is aged in oak barrels sourced from the Allier and Nièvre forests in France. The oak refines the wine, adding its own aromas and tannins, whilst allowing it to acquire the soft richness that is lacking in its youth, thanks to the gradual, natural contact with air through the pores of the wood. The Grand Vin of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is aged 18 months in oak barrels; a little more than half are brand new; the other half are second-fill barrels. The barrels have a medium toast, which enhances their aromas. A harmonious balance of oak and wine is always sought. Racking takes place every three months up to the bottling. Traditional fining with egg whites is still carried out to clarify the wine.