Readers shouldn't overlook the 2022 Resèrve de la Comtesse, a lovely wine that's one of the most accomplished second wines of Bordeaux. Offering up aromas of sweet minty berries, burning embers, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, lavish and aromatic, with an almost exotic core of fruit, powdery tannins and a penetrating finish.

The al dente fruit is so attractive with blackcurrants, dark plums and orange peel. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with tannins that start slowly, building at the end to a crescendo of intensity and power. It’s muscular and chewy but not overdone. A great second wine of Pichon Lalande. Needs time to soften and come together. Best after 2029.

The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse Is a sexy wine. Plush contours wrap around a core of black cherry, plum, graphite and dried flowers. The 2022 is unusual in that it includes all the Petit Verdot produced at the property. That's a decision that paid off handsomely.

Deep nose - lush, ripe fruit, chocolate, blackcurrants, smells sumptuous and rich but still with an element of graphite and cool minerality on the nose. Streamlined and well defined, lovely energy and focus and all in balance. Fruity with high acidity but not too sharp, not too angular. You can feel the power underneath and the minerality on top but it’s got good movement. Not so long, but it’s finessed and really easy to approach. If anything it’s a bit quiet right now, subtle and elegant, though this has structure and some firmness. Good quality. 12% press wine. Ageing 12 months, 50% new oak and 50% one year. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Pichon Comtesse Reserve is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a bit of shaking to wake up scents of juicy black raspberries and red plums, fragrant earth and wild roses, followed by suggestions of bay leaves and pencil lead. The light to medium-bodied palate has great freshness and lightly chewy tannins to support the lively black berry flavors, finishing with an herbal lift.