Reserve de la Comtesse 2009, Pauillac, Magnum

Gone. Pichon Comtesse's second wine from 2009 in magnum was only ever going one way. The Réserve de la Comtesse is the second wine of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, a Second Growth estate in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux. The 2009 vintage is considered to be one of the best in recent years, and the Réserve de la Comtesse is no exception. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% of which are new. The wine has a deep ruby color and a complex bouquet of aromas, including black currant, plum, blackberry, cedar, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and balanced, with ripe fruit flavors, well-integrated tannins, and a long, lingering finish. It is a powerful wine that is best enjoyed with grilled meats or game. The wine has received rave reviews from wine critics, with many scoring it 90 points or higher.