Réserve de Pichon Comtesse 2021

Engaging, with a flurry of violet, alder and black tea notes leading off, followed by a solidly built core of black currant and sweet bay leaf elements. The finish reveals warm earth and cast iron details. A textbook Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2034.

Perfumed blackcurrants on the nose and palate—juicy and succulent, the tannins are mouthfilling with a cool blue-fruit flavour, almost blueberry and plum, fresh with a softly fleshy texture. Lovely depth on the mid-palate; it doesn’t let up—running from start to finish with gusto. You also get liquorice and clove tones—dark, spiced aspects that are integrated and bring nuances rather than edges in terms of flavour. You’ve definitely got the power and concentration of Pauillac, but also an energy that is truly captivating. A confident second wine with clear direction.

Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Smells quite ripe and interesting. A very good effort in this context! Shows every sign of evolving into something likely to give pleasure, though food is an absolute necessity. Some fruit weight here anyway. (JR)

Licorice, black cherries, and smoked aromas get the wine started. But it is on the palate where this baby Pichon Comtesse gets going. Forward, soft, medium-bodied, and elegant, you can enjoy this as soon as it hits the stores, or age it for a few years. This was made by blending 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2024-2033.

The second wine 2021 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot. It's a solid second wine that brings good intensity in its ripe red and blue fruits (plums, redcurrants) as well as classic Pauillac graphite, tobacco, and spicy oak. It's medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant, with fine tannins and an incredibly drinkable style.

For Pichon Comtesse, 2021 is the first year in conversion toward organic certification. Dark, intense color. Rich, dense chocolate nose with plenty of power and drive. Deep, polished and concentrated, with a tight Cabernet weave (98% in the blend). Ripe, raisined notes, lots of freshness and berry spice on the nose. Comtesse opens dense and forceful, very energetic and slim in the classic sense. A terrific, penetrating Pauillac that, despite its slightly rough-and-ready edge, still appears fully ripe. Concentrated through the mid-palate, a little less expansive in width, yet aromatic flashes keep appearing across the palate. Long, lively and unyielding, with a masculine tannin structure from the Cabernet.

Majors on savoury blue fruits, with some austere tannins at first, but there is clear precision and vivid fruit character, and a juicy, mouthwatering finish. The team under Nicolas Glumineau added just a touch more new oak during ageing (70%) but only for the first three months, then back to 50%. 15 hl/ha yield after the Merlot in particular was impacted by mildew. First year of organic conversion, 40% of overall production.

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a bit of shaking to wake up scents of juicy black raspberries and red plums, fragrant earth and wild roses, followed by suggestions of bay leaves and pencil lead. The light to medium-bodied palate has great freshness and lightly chewy tannins to support the lively black berry flavors, finishing with an herbal lift.

Dark, intense color. Moderately aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Gentle throughout the tasting, with presence and a refined tannic structure, this wine is very flavorful. A very slightly austere finish that will integrate during ageing. Blend: 56% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 8% petit verdot. Alcohol: 12.9% - pH: 3.76.

Wafting from the glass with notes of blackberries, minty cassis, petals and pencil shavings, the 2021 Resèrve de la Comtesse is medium to full-bodied, ample and polished, with a fleshy core of fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a seamless, succulent profile. This beautifully balanced wine will drink well on release. It's one of the most successful second wines produced this year.