Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron

For some time, this second wine of a famous Bordeaux château has been a bit of a wine trade secret. Its big brother, Ch. Pichon-Baron, has produced some of the most iconic wines of Bordeaux over the last 30 years, and Les Tourelles has often given its fans not just a glimpse of the Grand Vin, but something truly fantastic in its own right. The 2010 vintage was one the finest ever at this estate, and Les Tourelles is characterised by its purity of cassis fruit, its gorgeous silky texture, and an opulent full-bodied style which eclipses many a Cru Classé.
Philip Mouilin - Private Account Manager

Something of a crusty baron this year, perhaps one that is not wintered terribly well and is in need of some sun to warm his limbs. A wine as tannic and reserved as this really needs a few more weeks to show its best and I am sure this will only improve with time. There is fruit enough, and healthy tannins – time will tell but there is every good reason to see this ameliorate into a fine Pichon-Baron.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager

Ch. Pichon-Longueville-Baron has really made the most of their great terroir in 2012, a theme of their wines for many years now. The best Merlot plots are found next to Ch. Latour and, while Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend, Merlot is a key component, providing elegance and freshness. It is a wine which should be welcome in every cellar.

Since 2000, Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron has been a strong performer in the best vintages, but this 2011 shows that they can also do it in more challenging years. They really are making the most of their great terroir, a weight of controlled and focused fruit on the palate (which few are able to rival), layered with wonderful creamy texture which is lifted and enhanced on a prolonged, powerful and fresh finish. For me, this is amongst the wines of the vintage. Superb.
Jake Dean - Fine Wine Sales Director

Most top Claret is best described as elegant, classy, precise and sophisticated, but winemaker Jean-René Matignon always manages to add an extra quality to the wines of Pichon-Baron: sexiness. Their 1996 has this attribute in abundance and is now on top form. With its delicious, concentrated fruit flavours and layers of complexity it will give immense pleasure for current drinking but will keep until 2020.

Made during the stewardship of Jean-Michel Cazes, this is an attractive, medium-weight, harmonious wine now in its drinking plateau. This excellent wine reveals sweet fruit, firm tannins and to its credit no vegetal notes like many of the 1994s. Drink now 2012.

A spectacular effort, this is a profound Pichon Baron and clearly my favorite vintage of this wine since the 1989 and 1990. An inky purple color offers up notes of barbecue spices intermixed with new saddle leather, creme de cassis, melted licorice, creosote, and a hint of vanilla. The wine is full-bodied, tremendously concentrated, with sweet tannin and a seamless finish that goes on for close to one minute. This wine has great purity, tremendous texture, and fabulous upside potential. This is a prodigious 2000!
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 03

The 2009 Pichon-Baron just exudes gorgeous ripe, damson and mulberry fruit which blends seamlessly with the fantastic silky, supple, fine-grained tannins. The wonderful thing about this wine is its sense of coolness, incredible given that the blend comprises 33% Merlot which was often very hot in 2009 (the remainder being 67% Cabernet Sauvignon). Christian Seely attributes this to the wonderful terroir of the best Merlot plots around the château, the ones right next to Ch. Latour. This is elegance personified; a truly great wine.

2010 is certainly a great year for the Pichons. Baron has unquestionably been the most consistent in recent years and the 2010 is just a whisker away from the brilliant 2009. The usual pure, ripe, dense fruit expressions are coupled with serious weight, power and structure providing an exceptionally long, intense finish. Whilst it will not compete for wine of the vintage it is impossible to fault. This is a wondrous wine which is good enough for any cellar.
Jake Dean - Fine Wine Team

This is still the cheapest second wine amongst Pichon Baron’s peers and so buying a case as a cellar filler should be a no-brainer. It is usually best within the first decade of the vintage, hugely versatile, just on its own or with food. A significant percentage of Merlot fills the palate, whilst body, elegance and plump concentration are backed by a silky structure. 2011 is another great offering from this Château which is really on top of its game.
Jake Dean, Berrys’ Fine Wine Sales Director

