The 2020 Reserve de Pichon Comtesse retains that generous licorice-tinged nose with blackberry and boysenberry fruit, an underlying mineralité emerging with time. The palate has a bit of muscle on the entry, beautifully structured and fresh, quite edgy and energetic, building discretely with just a little oak to be assimilated towards the finish. Be a bit more patient with this Deuxieme Vin - it`ll be worth the wait. 92 points

The 2020 Réserve de la Comtesse is a big, big wine. Black cherry, grilled herbs, lavender, licorice and smoke are some of the many notes that add to an impression of brooding intensity. This is a very serious second wine. Maybe too serious. Then again, Estate Director Nicolas Glumineau is quite clear in his ambition to want to make 100% Grand Vin. The inclusion of 10% Petit Verdot in this year`s blend is felt in both the wine`s flavor and structural feel. 92 points

Tasted blind. Very dark greyish crimson with purplish rim. Fragrant, spicy dark fruit. Deep, chewy but with fruit at the core to hold the tannins apart. Tannins are firm and smooth. 16 points

Closed to smell, but tight and very mineral; rich, vital, finely tannic, a very fine second-wine constitution, in a slighty more austere register for RC; tasting sweet and juicy, very Cabernet Sauvignon despite the dominance of Merlot, but the flesh of the Merlot also clear; both flesh and complexity here, very long and close-grained to taste, dark and vital, and with lovely fragrant persistence. Some way from the aromatic volume of Pichon itself, but so elegant, so complete. A superb-quality second wine, with almost a “grand vin” character. So supple that it is likely to be drinkable fairly early, but will keep for decades. Drink 2026–40+. 92–93 points