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A wonderful Pichon Baron with its richly hedonistic aromas and flavours. Quite simply a stunning example of both Pauillac and Pichon. Full of freshly picked berry aromas, the palate focuses on strong dark cherry flavours, with hints of cocoa, aided by a fine freshness on the finish. A truly lovely wine which should form part of any 2010 cellar. DR
A wonderful Pichon Baron with its richly hedonistic aromas and flavours. Quite simply a stunning example of both Pauillac and Pichon. Full of freshly picked berry aromas, the palate focuses on strong dark cherry flavours, with hints of cocoa, aided by a fine freshness on the finish. A truly lovely wine which should form part of any 2010 cellar. DR
The 2010 Pichon-Baron is simply one of the greatest wines produced under Christian Seely's tenure. It has a stunning bouquet with penetrating black fruit, wilted violet and a touch of sea spray, a distinctive marine note verging on shucked oyster shells. The palate is very well balanced with fine grain tannins, layers pf graphite infused black fruit and a very detailed, captivating finish. Brilliant. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines Spirits 10-Year On tasting.
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot representing 50% of the total production, matured in 80% new oak for 18 months, the Pichon Baron has a glorious bouquet with blackberry, briary and wild hedgerow. The aromatics are bestowed ethereal purity and elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with abundant, mineral-laden black fruit tinged with espresso. This is very harmonious, a mouth-filling bravura of a Pauillac (perhaps the equivalent of Cos d’Estournel?) There is a pleasing sense of linearity and austerity on the graphite-tinged finish, plus enormous length that will leave you convinced that this is a benchmark Pichon Baron that sits comfortably alongside the 2009. Comparing them both side by side, I would put them on equal par although instinct tells me to bet on ’10 over the long-term.
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, 13.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and total acidity of 3.3gms/L that will be raised in 80% new oak (the remainder one year old). This has a refined, much more understated nose than the 2009 that grabbed you by the lapels. It opens beautifully with aeration, blackberry, a touch of cassis, cedar and graphite, but a little gentler than other Pauillac 2010s at this early juncture. The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, good acidity, like the 2009, a Pauillac imbued with great symmetry and focus, very elegant and refined towards the finish that for once reminds me of the Pichon over the road. Very persistent and very "classic" towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2015-2040+
Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate’s colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine’s wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years.
A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon Longueville Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate's titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity.Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.
This is mouthfilling, with terrifically dense yet graceful layers of roasted coffee, warm fig sauce, currant preserves and Kenya AA coffee. The powerful finish blends iron-clad tannins and a hint of loam. Cuts a broad swath, but remains pure. Destined for a long life. -J.M.
Due south of St Estèphe lies the appellation of Pauillac, the king of Left Bank communes. It is home to three first growths as well as a plethora of other classified growths. Pauillac's renowned well-draining, gravelly soils enable its dominant grape Cabernet Sauvignon to reach fantastic heights of complexity and concentration. As a result, Pauilac's wines tend to be full-bodied with compact tannins and good freshness. Its aromatics are often what one associates with classic Bordeaux: pencil shavings, black currant and occasional mint. Some of the most famous châteaux of the commune are Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Pichon Baron, Pichon Lalande and Lynch Bages.
