Tasting of Pichon Comtesse de Lalande@ Hilton

Happy Chris Low with Gildas d'Ollone

Director General of

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande

Vintage 2004 Ch Pichon Comtesse De Lalande,

in line or better than the 1986 and 1996 Vinatge?

I am thinking of Teppanyaki Wagyu while savouring the fine tannin of this wine...

Reserve de la Comtesse 2003-lots of cassis, warm, up front and already enjoyable at this stage.

and Chateau Bernadotte 2002-Supprisingly backward and green, lots of green pepper linger with some cassis and black olives.

Under ground cellar of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
(Spring 2008)

Vineyards of Ch. Pichon Comtess de Lalande that oversee Ch. Latour and the Garonne river.
Do you see the tower(La Tour)?
(Spring, 2008)

Happy Chris Low posting infront at the Garden of Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande during the 2007 En Primuer Campaign.

(Spring, 2008)

Chris Low: The Cork Brothers was invited to the Trade tasting of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande organised by Milawa. We had the oppercunity of sampling 3 wines from the esteem Chateau and presented by Mr Gildas d' Ollone-Director General of the Chateau.

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a 2nd Cru Classe of Pauillac.

History of Pichon.

This prestigious viticultural estate was created by Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan in the 17th c. Château Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande has carefully kept important archives including a great many records relating to the purchase of lands the estate is composed of between 1686 and 1689. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan gave the vineyard to his daughter Thérèse as her dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon, baron de Longueville, the first president of the Bordeaux parliament.

In the 18th c., baron Joseph de Pichon, born 1755, died 1850, through his intelligence and strong personality, left his stamp on this estate by his great qualities as viticultor. The poet Biarnez celebrated baron Joseph’s 90-year long life linked to the quality of his wines. In 1850, in execution of his will, kept in the château’s archives, baron Joseph’s estate was shared between his five children, 2/5 to his two sons and 3/5 to his three daughters who entrusted their shares to countess Henri de Lalande. From then on there were two châteaux Pichon-Longueville, one belonging to the baron and the other to the countess.

Precious documents reveal rigorous management by the countesses de Lalande and Lacroix who looked after the estate in succession: day-books, books of accounts and despatch are an inexhaustible supply of information covering the period 1860-1910. In 1925, Louis and Edouard Miailhe bought the estate from the descendants of the Pichon-Longuevilles.

Since 1978, Madame de Lencquesaing, daughter of Mr. Edouard F. Miailhe administers Pichon-Longueville-Lalande with the help of a young professional and dynamic team. To this day all the furniture as it was arranged by the countess de Lalande plus several pictures painted by Sophie de Pichon Longueville remain as faithful witnesses of this illustrious family’s daily life.

Today Pichon is extremely up-to-date with its equipment - cellars and fermentation-room - allied to a profound respect for family tradition. Overlooking the estuary and the vineyards of Pauillac and Saint-Julien, an enormous panoramic terrace has two majestic wine stores. Similarly a precious collection of ancient glasses includes very lovely articles from Roman to modern times.

Thanks to the regularity of their quality, their elegance and their complexity, the wines of Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande have won the esteem of wine-lovers the world over...I mean, for those who loves the finess, and feminine touch of the countess.


PS. This estate has been sold to the Louis Roederer/Deutz champagne firm .