{"product_id":"2016-chateau-pichon-longueville-comtesse-de-lalande-pauillac-deuxieme-cru-classe","title":"2016 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, Deuxième Cru Classé","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew estates make the argument against Bordeaux’s old classification hierarchy more convincingly than Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Officially a Deuxième Cru Classé, Pichon Comtesse has spent generations producing wines that belong in the conversation with Pauillac’s First Growths. The 2016 is one of the clearest examples yet. Now carrying four separate 100-point scores, it has emerged as one of the defining wines of an extraordinary Bordeaux vintage and one of the great modern releases from this historic estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2016 also captures the evolution of Pichon Comtesse under director Nicolas Glumineau. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for an unusually high 75% of the blend, joined by 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 18 months in French oak, 60% new. That increased Cabernet presence gives the 2016 formidable Pauillac structure, but the signature Pichon Comtesse character remains unmistakable. There is power without brutality, richness without heaviness, and a remarkable silkiness running through the wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCassis, blackberry, and plum unfold into violet, graphite, cigar tobacco, cedar, licorice, and crushed stone. The palate is deep and immensely concentrated, yet everything feels extraordinarily composed. Fine-grained tannins build through the finish while bright acidity and persistent mineral tension keep the wine precise. This is not simply a massive 2016 Pauillac. Its greatness lies in how effortlessly it carries that concentration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than the scores, it is the consistency of the critical response that tells the story. Wine Advocate calls the 2016 one of the greatest wines produced at the estate in the modern era. Antonio Galloni describes it as one of the wines of the vintage, while Jeb Dunnuck places it alongside the legendary 1982. Nearly a decade after harvest, the 2016 is only beginning its evolution. For the serious Bordeaux collector, this is Pichon Comtesse at the height of its modern powers: a historic château, a benchmark Pauillac vintage, and a wine with the structure to remain compelling for decades.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCritical Acclaim:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100 Points, Wine Advocate, William Kelley:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e“One of the greatest wines that this estate has produced in the modern era... a brilliant classic that no Bordeaux lover is going to want to do without.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e“At once powerful and yet also delicate, the 2016 is a regal, aristocratic wine endowed with class and pedigree to burn.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The 2016 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande matches the 1982 and is a perfect, legendary wine in the making.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eProvenance Guarantee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wine comes with an unimpeachable provenance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePurchased Ex Chateau En Primeur in 2017\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased between June 2018 and March 2019\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStored at Dartess in Bordeaux\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTransferred to London City Bond in February 2020\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKept in original packaging, undisturbed case\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eImpeccable Provenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese wines were acquired through an approved Bordeaux négociant as futures in 2017. Upon release from the châteaux between June 2018 and March 2019, they were stored at Dartess in Bordeaux before being transferred to London City Bond in February 2020. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon't miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of Bordeaux history. With limited quantities available, these wines represent the perfect gift for the discerning oenophile or a treasured addition to any cellar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eAuthenticity Assured\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery bottle is delivered with a SommSelect Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring the wine's traceability and optimal storage conditions throughout its journey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mt-md block\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis offering represents a true collector's dream - a chance to own a piece of Bordeaux history that promises to be both an exceptional investment and a testament to the pinnacle of winemaking craft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2016_Chateau_Pichon_Longueville_Comtesse_de_Lalande_Pauillac_Deuxieme_Cru_Classe_estate_1.jpg?v=1790114051\" alt=\"Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande\" style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47760455532598,"sku":"AT-CPL16PAU-750","price":313.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/chateau-pichon-longueville.jpg?v=1790114025","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/products\/2016-chateau-pichon-longueville-comtesse-de-lalande-pauillac-deuxieme-cru-classe","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}