Château Pichon Longueville (Comtesse de) Lalande 1996 made the very best of what was a great year in the Médoc, with a mountain of rich, ripe, concentrated Cabernet-based blends with wonderful balance and structure for ageing.

The soft, subtle, fleshy wines of Pichon Longueville are renowned for their longevity (despite a relatively high Merlot content) and consistent quality of excellence.

Since May Eliane de Lencquesaing (known as La General) took over the estate in the late 70s, the Château has acquired the status of a super second and a near first, in light of the consistency of its quality; and James Laubé of the Wine Spectator baptised the estate as a "A First Class Second Cru".

"A clear garnet core with deep brick rim. It has a glorious nose, blackberry, cedar, sous-bois, smoke and tar: very masculine, classic Pauillac 1996 really with great definition. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with good acidity with blackberry, cedar, citrus fruits, quite attacking and still rather linear with a very cedar infused finish. Very good length with a touch of tar on the aftertaste. A long future beckons, so patience is needed. But it will be worth the wait." eRobertParker.com (Dec 2008)