Pichon Lalande

Château Pichon Lalande

Classification: Second Growth (2ème Cru)
Château Pichon Lalande is the shortened version of the full name of  Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande  and was once part of a larger estate along with Château Pichon Baron. In 1850 the estate was divided into the 2 current Pichon estates: Château Pichon Baron and Château Pichon Lalande. The château takes its name from Virginie Comtesse de Lalande whose strong personality and passion for her vines have left her mark on the estate to this day. The Château itself is stunningly beautiful – as is its sibling Pichon Baron – and its wines are famously sought after.

The château was bought by Edouard and Louis Miailhe, descendants of an old Bordeaux family of vineyard owners in 1925 and Edouard's daughter, May Elaine de Lencquesaing, became the owner and administrator of the Château Pichon Lalande. She quite naturally revived the tradition of the Comtesse de Lalande, personally overseeing the management of the family domain with her passion for wine and strict management. In 2006, de Lencquesaing sold a majority interest in the Château to the Rouzaud family, which also owns the Champagne House Louis Roederer. The estate is managed by May Eliane's nephew Gildas d'Ollone. Over 3 centuries only 2 families have worked with vigour for the renown of the Château and its wines.

Château Pichon Lalande has the unique benefit of its 150 acres of vineyard stretching over into Saint Julien, approaching the Léoville plateau - which account for the wine's elegant and supple character among the other Grand Crus of Pauillac. The vineyards stretch around the château, close to the river and neighbour Château Latour. Château Pichon Lalande is ideally situated between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. These two masses of water favour the movement of air, which clears the sky of clouds and reduces rainfall. The region of Pauillac benefits from a micro climate that is relatively dry which helps the concentration of the grapes.

The grapes grown are 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Pichon Lalande has an unusually high proportion of Merlot for a Pauillac property, which tends to make the wine slightly softer and more "feminine" than wines from many other classified Pauillac châteaux.

Wine Style
The dense plum coloured wines of  Château Pichon Lalande are known for their soft, feminine charm and due to the amount of Merlot in the blend they are supple, velvety and opulent. They are remarkably consistent throughout the vintages and are fabulous with food. The aromas are of smoky blackberries, plum liqueur, cherries and liquorice. They have great ageing potential but can also be drunk young.

Owner: The Lencquesaing, Family/ Louis Roederer (also owns Château Bernadotte)
Château Website: www.pichon-lalande.com  
Oenologist: J Boissenot/ Ribéreau-Gayon/ Hubert de Boüard