Aromas of sweet dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and licorice introduce the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron, a full-bodied, layered and multidimensional wine that's deep, dense and lively, with terrific concentration, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Integrated and serious, this hints at the lavishness inherent to the vintage, while remaining classic and controlled. This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot was bottled in June.
98 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
The 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is young and unevolved, with a barrel sample-like feel, offering cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and incredible purity. Powerful and structured, it has remarkable depth, rock-solid concentration, and seamless integrated structure and tannins. Based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot aged 18 months in 70% new oak, this classically styled, inward Pauillac is one of the most promising wines of the vintage and should evolve for 40+ years.
98 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
This beautiful, harmonious wine is powerful, textured and full of black fruits. The wine's structure is impressive, made for aging but also with a density and concentration. Drink this great wine from 2028.
98 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Jul 2025)
What a nose with complex aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, this has layers of tannins and intense richness but is framed and held together by the phenolic structure. Vertical and deep, it goes on for minutes on the palate. Great finish. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. Give this five to six years to come together more. Best after 2030 and beyond.
98 points, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
Wonderfully aromatic and expressive, with dark fruit, floral scents, chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice. Smooth, svelte, bursting with energy. Juicy strawberries and cherries have crunch from fine tannins and mineral edges. Calm and controlled, yet quietly powerful. Fruit and oak emerge over time, layering chalky, powdery, ripe, spiced and fresh textures. Ends as joyously as it starts, and very moreish.
98 points, Georgie Hindle, Decanter (Dec 2024)
The 2022 Pichon Baron was a knockout in barrel, though what matters is how it shows in bottle. This has retained the precision that I discerned previously: delineated scents of blackberry, bilberry and sea spray, just a light melted tar note percolating through with time. So Pauillac! The palate is medium-bodied with a core of sapid black fruit, white pepper and a patina of pencil lead. Perhaps this is a little tight after bottling as you would expect, yet there is linearity and grace about this Pauillac that is enthralling.
97 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2025)
This towering red offers a remarkable combination of freshness and weight. The well-endowed core of cassis, plum and black cherry puree shows polish and brightness, and a sleek iron note keeps this grounded. That background is laced with rose petal, iris and apple wood, while a subtle savory twinge percolates throughout in a way that only a classic Bordeaux can accomplish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2050. 12,797 cases made. Best from 2026 through 2050. 12,797 cases made.
97 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (May 2025)
Beautiful depth through the palate, this is a gorgeous wine, so deft and well handled, excellent quality, bitter cocoa bean, black chocolate, luscious but restrained, layered red roses, powerful, concentrated, with length, and the tightness of En Primeur has loosened and softened just enough to show the beauty of the fruit. 70% new barrels for ageing. A two point upscore.
96 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)
The grand vin from Pierre Montegut and team is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by 19% Merlot. A rich, open and expressive nose, in a brighter and fresher style than many have produced in this vintage, with elements of toast, rather fresh and lightly caramelised fruit, powdered chalk and crushed gravel, with touches of crushed iris, verbena and red pepper. The palate shows the same character, with finely grained tannins, peppered fruits, dried blackcurrants and blackberries, with a little flourish of grip and a bed of tightly knit very fine and powdery tannins which lend it a sense of energy in the finish. An impressive cuvée, one which has plenty of energy and grip, and it comes in at the top of my ranged primeurs score. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 14%.
96 points, Chris Kissack, Wine Independent (Jun 2025)