The second growth of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the Réserve de la Comtesse, was created and sold for the first time in 1973. Second growths represent between 20 percent and 50 percent of the total production of the Château. From the same soil, the second growth benefits from the technology and reputation of the great wine. The archives kept at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande mention the existence of a second wine as early as the 19th century.

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 nose reveals a basket of red fruit aromas (redcurrant and wild strawberries) underpinned by sweet overtones of vanilla and accompanied by floral notes of iris. The palate is ethereal and powdery, revealing a floral and spicy elegance with hints of pepper. All in all, an incredibly lively, long-lasting and delicious wine with notes of cinnamon on the finish.

The winter was relatively mild, favouring rather early bud break in the first half of April. This period saw some very cold nights, particularly on 5 April, requiring us to take all the necessary steps to protect the vines from frost. The growing season was marked by regular rainy spells and a high threat of mildew. Thanks to a great deal of effort and the fact that rainfall was scattered a few days apart, the threat of vine diseases remained under control, allowing flowering to unfold in late May and veraison (colour change) in early August. Despite the impression of a gloomy spring and summer, with several cold and rainy spells, particularly between June and August, the growing season was one of the driest years in modern history. The harvest took place from 6 to 30 September 2023– virtually the same dates as the previous vintage. Excellent weather conditions during the harvest meant pickers could wait until the ideal time to harvest the grapes, according to the technological and phenolic ripeness achieved in each plot.