2008 Ch Pichon Baron 2ème Cru Pauillac

Tasting Notes

Goedhuis, May 2009, Score: 91-93: Deep ruby purple in colour and aromatic on the nose with notes of damson plum, blackberry and crunchy red cherry. Its lovely sweet core leads to a velvety yet pronounced structure and a dark chocolate finish. Many tasters felt this wine to be a standout of the vintage.
Robert Parker, April 2009, Score: 92-94: Firm, but sweet tannins (which suggests ideal maturity) characterize this 2008. Displaying good minerality along with plenty of floral, creme de cassis, blackberry, coffee, and white chocolate notes, this full-bodied, dense, promising Pauillac is built to age for 20-25 years. Drink: 2009 - 2034
Jancis Robinson, April 2009, Score: 17+: Very vibrant blueish purple. Complete and neat. Low key but in the same idiom as Latour with 71% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tight and dry and not at all flashy. Serious stuff. May well develop into something really quite considerable.
Wine Spectator, April 2009, Score: 88-91: Black licorice and blackberry aromas, with hints of spices. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a balanced finish. Refined and polished. Could use a little more midpalate.

Pauillac

Due south of St Estèphe lies Pauillac, the king of Left Bank communes. It is home to three first growths as well as a plethora of other classified growths. Its renowned well-draining, gravelly soils enable its dominant grape Cabernet Sauvignon to reach fantastic heights of complexity and concentration. As a result, the 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.

Château Pichon-Longueville …

Along with Pichon Lalande, this estate was only one of two Pauillacs to be classified as a second growth in 1855. They have rivalled each other ever since. However, Pichon Baron has remained in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbour often enabling it to provide good value for money.

Cab. Sauvignon/ Merlot/ Cab. Franc/ Petit Verdot

Probably the best grape blend in the world? Certainly that favoured by many of the most illustrious names on the left bank in Bordeaux - Chateaux Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild to name a few - and other cult classic from around the world such as Ornellaia, Harlan and Dominus. A spread of grape varieties provides numerous benefits - from a practical perspective a range of ripening dates provides insurance against all but the most prolonged bad weather conditions, while their complimentary characteristics combine to create a whole that is very much greater than the sum of the parts.