| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate's colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine's wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years.
The 2010 Pichon-Baron is simply one of the greatest wines produced under Christian Seely's tenure. It has a stunning bouquet with penetrating black fruit, wilted violet and a touch of sea spray, a distinctive marine note verging on shucked oyster shells. The palate is very well balanced with fine grain tannins, layers pf graphite infused black fruit and a very detailed, captivating finish. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.Drink: 2023-2055
Cabernet dominant and here we are really sinking into the heart of Pauillac, with its slate, pencil lead, liquorice, chocolate and tightly packed black fruits all held in by rippling tannins. The whole structure expands through the mid palate, and then takes a long, slow progression towards a mouthwatering mint leaf finish. It merited the extra time in barrel that this vintage was given, and shows the extraordinary potential of this site. 80% new oak. The purity and the finesse of great Cabernet Sauvignon is fullly on display, and this is a wine to savour. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.
Borderline perfection in a bottle, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron (79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot) boasts a saturated purple color as well as truly extraordinary aromatics of crème de cassis, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality, graphite, and spring flowers. Possessing full-bodied richness, a huge, unctuous mid-palate, and building tannin, it shows the purity, grandeur, and precision that makes this vintage so remarkable. Hide bottles for another 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades.
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron delivers expressive scents of baked black cherries, plum preserves and crème de cassis with hints of cedar chest and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and lovely freshness with bags of energetic black fruits and a long, wonderfully pure finish. 2020-2055
Dark, nuanced crimson. Spicy nose with drive and both tannin and freshness – as well as ripe Cabernet fruit in ascendant. Lots going on here. Smooth, sculpted tannins and lots of drama. 13.5%
Drink 2022 – 2048
This great vineyard has been producing classic Pauillac since the late 1980's when Jean-Michel Cazes of Lynch Bages took control. For the last ten years Englishman Christian Seely has been in charge and quality continues to rise. Latour-like in style, Pichon Baron has been a star performer in all our recent blind vintage tastings. This is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and aged in 80% new oak. The Grand Vin has, since 2001, been produced only from the vineyards near Latour with those that used to go into the blend now making the second wine - Les Tourelles de Longueville. The breakdown is 45% grand vin, 50% Tourelles and 5% generic. This is so much bigger and more powerful than Pichon Lalande, a rival to Lascases this year. Dark purple, super-ripe Cabernet fruit on the nose with hints of prunes, black olives and cherries. On the palate this is a monster with fabulous intensity of classic cassis which is matched by strong but velvety tannins and notes of tar and cigar smoke. This is quintessential Pauillac and one of the top super-second performances in 2010. If you can't afford First Growths any more this is the wine to buy.
I asked Christian Seely if this is going to be as good as the 1990 (one of my all time favourite clarets) and he replied that no, this will be much better as it is made from half the yield and only the best half of the vineyard.
A dense and layered wine with lots of ripe and sweet fruit. Loads of currants, plums and tar. This is concentrated and almost jammy with velvety tannins. Powerful. Chewy. Try in 2020.
The richness of the black fruited mix gives real depth on the nose and flesh on the palate. Blackcurrant is underpinned by damson and firmed up by sloe. Powerful flavours pack out mid and back palate and although the tannins are firm they feel ripe.
Wonderfully smoky fruit, quite compacted still with great natural depth of Cabernet Sauvignon and a great future. Drink 2022-45.
2010: A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon Longueville Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate's titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity. Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.
Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London and later at the chateau. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot representing 50% of the total production, matured in 80% new oak for 18 months, the Pichon Baron has a glorious bouquet with blackberry, briary and wild hedgerow. The aromatics are bestowed ethereal purity and elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with abundant, mineral-laden black fruit tinged with espresso. This is very harmonious, a mouth-filling bravura of a Pauillac (perhaps the equivalent of Cos d'Estournel?) There is a pleasing sense of linearity and austerity on the graphite-tinged finish, plus enormous length that will leave you convinced that this is a benchmark Pichon Baron that sits comfortably alongside the 2009. Comparing them both side by side, I would put them on equal par although instinct tells me to bet on '10 over the long-term. Tasted November 2012.
Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Pichon Barton 2010 has a very linear, very focused bouquet with blackberry, cedar and mineral notes, not as intense as other wines but showing great clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, very fine acidity, a gentle grip with very composed, lightly spiced finish. This is a relatively understated wine within its group, sophisticated and classy. It has closed down a little since I last tasted it, hence the slightly lower score, but expect that to rise in the future. Tasted January 2014.
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, 13.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and total acidity of 3.3gms/L that will be raised in 80% new oak (the remainder one year old). This has a refined, much more understated nose than the 2009 that grabbed you by the lapels. It opens beautifully with aeration, blackberry, a touch of cassis, cedar and graphite, but a little gentler than other Pauillac 2010s at this early juncture. The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, good acidity, like the 2009, a Pauillac imbued with great symmetry and focus, very elegant and refined towards the finish that for once reminds me of the Pichon over the road. Very persistent and very "classic" towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2015-2040+ Tasted March 2011.
This has wonderful purity of fruit with currants, blackberries and licorice on the nose and palate. Full body, with velvety yet poished tannins and a long, long finish. Roses and flowers at the end. Tar too! Reminds me of the 1990 PB
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot which had late malos. Vibrant purple colour. Very sumptuous nose with rather more interesting nose than most at this early stage. Very rich and sumptuous and gorgeous on the palate. Much more difference between the grand vin and second wine here than at Pichon Lalande across the road. Lovely complete expression of the ripeness of both fruit and tannin in 2010. Dry and cool on the finish. Very complete. Tea-leaf aromas and lovely texture. Unctuous and much less dry on the end than many 2010s. This should be a lovely wine that could be broached relatively early but will last. 2017 - 2032
