2016 Bordeaux – ‘a majestic Pichon-Baron’ Neal Martin (96-98/100)

by Edward Richardson

PICHON BARON has been released at £1,350 per 12 bottles IB. It is very hard to exaggerate just how good this wine is. When we tasted at the Château in April we discovered something with the level of freshness, purity and richness that you’d normally associate with a first-growth. The Cabernet (85% of the blend in this vintage) is of the very highest quality.

Christian Seely, mastermind of this great estate, said he ‘cannot think of a Pichon I’ve preferred en primeur.’ He’s not the only one that thinks this is one of his best efforts to date. Neal Martin scored it 96-98/100 and called the 2016 ‘a majestic Pichon-Baron‘ that ‘may well to surpass both the 2009 or 2010.’ James Molesworth of The Wine Spectator described it as a ‘thumper of a Pauillac‘ and rated it 96-99/100. Galloni suggested it is ‘one of the best recent Pichon-Barons I can remember tasting.’

The price is up on the 2015 but volumes were down around 30% so scarcity is certainly a factor here – as is the outstanding quality. This is still well worth looking at if you want one of the top wines of the vintage without the first-growth price tag.

As ever you can keep up to date with everything #Bdx16 on our Recent Releases page.