Reserve de la Comtesse 2009

Bright, dark ruby with a tight rim. Fragrances-dry violets. Ripe dark fruit; chocolaty, fruity finish. Quite elegant; fine tannins; good structure; medium length; medium body. Very palatable. Drinking fine.

Scores and notes are:

RP91. Made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the second wine, the 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse, exhibits notes of forest floor, white chocolate, liquorice, black currants and vanillin-infused black cherries. In addition, it possesses a sweet, round, generous style, given its high glycerin. The Reserve de la Comtesse and Pichon Lalande have about 13% alcohol, slightly lower than most Pauillacs achieved in 2009. Edited.

JS91. Currants and flowers on the nose. Dried spices as well. Full-bodied, with silky yet chewy tannins and a long finish. Dense and solid. Second wine of Pichon-Lalande. Edited.

92, Derek Smedley. Bilberry freshness gives a lighter feel to the nose, but the fruit on the palate is rich and ripe, giving flesh in the middle. The blueberry and bramble are sweet, backed up by dark chocolate enriching the back palate. The fruit mix lingers on the finish.