2018 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, France 6.0L

The Bordeaux of Pauillac is known for stark power, but one of the region’s most notable estates, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (commonly referred to as Pichon Lalande or Pichon Comtesse) diverges from this trend to produce wines that the French typically describe as “feminine” and “sensuous.” This softer note is partially due to an unusually high proportion of Merlot (35%), but it’s interesting to speculate that the difference stems from the winery’s history, which, since the 18th century, has been notable for strong women, starting with Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus ...