2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Les Griffons de Pichon Baron Pauillac

With an illustrious history dating to the 17th Century, Pichon Baron has a story to tell. At one time, it was a part of the owner's daughter dowry. More recently, it is owned and operated by AXA Millésimes insurance Group! 

Château Pichon Baron, located in Pauillac neighborsMouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild and Château Latour, all of which sell for 2-10x as much.

This Château dates back to the 17th century, when a famous wine merchant of the time: Pierre Desmezures de Rauzan bought the plots to create Enclos Rauza. Afterwards it became his daughter's dowry in her marriage to Jacques Pichon de Longueville and began what is known today as Pichon Baron. The story doesn’t end here. In 1851, construction of the iconic castle began. Later in 1855, the Château's wine was classified as Second Grand Cru Classé.

Even though the Château belonged to the same Pichon de Longueville family for many years, in 1933 it became the property of the Bouteiller family. Today, Château Baron belongs to the insurance group: AXA Millésimes and it was from here that the winery began its reconstruction and modernization in 1988.

Like almost all of Pauillac, the terroir from Château Baron is a dream site overlooking the Gironde river! The soils of the 180-acre estate are composed of quaternary gravel deposits, large pebbles and sand and an excellent maritime climate. No wonder why Pauillac has its great reputation!

With Christian Seely as the director since 2001 and Jean Rene Matignon as the winemaker, the winery continues to grow both in terms of wine and tourism, becoming one of the most prestigious Châteaux in the Médoc area, and a must-visit place! If you're in the area, this is truly a gem that you can’t miss!

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is the second wine from the estate. 

Aging: 18 months in 60% new barrels

 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. Deep, almost black color. Delicate aromas of black fruits and a hint of subtle, well-integrated wood. On the palate, is generous and full, with powerful and luscious  tannins. The balance is rich and harmonious with tension. The finish is racy and refreshingly long. Pair this wine with game, grilled meat and aged cheeses.

The nose is fresh, elegant, and offers intensity, a beautiful richness, freshness, deepness, finesse, and a beautifully controlled power. It reveals notes of pulpy/bright cassis, bright/ripe red currant, and small notes of garrigues strawberry associated with touches of small black fruits, cornflower, violet, vanilla as well as discreet hints of saffron/vanilla. The palate is elegant, fresh, mineral, delicate, racy (gravels) and offers gourmandize, a beautiful definition, a beautifully controlled power as well as a fine straightness, deepness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, fresh/fleshy raspberry, and small notes of cassis associated with touches of violet, pulpy/fresh plum as well as hints of lily, gravels, tonka bean, fine hints of saffron, toasted/toasted oak and a very discreet hint of crushed almond. Tannins are elegant, precise, and finely chewy. Sweetness and gourmandize on the finish/persistence. ~93-94VertdeVin

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a heady, wild Pauillac. An exotic mélange of inky black fruit, chocolate, spice, grilled herbs, espresso, and new oak gives the Griffons its extroverted personality. The tannins need a bit of time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to. This is an especially dense, rich Pauillac. ~93 Vinous Media

Dark ruby-garnet, deep core, violet reflections, delicate ocher edge lightening. Nuances of cassis and cherries underlined with fine herbal spices, a hint of precious wood, some nougat, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries and plums, round tannins, good freshness, lingers, a mineral companion to food with an extract-sweet finish. ~93 Falstaff

Cigar box, dark red and black fruits, hints of bitter chocolate, and tobacco leaf fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with depth and richness, finishing with round textures, soft, ripe tannins, loads of sweet, ripe, dark red fruits, freshness, and another nice bite of Cabernet in the endnote. ~93 Wine Cellar Insider

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