2025 Pichon Comtesse Reserve (Pauillac)

Zippy and juicy black fruits, good depth through the palate, crunchy and flavourful. Holds on beautifully in the palate, tannins a little tight right now, but this is a wine that always delivers, and that you can feel totally confident will soften and deepen over ageing. 3.7 pH, Nicolas Glumineau. 92 points

The 2025 Reserve de la Comtesse is all class, all finesse. Open-knit floral overtones and silky, polished tannins announce a Reserve that is more about restraint than power. Rose petal, dark red cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice build with time in the glass. There`s plenty of textural depth in this captivating Reserve. 90-92 points

Aromas of dark berries, rose petals, pencil shavings and blood orange introduce the 2025 Reserve de la Comtesse, a medium- to full-bodied, deep and nicely balanced wine (weighing in at 13%) with good mid-palate density, ripe tannins and a pure finish. 90-92 points

The 2025 Pichon Comtesse Reserve comes in at 13% alcohol this year, with no Cabernet Franc, which is all in the Grand Vin this year, something that Nicolas Glumineau said was a surprise given the growing season. There is a palpable estuarine influence on the nose, blackberry and bilberry fruit, touches of violet in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a fine bead of acidity, very harmonious, with a tingle of cracked black pepper on the finish. Again, a very classically styled `cool` Pauillac. 90-92 points