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CHÂTEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON

2012 2ème Cru Classé Pauillac

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Pauillac
Classification 2ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

The 2012 Pichon Baron has a fragrant bouquet with well-defined black fruit, cedar and subtle sous-bois aromas, unfolding with a sense of confidence with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine acidity, good weight and body. Well-proportioned towards the finish, this is a classy Pauillac and has the edge over Pichon-Lalande at the moment. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2022)


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Real confirmation that these top Pauillacs take their first steps towards being ready to drink at the 10 year window in these 'medium' vintages - compared to 15 in the bigger vintages. This is just stretching its limbs, charming if a little short, showing aumtumnal hedgerow fruits, cracked pepper, cocoa bean, cappucinno. Has power and depth, and is extremely enjoyable. Where in a vertical of the estate it doesn't stand out, in a horizontal across the vintage it really does. 70% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director. Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Mar 2022)

The 2012 Pichon Baron is a magnificent wine that exudes freshness on the nose, with razor-sharp graphite notes suffusing the black fruit. The structured, linear palate just “sings” Pauillac; it is not as bold or as ambitious as the 2009 or 2015, yet there is perfect dryness toward the finish that urges you to take another sip. Granted, it is far too soon to broach this wine – I just couldn’t help myself. Drinking range: 2020 - 2045 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2019)

The 2012 Pichon-Longueville Baron is wonderfully aromatic and textured in the glass. Scents of smoke, pipe tobacco and cedar meld into a core of intense dark fruit. Pliant and supple, but with considerable underlying structure, the 2012 is likely to drink well for the next two to three decades, perhaps longer, but it is also going to need at least a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften. Drinking range: 2020 - 2037 Rating: 94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2016)

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Pauillac Deuxième cru 1855 Facing Château Latour across the road, at the southern end of Pauillac, are the twin Château Pichons. Originally one estate, the two were divided in 1850 on the death of Joseph Pichon. His daughters inherited the portion that became Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, whilst his son Raoul inherited the title of Baron de Longueville and the vineyards of Château Pichon Longueville Baron de Longueville (usually more conveniently referred to as Pichon Baron). The two estates continued to be run as a single vineyard for another ten years, allowing them jointly to be awarded 2nd Growth status in 1855. Raoul built the present château in 1851 on his half of Pichon. At Raoul's death in 1860, the split was formalised and the two Pichons went their relatively seperate ways. By the time AXA Millésimes bought Pichon Baron in 1987, it had fallen a long way behind its sibling neighbour and was in dire need of investment. Investment has been forthcoming from AXA, and expertise from the involvement of Jean-Michel Cazes (of Château Lynch Bages) and, once again, the two Pichons can be seen on a par with one another. There are 73ha of vineyard at Pichon Baron, planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Since the installation of the new chais, grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel before spending 18 months in oak (70% new, 30% one year old). The AXA take-over also saw the introduction of a second wine - Les Tourelles de Longueville - in order to tighten up the selection for the grand vin. Inevitably, there is the temptation to compare the two Pichons. With a slightly higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the cuvée, the Baron is a little more structured and masculine, dare one say offering a little of the feel of its illustrious neighbour Château Latour.

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