2015 Reserve de la Comtesse (Pauillac)

The 2015 Reserve de la Comtesse is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a very fine, quite sophisticated and pure bouquet with black cherries, cedar and violet aromas, perfumed and sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, rounded tannin that is cloaked by layers of tobacco-tinged black fruit that segues into a long, lightly spiced finish. This is a delightful, quite serious deuxième vin that I suspect will age much longer than drinkers will afford it. Try to give this five years and you will be rewarded. 90-92 points

Spicy, almost chocolatey aspects on the palate. Supple and rich, it makes up in body what it seems to lack in aroma. 89 points

The 2015 Réserve de la Comtesse is a powerful, tannic second wine that looks like it will need a few years in bottle to come together, as its structural spine is imposing at this stage. Dark, brooding and intense, the 2015 possesses magnificent depth and pedigree to burn. A host of black cherry, graphite, smoke, licorice and incense hit the building, intense finish. The 2015 is a gorgeous Comtesse, but the brooding style is going to take some time to come into its own. This is a serious second wine. Tasted four times. 90-93 points

Attractive in its youth, as it often is, the second wine from Pichon-Comtesse ages well, too. This is floral, fine and well balanced with skilfully judged tannins and oak and good underlying structure. Impressive stuff. Drink. 2020-28. 93 points

Really very opulent - just like blackberry juice! Until some slightly drying tannins on the end. Very Merlot-influenced with great sweetness. Early maturing. A real fleshy charmer. 17 points