WINEMAKER NOTES
2016 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, France
Overview
Founded in 1689, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has quite a spectacular history. The quality and elegance of the wines have been the maxim of all the château‘s owners since master winemaker Joseph de Pichon Longueville‘s reign in the 18th century.
For over thirty years, owner May Eliane de Lencquesaing modernized the château‘s installations in the truest respect for tradition. Her indefatigable passion elevated Pichon to a level equaled only by its consistency all over the world. In October of 2006, Lencquesaing joined forces with Champagne Louis Roederer, thus opening a new chapter in the long and magnificent history of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
The vast majority of the vineyards are Gunzian gravel mounds of the classic Pauillac composition, with the deep bed of gravel placed over a substrata of clay and limestone. The commitment to sustainable farming practices extends throughout the 220 acres of vineyards, with over 27 acres fully converted to organic viticulture, and 37 acres farmed biodynamically.
The unique encepagement and the 30 acres of vines situated on the soils of Saint-Julien endow the wines of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with exceptional complexity, elegance, and longevity compared with the other crus of the Pauillac appellation.
Winemaking
After reception of the harvest, destemming and crushing, the grapes are placed in temperature-controlled wooden or stainless-steel vats, of variable capacity, allowing a precise and rigorous selection by plot.
The heating and cooling system enables the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to be controlled with precision. The vatting period ranges from 18 to 24 days depending on the year. Frequent pump-overs are performed to extract maximum colour and tannins from the skins.
Once blended, the wine is aged in oak barrels sourced from the Allier and Nièvre forests in France. The oak refines the wine, adding its own aromas and tannins, whilst allowing it to acquire the soft richness that is lacking in its youth, thanks to the gradual, natural contact with air through the pores of the wood.
The Grand Vin of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is aged 18 months in oak barrels; a little more than half are brand new; the other half are second-fill barrels. The barrels have a medium toast, which enhances their aromas. A harmonious balance of oak and wine is always sought.
Racking takes place every three months up to the bottling. Traditional fining with egg whites is still carried out to clarify the wine.
Tasting Notes
As part of the collection of great vintages of Pichon Comtesse, 2016 offers us a powerful, intense and elegant wine. Intensely floral notes of violet, wild blackcurrant and raspberries and spices. The wine is completed with a long finish and smooth tannins.
Harvest Notes
An early bud break at the end of March followed by two rather cold and wet months. The vine cycle slowed down and was subject to a heavy dose of mildew. The flowering was a bit late around June 10 while a very long, dry summer arrived on June 20. In general the veraison was late and slow to develop and carried on until the August 23 for the petit verdot.
September and October were very dry and sunny months which provided excellent conditions for ripening. The optimal maturity of each parcel was achieved during harvest between the September 20 and October 20.
"Nature knows how to reward the winemaker who works hard to look after his land. 2016 is an exceptional vintage and joins the prestigious list of other outstanding years like 1959, 1982, 1996, 2009… 2016."
- Nicolas Glumineau
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Varietals: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Wine Alcohol: 13.32%
pH: 3.76
Soil Composition: Gravel, clay and sand
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Aging: 18 months in oak barrels, 60% new oak
Shipping Information
Domestic Shipping
We ship wine to eligible U.S. states via UPS or FedEx. Orders placed Monday through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time typically ship the same day. Orders placed after the shipping cutoff will be scheduled for the next available shipping day.
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Packaging & Temperature
Wine is packed in protective EPS foam shipping containers, with gel packs used when appropriate. Original Wooden Cases (OWC) are shipped separately to help protect both the wine and the wooden case during transit.
Because wine is temperature-sensitive, we may recommend expedited shipping or holding an order when weather conditions present an elevated risk. Please review our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy for additional information.
Weather Holds & Storage
During periods of extreme heat or cold, shipments may be delayed until conditions improve. Customers may also request that an order be held for a later shipping date.
Complimentary temperature-controlled storage is available for up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Select the available weather-hold option at checkout or contact us to coordinate a future shipment.
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Shipping protection for loss or visible damage in transit is included with eligible shipments, subject to applicable terms and carrier requirements. Temperature-related deterioration is not covered.
Please review our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy for additional details.
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Shipping laws and carrier availability may change. If your state is not available as a shipping destination at checkout, please contact us to confirm current eligibility.
2016 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, France
Overview
Founded in 1689, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has quite a spectacular history. The quality and elegance of the wines have been the maxim of all the château‘s owners since master winemaker Joseph de Pichon Longueville‘s reign in the 18th century.
For over thirty years, owner May Eliane de Lencquesaing modernized the château‘s installations in the truest respect for tradition. Her indefatigable passion elevated Pichon to a level equaled only by its consistency all over the world. In October of 2006, Lencquesaing joined forces with Champagne Louis Roederer, thus opening a new chapter in the long and magnificent history of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
The vast majority of the vineyards are Gunzian gravel mounds of the classic Pauillac composition, with the deep bed of gravel placed over a substrata of clay and limestone. The commitment to sustainable farming practices extends throughout the 220 acres of vineyards, with over 27 acres fully converted to organic viticulture, and 37 acres farmed biodynamically.
The unique encepagement and the 30 acres of vines situated on the soils of Saint-Julien endow the wines of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with exceptional complexity, elegance, and longevity compared with the other crus of the Pauillac appellation.
