The variety of parcels of land, due to the elements of the earth and their encepagement explains the complexity of the personality of the wines of Pichon. The Ardileys, The Moulin Riche, Longueville, Grand'Plante, The Chapelle, Virginie, Sophie, Marie-Joséphine... these parcels that make up the... vineyard are spread all around the chateau, close to the river and neighbour to Château Latour, the illustrious premier Grand Cru, the 75 hectares of vines cross into Saint-Julien, approaching the Léoville plateau, before stretching across the Pichon Longueville plateau to the south of the Pauillac appellation. The Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has the particularity of owning eleven hectares of vines within the commune of Saint-Julien, which account for the wine's elegant and supple character among the other Grand Crus of Pauillac. The exceptional wealth of the Pauillac appellation is due to the poor and miserly earth. The hilltops are made up of gravel on top of clay, a composition which favours excellent water drainage. It is the gravel of the first quaternary, called Garonne Gravel, namely that of the Günzienne layer (the oldest and most elevated) that explains the quality of the best vineyards of the Haut-Médoc. Chateau Pichon Longueville de Lalande is ideally situated between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. These two masses of water favour the movement of air, which clears the sky of clouds and reduces rainfall. The region of Pauillac benefits from a microclimate that is relatively dry which helps the concentration of the grapes. The harmony and variety of the grapes of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is unique in the Pauillac appellation. It is without doubt the proportion of grape varieties that endows the wine with such longevity and such an exceptional character, without the slightest hint of hardness. The 45% Cabernet Sauvignon give the wine its structure and robustness, and thus its longevity. Recent tastings of the old vintages such as 1875, 1893, 1900 have shown that, with their astonishing youth, the potential for ageing of the wines of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. 35% Merlot: a surprising percentage and quite inhabitual in an appellation which normally uses Cabernet Sauvignon. ´My uncle Louis liked a lot of variety of wines´ explains May Eliane de Lencquesaing, ´it gives colour, roundness and suppleness, distinctive traits of the wines of this domain´. The 12% of Cabernet Franc gives a well balanced wine with a fruity bouquet, firm and clear in youth, which melts well in the preparation of the cuvee during ageing. The 8% of Petit Verdot brings freshness and great aromatic complexity and spices to the wine. In very sunny years such as 1982, 1986, 1989 and 1990, in which the grapes reach excellent maturity, it has a remarkable influence.
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