Some darker fruit on show here, that is rare for this vintage. Cassis and blackcurrant jump out of the glass with some spice and mocha from the oak and a lighter touch of cherry and red currant. Sumptuous and sexy. This has tannins, fruit, balance and structure – something not written much this vintage! A core of dark fruit that has substance and flesh, there is complexity on the palate that most wines have lacked. The fine grain tannins, offer direction and a lovely spice to the finish here. This is almost as impressive as Christian Seely’s bow tie. One of the wines of the vintage.
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team

With an intense, complex nose and dense bramble and spice notes on the palate, the 71% Cabernet, 29% Merlot blend is concentrated with dark fruit gravitas and a long, mineral finish. The richness of the fruit is very evident here and brings to mind the 2001 but the crisp acidity is a reflection of the unique character of 2008. Pichon-Baron may be classed as a 2ème Cru Classé but in 2008 they have produced a wine of First Growth quality. The richness of the fruit is very evident here and brings to mind the 2001 but the crisp acidity is a reflection of the unique character of 2008. Pichon-Baron may be classed as a 2ème Cru Classé but in 2008 they have produced a wine of First Growth quality.

The second wine of Ch. Pichon-Baron has long been a wine trade insider’s secret, consistently delivering a wonderful dollop of the ripe cassis fruit for which the Grand Vin is famous, for a fraction of the price.

Under the directorship of Christian Seely, this property has been a strong performer, especially in good vintages, like 2016. The 2016 sits in the glass with a dark hue. The nose displays black fruit and cassis. It is very concentrated on the palate, with solid viscosity and weight – almost like a crashing wave of dark fruit swirling around one’s mouth. There is a lot to unfurl here. The acidity keeps everything in balance and it finishes with a mouth-coating texture and notes of blackcurrant, mocha and coffee. Very good this year.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 15%

Under the directorship of Christian Seely, this property has been a strong performer, especially in good vintages, like 2016. The 2016 sits in the glass with a dark hue. The nose displays black fruit and cassis. It is very concentrated on the palate, with solid viscosity and weight – almost like a crashing wave of dark fruit swirling around one’s mouth. There is a lot to unfurl here. The acidity keeps everything in balance and it finishes with a mouth-coating texture and notes of blackcurrant, mocha and coffee. Very good this year.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 15%

This case contains the following wines:

4 x 75cl 2016 Ch. Pichon-Longueville-Baron
2 x 150cl 2016 Ch. Pichon-Longueville-Baron
1 x 300cl 2016 Ch. Pichon-Longueville-Baron

A couple of hours in the decanter made the ever masculine Pichon-Baron very approachable; classic blackcurrant, coffee bean, roasted nut, cedar and vanilla combine on a robust and very complex nose. The palate is smooth and fresh, with a very well knit structure, flowing seamlessly into a dark fruit-filled finish, with fine tannins. Huge class and perfect with full flavoured red meats, thanks to its dark, meaty flavours.

When I first tasted Pichon-Baron from barrel, back in 2007, I thought it was undoubtedly a big and well-made wine, yet it had a slightly green edge to it.  My caution was unfounded: the edges have now softened and it has evolved as a powerful and concentrated wine with a balanced, rich core of classic Pauillac fruit. This is proving as a very complete, well-rounded 2006.
Fine Wine Team This sexy Pichon-Baron is one of the best wines of 2006. Its stunning château may currently look like a building site (as they build new cellars and chais) but their 2006 has kept every bit of its fairytale charm. This has more than usual in the blend (70%, with 28% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc) bestowing the wine with an enormous concentration of seductive cassis fruit and classic yet generous elegance. This is incredibly sleek and velvety with firm tannins and a long, intense finish. Formidable!
Simon Staples, BBR Fine Wine Director – June 2007