Pichon Baron
About Pichon-Longueville Baron
The neo-classical turrets of Château Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville are amongst the most iconic images of Bordelaise grandeur in the entire region. For many years, Pichon existed as one exceedingly large property, consisting of some 50 hectares of stunning terroir in the legendary commune of Pauillac.
Death and marriage, the two great catalysts for change in 19th century France, resulted in the split we see today between this great property, and its sister Pichon Lalande.
Remarkably for two estates which were once one, their styles are dramatically individual - at least in the modern era. Lalande quickly garnered a reputation of feminine elegance rightly or wrongly, but most likely in its early years as a result of being under female ownership, and has undoubtedly pursued this identity in its wines of recent years. Baron, conversely, was considered the more overtly powerful and structured of the two.
The slew of excellent reviews from the world's leading critics for multiple vintages of this estate repeatedly marvel at the remarkable power of the tannins, and the breath-taking concentration always judged to perfection. Quality has certainly increased dramatically at this château, largely due to a ruthless reduction in the quantity of Grand Vin produced.
The team at Pichon Baron decided to focus almost exclusively on the very best site available to this "Super Second", a gravel plateau opposite Château Latour, for their first wine - the rest, and the vast majority, is consigned to two very impressive second wines.
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2012 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is dark, voluptuous and immediate. A burst of sweet red plums, smoke, graphite, licorice and tobacco hits the palate. The tannins are sweet but also energetic. Extroverted in style, the 2012 also has enough depth and overall density to drink well for another decade or so. Rose petal, iron and white pepper add the final shades of nuance. Here in its first vintage, Les Griffons is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.د.إ2,015.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
The 2015 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is dense, powerful and quite juicy, with plenty of black cherry, menthol, licorice and smoke overtones nuances that all build in the glass. Polished and racy to the core, the 2015 is a terrific choice for drinking over the next decade or so.د.إ2,445.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (94)
This is the second wine of Pichon Baron. Its juicy richness echoes the top wine of the estate with its structure and powerful fruits. The texture though has a lightness that means it will mature relatively quickly. Drink from 2026.د.إ776.00 -
James Suckling (93-94)
A punchy red with blackberry and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, yet extremely refined and polished with a long finish. 50% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot.د.إ826.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)
The 2023 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is elegant and so precise. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, spice, blood orange and mocha are all finely sculpted. Floral and citrus-driven top notes reappear on a long, sustained finish supported by chalky notes. This is a terrific vintage for the Griffons.د.إ860.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)
The 2023 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is elegant and so precise. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, spice, blood orange and mocha are all finely sculpted. Floral and citrus-driven top notes reappear on a long, sustained finish supported by chalky notes. This is a terrific vintage for the Griffons.د.إ826.00 -
James Suckling (94-95)
Very fine, well integrated tannins with blackberry, dark chocolate and blackcurrant. It’s full and extremely racy. One of the finest second wines.د.إ985.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2000 Château Pichon Baron is just getting better and better and better. Perhaps the magnum format played its part, but nevertheless...just...wow. This is a millennial Left Bank with the keys to the top drawer. It has an incredibly precise, mineral-driven bouquet with intense black fruit infused with cedar and graphite scents. It just reeks of Pauillac in an almost uncompromising, yet compelling manner. The palate is structured, stylish and effortless, extraordinarily pure and unerringly youthful. This is a Pichon Baron saying, You ain't seen nothing yet. You could broach this now if you wanted, but the clever people will wisely bunker this for another decade and gloat from 2025 onward. Tasted January 2016.د.إ12,140.00 -
Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)
Baron was trapped in its oak en primeur, seeming flashy, luscious and soft. Now bottled and shipped, it has the unremitting tannic power of the vintage, balanced by unrelenting purity of fruit that somehow manages to anesthetize the monstrous tannin, to soften the extremely dry, mineral-bound finish into a caress. The wine may be bombastic, but it's also succulent and as sweet as a ripe black raspberry. It's easy to imagine this wine 50 years from now, in impeccable condition.د.إ8,455.00 -
Decanter (99)
Yet another nose with standout freshness, even delicacy, but still quite youthful, mingling black fruit, spices, and spring flowers. A bit massive and still tightly wound on the palate, the wine has impressive tannic density and power but also finesse, apparent in the airborne, minty finish. Its terroir expression will need some time to come fully to the fore, but this is a superb wine.د.إ6,100.00 -
Decanter (99)
Yet another nose with standout freshness, even delicacy, but still quite youthful, mingling black fruit, spices, and spring flowers. A bit massive and still tightly wound on the palate, the wine has impressive tannic density and power but also finesse, apparent in the airborne, minty finish. Its terroir expression will need some time to come fully to the fore, but this is a superb wine.د.إ3,285.00 -
James Suckling (99)
The concentration and largesse of the 2016 Pichon Baron is apparent from the get-go with incredibly alluring, ripe and expansive fruit aromas in the blackberry, dark-cherry, mulberry and plum zone. Espresso and cedar, as well as a slate-like, stony mineral edge add complexity. The palate has incredible depth, drive and detail. Fine and plush tannins stretch the palate in every direction. So fresh and vivacious, this is the greatest Pichon Baron since 1989 and has a long future. Try from 2024.د.إ3,635.00 -
The Wine Independent (96)
Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, the 2017 Pichon Baron is deep garnet in color. It races out of the glass with super-charged scents of warm black and red currants, mulberries, and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of Ceylon tea, rose oil, and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate is so fine and elegant, with a gorgeous backbone of freshness and densely pixilated tannins, finishing long and fragrant. This is very impressive.د.إ2,665.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (100)
This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game. In this release, the tannins are as impressive and dense as the black fruits. Together they form a harmonious ensemble, richly structured, concentrated from the many old vines in the blend, and very ageworthy. Drink from 2027د.إ2,920.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (100)
As always, it is the Cabernet Sauvignon that sings. It brings an impressive structure to the wine, rich tannins and powerful black fruits. The wine is set for aging. It shows all the power and the open quality of the vintage. Drink from 2027.د.إ2,710.00 -
James Suckling (97-98)
This young Bordeaux is totally seamless with fine, velvet-like tannins that are integrated and refined. Underlying freshness and verve. It’s full-bodied, linear and long with a compact palate.د.إ2,685.00 -
Vinous (96)
Dark and brooding in bearing, the 2021 Pichon Baron is a somber, mysterious wine. It is every bit as impressive as it was en primeur. Graphite, leather, spice, mocha and dried herbs meld together in a wine of power, precision and contemporary classicism. It's one of my early favorites in this vintage. I won't be too surprised if it turns out even better than this note suggests.د.إ2,160.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2023 Pichon Baron is a gorgeous, statuesque beauty, just as it was en primeur. Soaring aromatic top notes meld into a core of dark-hued fruit, gravel and new leather. This builds beautifully with time in the glass, showing notable resonance that really explodes on the back end. More than anything else, I am impressed with the precision and vertical energy that have become such an integral part of the wines here in recent years.د.إ2,865.00
