Chateau Pichon Baron 2019

Of exquisite, truly aristocratic restraint, yet infinitely harmonious, with flesh, power, fire, structure and density, and also perfect polish and great length.

Expressive and vibrant, with a cassis bush aroma that leaps to the forefront, followed quickly by sleek and dense black currant, black Mission fig and black cherry preserve flavors flanked by a racy graphite note. Shows a burst of sweet bay leaf and savory accents through the finish, as the fruit takes an encore before zooming off. A serious wine with a hint of bling. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2045. 13,821 cases made.

At the moment, Pichon Baron is outmuscling its neighbour across the road. Intense, concentrated, inky dark-currant fruit on the palate with pronounced lead-pencil/mineral notes. 80% new oak. Yet there is more than just power here, with elegance derived from floral notes, violet aromas, a hint of graphite and velvety tannins. The oak is so well integrated. A very fine Pauillac with decades of life ahead.

Blackberries and blueberries with stone and graphite. Flint and black licorice, too. So perfumed. Full-bodied, very long and linear with incredible length. The new 1990, but better crafted. Chewy, yet so tailored and wonderfully proportioned. Freshness and elegance. Wonderful depth. 87% cabernet sauvignon, rest merlot. The highest ever proportion of cabernet. Try after 2026.

Power and refinement—the hallmarks of all the great vintages of Pichon Baron—are on full display here. Almost opaque in color, the wine exudes blackberries, black currants, tobacco leaf, cedar, wet forest, black pepper, and hints of flowers. On the palate, it is multi-layered, with waves of dark red and black fruits, regal tannins, and a seamless finish that refuses to quit. Rich, luscious, concentrated, and with remarkable purity of fruit, this will age and develop for decades. Yet, because the tannins are so soft and precise, for a wine of this quality level from Pichon Baron, it will drink well relatively early. With Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for 87% of the blend, this is the highest percentage of Cabernet in the estate’s history. Drink from 2030–2060.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, violet glints, paler ochre hue at the rim. Delicate toasty aromas, some nougat, ripe black fruit nuances, fine blackcurrant, a hint of orange zest. Powerful, juicy, expressive texture, vivid spiced wood, nougat on the finish, mineral and complex. Displays very good length, chocolatey touch on the finish, fresh aftertaste, good ageing potential.

Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, a reflection of how exceptionally well this grape did in 2019. The aromatics are all-enveloping, powerful and nuanced and totally delicious, drawing you in and refusing to let go. Slate, pencil lead, cassis, damson, layer upon layer of brilliance, if not quite the over-aweing concentration and enveloping character of the 2016. 80% new oak.

The 2019 Pichon Baron is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with energetic notes of blackcurrant cordial, juicy blackberries, and licorice, followed by hints of tar, raspberry leaves, and rose oil. The rich, seductive, medium- to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with layers of black fruit preserves, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and layered.

Colored, dense, solid, still a little reserved but supported by very noble notes of black fruits. Rich, firm, classic tannin; this is an exemplary Pauillac that will gain in length and complexity at the end of maturation and especially after a good fifteen years.

The grand vin is absolutely sumptuous in 2019 and will enter the legend of the cru, carried by a substance that is both energetic and intense. One of the most Cabernet-driven Pichon (87%), which gives it outstanding class. It moves across the palate in successive waves and carries the flavors on for a very long time.

Right from the start, the bouquet of Pichon Baron 2019 announces a great wine, without mincing words or hesitation! So much complexity and depth, both on the nose and on the palate. Subtle back-and-forth between freshness and charm, between delicacy and breadth. In the end, finesse prevails! When finesse is favored over power, the result is greatness. An exceptional success and another contender for the Pichon Baron Hall of Fame. The list keeps growing!

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, fruity, deep and complex. Broad on the attack, juicy mid-palate, rich, powerful and deep, the wine soars on the finish with noble definition and plenty of flavor. It’s delicious, perfumed and very fresh. Very good length with fine tannins.