2023 Pichon Comtesse Reserve, Pauillac

I like the freshness and linear character to this second wine of Pichon Lalande. It's medium-bodied with creamy and polished tannins that are fine at the end. It is linked from start to finish. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot.

The second wine of this great château is the 2023 Pichon Comtesse Réserve, which is based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak and the rest in once-used oak. Notes of black cherries, currants, smoky tobacco, and graphite give it a real Cabernet Sauvignon character. Medium-bodied and balanced, with ripe tannins, it's a beautiful second wine that will evolve for 15-20 years.

A terrific second wine the 2023 Resèrve de la Comtesse wafts from the glass with a pure bouquet of blackcurrants dark berries lilac and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied layered and velvety it's sensual and vibrant with melting tannins and a deep core of cool fruit framed by polished but present tannins. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc marks the 50th anniversary of this second wine's production.

The 2023 Réserve de la Comtesse has a lovely bouquet discrete initially then opening with cassis and light violet fruit. It never shouts too loudly at this early stage. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins on the entry. There’s also a stronger graphite element than I have noticed in recent vintages due to the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%). This is a classically styled Réserve.