Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, generally referred to as Pichon Baron, is an estate in the Pauillac appellation rated as a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. As with other top Pauillac wines, the grand vin is prized for its combination of powerful dark fruits, finesse and elegance, and ability to age for many decades.
The vineyard is situated at the southern end of Pauillac, bordering Saint-Julien and across the road from Château Latour. Its 73 hectares (180 acres) are planted with around 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 35 percent Merlot, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
After fermentation in vats the best batches of young wine are earmarked for Pichon Baron and aged in new wood for around three months. Then a second assessment is made and the final blend is decided. Barrel aging for the grand vin lasts from 18 to 20 months. Les Tourelles de Longueville is the second wine of the estate, sourced principally from the Sainte Anne plot, which is planted mainly to Merlot. Les Griffons de Pichon is a new addition to the portfolio. It is sourced from the same vineyard plots as Pichon Baron, and is aged for the same length of time, but blended to achieve a softer structure and earlier drinkability.
A larger Pichon-Longueville estate existed until 1850, when it was split in two. Baron Raoul Pichon de Longueville inherited one part, with the remainder being passed down to his three sisters as Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (aka Pichon Comtesse). The imposing, much-photographed château was begun by the Baron in 1851. Pichon Baron has been owned by AXA, the French insurance company, since 1987.
On the nose, fruity, fresh and offers good concentration, a nice tight texture and depth. It reveals notes of boysenberry, violet and hints of ripe/fresh wild berries combined with delicate touches of racy/fresh minerality and hints of sweet blond tobacco, mocha, nutmeg and toasted almond. On the palate, fruity and offers freshness, minerality, good definition, gourmandize, roundness, smoothness, acidity, tension, a certain fine texture and controlled richness. The wine expresses notes of bright blackberry, cassis and hints of pulpy cherry associated with touches of crushed raspberry, blueberry, violet, cardamom as well as hints of star anise, caramelization and a subtle touch of vanilla. The tannins are precise and well conducted. Good length. A nice stretch, hazelnut and toasted almond notes on the finish. VerdeVin
Feine, leicht kräuterige Nase, rotfruchtig, noble Röstnoten. Im Auftakt weich und zugänglich, man möchte gleich schlucken, wirkt frisch und zeigt eine gute Gerbstoffstruktur, die Säure wirkt stimmig. Sehr gut gemacht, wird früh Spass machen und ist perfekt für die Gastro. Dürfte vielen gefallen. 2024-2036 Adrian von Welsen
Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflee, dezente Randaufhellung. Intensive rotbeerige Frucht, Nuancen von Himbeeren und Cassis, frische Kirschen, dezente Holzwürze. Mittlere Komplexität, gute Frische, rote Kirschen, integrierte Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, straff und mit Reifepotenzial ausgestattet. Falstaff
Highly perfumed, notes of tobacco, flowers, dark chocolate, blackberries and black currants pop with little effort in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium/full-earthy, rich, lifted and forward. It's round in the mouth with ripe, polished tannins and a creamy finish. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is produced from a vat selection made before the final blending. Drink from 2024-2040. Jeff Leve
The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of sweet cassis, berries, loamy soil and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, it's pure and more serious than the Tourelles, with a more Cabernet-driven personality (along with all the estate's Petit Verdot this year). Robert Parker