En Primeur 2022 New Release: Château Pichon Lalande, Château Pavie Macquin, Château Cantenac Brown, Château Gloria...
Bordeaux Index
8 June 2023
Few estates can match the sheer beauty, elegance and intellect that a great vintage of Pichon Lalande delivers.
Situated on the border of Pauillac and Saint-Julien, Pichon Lalande’s ninety hectares of vineyards are cradled between those of Latour and Pichon Baron in Pauillac and Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases in Saint-Julien. Perhaps due to its proximity to St Julien, Pichon Lalande is always the most sensual and perfumed of the Pauillacs with soaring cassis fruit at the fore and classic Pauillac spice in support.
“The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one wine where a comparison with this estate's magical 1982 doesn't appear to be far-fetched.” - William Kelley
“A potential 100-point wine” - Georgina Hindle
“The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is magnificent” - Antonio Galloni
Nicolas Glumineau said that the estate had been preparing for the 2022 vintage for the past 10 years. By this he meant the tireless work in the vineyard nurturing life in the soil through organic and biodynamic practices. In the cellar too, not only through a full refurbishment of the cellar since 2008, but through more precise and detailed work by gravity to ensure the most seamless wine possible, Pichon Lalande is truly firing on all cylinders.
The 2022 is a blend of 78% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and only 50% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin.
“One of the gems from Pauillac is unquestionably the 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. A hypothetical blend of the 2019 and 2020, it's a full-bodied, concentrated, opulent Comtesse offering beautiful blue fruits, some chocolate, leafy herbs, and undeniable minerality, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. Despite the higher Cabernet Sauvignon component, this stays silky, expansive, and incredibly sexy. It's going to be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age but should have a lengthy drink window. Hats off to director Nicolas Glumineau for another legendary wine from this château.” - 97-100pts, Jeb Dunnock
The excellent Reserve de la Comtesse is also released this morning at GBP 216 per 6 IB
“The second wine of Comtesse de Lalande, the 2022 Pichon Comtesse Réserve is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Ripe black and blue fruits as well as some chocolaty, tobacco nuances define the aromatics, and it's a rich, full-bodied, velvety textured second wine that's going to drink brilliantly right out of the gate. This is well worth seeking out. Tasted twice.” - 92-94pts, Jeb Dunnuck
In 2022, Pavie Macquin once again hits the mark.
Tasting across St Emilion during our week in Bordeaux, some of our favourite wines came from the limestone plateau. Some of the most successful wines here are chiselled and precise with beautiful salinity and tension. It perhaps demonstrates a change of approach among winemakers who are seeking terroir expression over opulence and richness. This is one of the cooler sites on the plateau and so is normally later picked than many neighbours, but it is clear the cooler terroir was of enormous benefit in a warm, dry vintage like 2022.
“a decidedly linear, vibrant Pavie Macquin that bristles with the chalky, saline energy that is a signature of this part of Saint-Émilion” - Antonio Galloni
At the price this wine delivers enormous ‘bang for buck’ and provides the perfect combination of freshness, minerality, fruit purity and power for which these St Emilion hillside estates were once so famed. This is not one to miss out on!
“just nuanced and beautiful” - Jane Anson
“Another wine that's going to flirt with perfection is the 2022 Château Pavie Macquin, and this might be the finest vintage I've ever tasted from this address.” - Jeb Dunnuck