Close to the Gironde estuary, where light is charged with the vitality of the ocean, a wine is born that is unlike any other: the wine of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, ranked as a Second Grand Cru Classé in 1855. Located in the Pauillac appellation, in the Médoc, this is one of the most famous of the Bordeaux Grands Vins.

The estate holds a rightful place on the Route des Châteaux, which runs through the Médoc from Bordeaux and reveals hidden gems at every turn. Amongst these is Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, built in the mid-19th century; its enchanting, harmonious and admirably well-balanced appearance is subtly complemented by the contemporary architecture of the recently renovated wine cellars. The elegant simplicity of the whole exudes irresistible charm.

From the terrace, an unexpected and unrivalled panorama allows visitors to witness the perpetual movement of the skies and the play of light reflected on the mirror of the Gironde. This view from ahigh is balm to the soul. And all those who visit Pichon Comtesse are charmed by this authenticity combined with understated modernity: this place has an unusual magic, a sacred and bewitching character.

At every stage of production, the work of the men and women at the Château is guided by a quest for perfect balance. Just like the estate itself, precision, elegance and finesse prevail. Direct, precise and racy, the wines also possess a powdery texture, comparable to silky cashmere, which sets them apart.

This restrained power and subtlety gives the wines a somewhat elusive, almost mystical personality, an inexpressible way of being present and of inhabiting space. At Pichon Comtesse, emotion is central to enjoying wine. A great wine is one that makes an abstraction of time: the present moment can then stretch to infinity, offering the blessing of moments out of time.

Making wine involves creating something new every year, but with a consistent basis, structure and style. It means taking what the earth has given, and what man has grown, to reveal excellence, as a matter of course: meticulous work is complemented by a certain creativity.