Pauillac Super Second Chateau Pichon Baron is on a run for the ages in recent years, crafting towering masterpieces that reach the pinnacle of Left Bank collectible class, which is clearly evident in this trio of stunners from the "trifecta" of 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Each rendition epitomizes both its vintage and its world-renowned terroir, all reflected in the effusive acclaim that has followed them since their respective En Primeur debuts. Leading off, the perfect 2018 is "a beautiful, majestic Pauillac" that will prove to be a cellar centerpiece for decades to come. The double 100-point 2019 vintage is likewise a collectible treasure of the first order "on par with the great 2016" per Decanter. While it undoubtedly has the stuffing to go the distance, the 2019 shows the unmistakable radiance of the growing season, already offering serious pleasure to impatient fans of the estate. Finally, Jeb Dunnuck call the 2020 "pure gold, a full-bodied, rich, powerful 2020 displaying the vintage's purity, focus, and structure front and center" on his way to ranking it in the same company as all the other monumental Pichon Barons of the 21st century.
Best of all, our parcels come in at must-see, market-leading pricing that makes it easy to go in on all three vintages, making it easier than ever for sharp collectors to start (or continue) a cellar vertical of this iconic wine.
Fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, crushed stone, graphite and lead pencil. Some violets and other flowers, too. Full-bodied with incredibly encompassing tannins that are like the finest velvet in texture. The structure is superb, with so much tension and focus. Seamless. This could be the new 1990 or better. Try after 2028.
99 points, James Suckling (May 2023)
The flagship 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is pure gold, a full-bodied, rich, powerful 2020 displaying the vintage's purity, focus, and structure front and center. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, its dense purple hue is followed by a mammoth-sized bouquet of cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, and cedar pencil. With ripe tannins, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, and one heck of a finish, it comes closest in my mind to the estate 2010, and I think is clearly in the same realm as the 1989, 1990, 2000, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2019. It offers pleasure today, but it certainly warrants 7-8 years, a decade if possible, of bottle age and will have 40-50 years of overall longevity.
98+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)
The 2020 Pichon Baron is every bit as magnificent as it was en primeur. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive power, the 2020 offers up an exotic mix of dark red/black fruit, espresso, licorice, menthol, gravel and dried herbs. This potent, driving Pauillac needs time to come together. It marries the fruit intensity of a warm year with the driving energy of a cool year. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pichon Baron.
98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2023)
Made with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine offers dark tannins that give density and massive black fruits. With a magnificent combination of dark fruits and rich structure, it is set for long-term aging. Drink from 2028.
98 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2023)
Gentle and delicately aromatic but rich too, full of coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, caramel and medicinal herbs - mint and aniseed with a combination of red, blue and black berry fruits. Lovely density and weight on the palate, really very tannic but wide with an aerated effect so it doesn't feel at all heavy with a bright juiciness and extremely long length. The tannins make the first impression with a velvet texture and chalky minerality but it’s clean and the fruit has a crystalline purity that gives a sleek and direct overall impression. Generous, elegant and refined yet still not showing its best.
98 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2023)
The brilliant 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron offers up inviting aromas of sweet berries and cassis mingled with pipe tobacco, loamy soil, pencil shavings and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, its velvety attack segues into a concentrated mid-palate that's framed by rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, vibrant finish. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, it's a true classic that's a touch less demonstrative out of the gates than the sensual 2019, but which in the fullness of time will prove every bit as good.
97 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)
This has a very large-scaled yet properly proportioned core of cassis, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that are remarkably pure and focused. Buried deep within is a sleek, vibrant iron spine that drives the finish as the fruit keeps pace. Extra savory, tobacco and cedar nuances fill out all the remaining available space. A towering wine, with a buttoned-up feel. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2045. 12,404 cases made, 550 cases imported.
97 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2023)
#8 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, the 2020 Pichon Baron is deep garnet-purple in color. It gallops out of the glass with powerful notes of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and licorice, followed by suggestions of rose petals, Indian spices, and cedar chest with a touch of mocha. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and fresh with fine-grained tannins supporting the bright black fruits, finishing long and perfumed.
97 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Mar 2023)
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