Winemaking
After reception of the harvest, destemming and crushing, the grapes are placed in temperature-controlled wooden or stainless-steel vats, of variable capacity, allowing a precise and rigorous selection by plot.
The heating and cooling system enables the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to be controlled with precision. The vatting period ranges from 18 to 24 days depending on the year. Frequent pump-overs are performed to extract maximum colour and tannins from the skins.
Once blended, the wine is aged in oak barrels sourced from the Allier and Nièvre forests in France. The oak refines the wine, adding its own aromas and tannins, whilst allowing it to acquire the soft richness that is lacking in its youth, thanks to the gradual, natural contact with air through the pores of the wood.
The Grand Vin of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is aged 18 months in oak barrels; a little more than half are brand new; the other half are second-fill barrels. The barrels have a medium toast, which enhances their aromas. A harmonious balance of oak and wine is always sought.
Racking takes place every three months up to the bottling. Traditional fining with egg whites is still carried out to clarify the wine.
Tasting Notes
As part of the collection of great vintages of Pichon Comtesse, 2016 offers us a powerful, intense and elegant wine. Intensely floral notes of violet, wild blackcurrant and raspberries and spices. The wine is completed with a long finish and smooth tannins.
Harvest Notes
An early bud break at the end of March followed by two rather cold and wet months. The vine cycle slowed down and was subject to a heavy dose of mildew. The flowering was a bit late around June 10 while a very long, dry summer arrived on June 20. In general the veraison was late and slow to develop and carried on until the August 23 for the petit verdot.
September and October were very dry and sunny months which provided excellent conditions for ripening. The optimal maturity of each parcel was achieved during harvest between the September 20 and October 20.
"Nature knows how to reward the winemaker who works hard to look after his land. 2016 is an exceptional vintage and joins the prestigious list of other outstanding years like 1959, 1982, 1996, 2009… 2016."
- Nicolas Glumineau
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Varietals: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Wine Alcohol: 13.32%
pH: 3.76
Soil Composition: Gravel, clay and sand
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Aging: 18 months in oak barrels, 60% new oak
2016 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, France
Overview
Founded in 1689, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has quite a spectacular history. The quality and elegance of the wines have been the maxim of all the château‘s owners since master winemaker Joseph de Pichon Longueville‘s reign in the 18th century.
For over thirty years, owner May Eliane de Lencquesaing modernized the château‘s installations in the truest respect for tradition. Her indefatigable passion elevated Pichon to a level equaled only by its consistency all over the world. In October of 2006, Lencquesaing joined forces with Champagne Louis Roederer, thus opening a new chapter in the long and magnificent history of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
The vast majority of the vineyards are Gunzian gravel mounds of the classic Pauillac composition, with the deep bed of gravel placed over a substrata of clay and limestone. The commitment to sustainable farming practices extends throughout the 220 acres of vineyards, with over 27 acres fully converted to organic viticulture, and 37 acres farmed biodynamically.
The unique encepagement and the 30 acres of vines situated on the soils of Saint-Julien endow the wines of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with exceptional complexity, elegance, and longevity compared with the other crus of the Pauillac appellation.
Winemaking
After reception of the harvest, destemming and crushing, the grapes are placed in temperature-controlled wooden or stainless-steel vats, of variable capacity, allowing a precise and rigorous selection by plot.
The heating and cooling system enables the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to be controlled with precision. The vatting period ranges from 18 to 24 days depending on the year. Frequent pump-overs are performed to extract maximum colour and tannins from the skins.
Once blended, the wine is aged in oak barrels sourced from the Allier and Nièvre forests in France. The oak refines the wine, adding its own aromas and tannins, whilst allowing it to acquire the soft richness that is lacking in its youth, thanks to the gradual, natural contact with air through the pores of the wood.
The Grand Vin of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is aged 18 months in oak barrels; a little more than half are brand new; the other half are second-fill barrels. The barrels have a medium toast, which enhances their aromas. A harmonious balance of oak and wine is always sought.
Racking takes place every three months up to the bottling. Traditional fining with egg whites is still carried out to clarify the wine.
Tasting Notes
As part of the collection of great vintages of Pichon Comtesse, 2016 offers us a powerful, intense and elegant wine. Intensely floral notes of violet, wild blackcurrant and raspberries and spices. The wine is completed with a long finish and smooth tannins.
Harvest Notes
An early bud break at the end of March followed by two rather cold and wet months. The vine cycle slowed down and was subject to a heavy dose of mildew. The flowering was a bit late around June 10 while a very long, dry summer arrived on June 20. In general the veraison was late and slow to develop and carried on until the August 23 for the petit verdot.
September and October were very dry and sunny months which provided excellent conditions for ripening. The optimal maturity of each parcel was achieved during harvest between the September 20 and October 20.
"Nature knows how to reward the winemaker who works hard to look after his land. 2016 is an exceptional vintage and joins the prestigious list of other outstanding years like 1959, 1982, 1996, 2009… 2016."
- Nicolas Glumineau
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Varietals: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Wine Alcohol: 13.32%
pH: 3.76
Soil Composition: Gravel, clay and sand
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Aging: 18 months in oak barrels, 60% new oak
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