She made many contributions including commissioning the popular architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande located in Bordeaux. After a few years, Virgine, the wife of the Count de Lalande, took over management of the estate. They were considered sensual and feminine. Though it stood adjacent to the First Growth ChГўteau Latour, the wines from Comtesse de Lalande carved out a distinct taste profile from the traditional Pauillac style. In the 18th Century, the property was run entirely by three women: Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Laujus and Marie Branda de Terrefort.

The origins of the property date back to 1850 when Baron Joseph Pichon Longueville divided his large estate in two upon his death his male heirs received ChГўteau Pichon Longueville au Baron and his daughters received ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Because of this, the stunningly voluptuous wines of ChГўteau Comtesse de Lalande are drinkable proof that girls do indeed rule. The success of this illustrious Super Second is due to the contributions of powerful women who championed it throughout the ages. It is inevitable that the two Pichons will be compared with one another, with Comtesse being a more subtle seductive wine than its slightly foresquare namesake.Many chГўteaux in Bordeaux are passed down from father to son and run by men, and one often hears winemakers rhapsodize poetically about the union between, вЂњman and vine.вЂќ Because of this, the story of ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a unique and important one. Pichon Comtesse has had the better of comparisons with its sibling Pichon Baron whose fortunes waned during the 20th Century even if, today, they are on a more equal footing. The healthy reputation that ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande enjoys puts it clearly in the mould of a 'super second' - those 2nd Growth estates who's wines merit comparison with the Premier Grand Cru ClassГ©s. Pichon Comtesse produce one of the most highly regarded second wines - RГ©serve de la Comtesse - which rivals many other estate's grand vins.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with the wine spending 18 months in wood (50% new). The vines are 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Under the ownership of May de Lencquesaing in the final quarter of the 20th Century, the vineyard area of Pichon Comtesse grew from around 40ha to today's 75ha. Pichon Comtesse is now owned by the Rouzard family, owners of the Champagne house of Louis Roederer. The two estates continued to be run as a single vineyard for another ten years, allowing them jointly to be awarded 2nd Growth status in 1855.

The only daughter to produce off-spring was Marie-Laure who had married Comte Henri de Lalande in 1818 and it was her descendents, therefore, who shaped the future of ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (or Pichon Comtesse as it is often more conveniently known). His son Raoul inherited the title of Baron de Longueville and the vineyards of ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Baron de Longueville, whilst his daughters inherited the portion that became ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Originally one estate, the two were divided in 1850 on the death of Joseph Pichon. ChГўteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande France, BordeauxДЇacing ChГўteau Latour across the road, at the southern end of Pauillac, are the twin ChГўteau Pichons.

Chateau pichon lalande