Réserve de Pichon Comtesse 2018

Bright and juicy, with a mix of red and black currant preserve flavors lined with notes of briar and licorice root, ending with a hint of tobacco. Not large in scale, but has good latent energy. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.

I like the Pauillac character, safe and eucalyptus-lined with a ton of black chocolate, cassis, and a brush of slate. Really a wine that you feel stands on its own.

The 2018 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse has undergone a discreet change of name since the 2017 vintage. What has not changed is that it’s a knockout Second Label. It ladles out gorgeous scents of blackberry mixed with iodine and violets, just as it did from barrel. The palate is quite rich and generous, with saturated, pliant tannins, a very fine line of acidity and hints of graphite furnishing the finish. Give it, say, three years in bottle and you will have a delicious wine on your hands.

Medium-bodied, elegant, refined, soft and silky, the wine shows off its sleek red fruits the moment it leaves the glass and graces your palate. Purity and elegance, in a forward style, this is a gorgeous, well-priced Pauillac that can be enjoyed for at least a decade or more, while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop.

Strong ruby garnet, faint ochre reflections, broader brightening on the rim. Attractive bouquet with delicate toasty aromas, fine notes of cassis and blackberry confit and a hint of nougat. Juicy palate with ripe red cherry, velvety, plump tannins, pleasant ripeness and freshness on the finish, mineral and long. Good ageing potential.

Inky dark purple colour. Fragrant nose offering floral hints, ripe dark plum, cherry, cassis, fine leather and discreet oak. Good density on the palate, high ripeness with digest dark berry flavours, some oak presence, mocha and fine spices with young but ripe tannin, warm and ripe but with fine acidity underneath and a long lingering finish.

The second wine of the Château, the 2018 Pichon Comtesse Reserve checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Terrific classic Pauillac notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, leafy tobacco, and chocolate define this beauty, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, balanced, pure character, present yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. As I wrote last year, it tastes more like a Grand Vin than a second wine. The larger Merlot component shows here compared to its more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated big brother, and it's a much more plush, silky, sexy wine that already offers loads of pleasure. It's going to evolve for two decades and is well worth seeking out.

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet with a violet rim. Seductive violet perfume, followed by blueberries, coconut and red berry compote. A powerful palate with silky tannins and a supportive tannic framework, great drive and brilliant freshness. The aromatic finish shows plenty of dark berry fruit, dark noble woods, a touch of tobacco spice and a hint of graphite. Nothing to complain about—so what will the Grand Vin taste like?

The 2018 Reserve de Pichon Comtesse is deep garnet-purple in color. It has a nose of dried herbs, baked blackberries, and dried mulberries, plus suggestions of blackcurrant pastilles and black olives. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers herb-tinged black fruits, with a chewy texture and a firm finish.

Delicate and fresh, with a juicy fruit palate.

The nose is initially slightly muted and delicate, with notes of nutmeg supporting the fruit. The palate is concentrated and kept in check by a fine-grained tannic texture.

So much intensity and character in this bouquet. It brilliantly heralds a great wine while underscoring the identity of the Réserve! Delightful varietal freshness in symbiosis with notes of red berries and licorice. On the palate, the wine is dense, supple on the attack, and perfectly balanced. What power and depth in this wine, which stands among the great wines of Pauillac.

The nose is aromatic and elegant, offering power (beautifully controlled), concentration (beautifully controlled) and intensity. It reveals notes of ripe wild blackberry, wild strawberry and, more subtly, small wild berries, alongside touches of pepper, lily and violet, as well as delicate hints of cola, liquorice, camphor, discreet touches of vanilla and an almost imperceptible hint of toast. The palate is fruity, balanced and fresh, with lovely definition, roundness and suavity, a slight richness that is just right, along with power, depth and a fine austerity. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of wild blackcurrant, wild blackberry and, more subtly, small wild berries, combined with touches of raspberry, cherry, black tea and camphor, as well as hints of cocoa, caramelisation, lily and liquorice, a subtle touch of sweet blond tobacco, toasted oak and a hint of toast. The tannins are precise, refined and structuring. Good length and persistence. The finish is suave and moreish, with a subtle note of pleasant cocoa bitterness. Score: 16.5/20

Logo on the cork: CB Dark, intense, beautiful color. Moderately intense nose, refined, fruity, and pure. Delicate on the attack, seductive on the mid-palate, silky and airy, the wine lingers on the finish, slightly creamy, with a toasty touch.

This second wine represents 41% of the crop. Composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Reserve de la Comtesse springs from the glass with vibrant scents of ripe blackcurrants, black raspberries and baked plums, plus suggestions of pencil lead, cedar chest, ground cloves and lilacs. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly crafted with fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness nicely framing the delicate fruit, finishing earthy.