Lot 86
CHÂTEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON 1996 (1) WA 94
CHÂTEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON 2000 (3) WA 97
Lot 86 Details
CHÂTEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON 1996 (1)
Pauillac. 2ième Cru Classé
scraped label.
The 1996 Pichon-Longueville Baron has a deep garnet core with some bricking on the rim. The nose is fragrant and generous with more red fruit than black, cedar and tobacco, fine definition, perhaps a little rustic in keeping with the winemaking at the time, but certainly giving lots of pleasure. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin -- a cohesive Pauillac with plenty of depth and fine balance. The acidity lends this plenty of freshness and it does not shortchange you with plenty of tarry, cedary fruit. You come away with the impression that this Pichon Baron is going to continue to improve although I would not burn anyone at the stake for opening it now. If you cannot afford the First Growth then this (and Pichon Lalande) would be where I would come. Tasted July 2016. Drink: 2016-2035 WA 94
CHÂTEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON 2000 (3)
Pauillac. 2ième Cru Classé
u. 3 x bn. 2 x marked labels.
The 2000 Château Pichon Baron is just getting better and better and better. 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. Drink: 2025-2050 WA 97