Chateau Pichon Baron 2005

The Château Pichon-Baron 2005 has a not dissimilar Bouquet to the Pichon-Lalande with bright red and black fruit infused with cedar and violets, almost Margaux-like in character. The Palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin: more masculine than Pichon-Lalande, you could almost say more rustic. Yet there is immense length and persistence here, real depth and vigour on the muscular finish. Yet I might just prefer the property over the road in this vintage.

Offers crushed currant and blackberry on the nose, turning to tar and licorice. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and seamless tannins. Goes on and on. Very, very beautiful. A cross between the 2000 and fabulous 2003. Best after 2013. 20,000 cases made.

This 2005 stands out for its powerful mineral-infused expression, beginning with a deep, dense, complex Bouquet mixing elements of graphite and fresh fruit as well as a hint of smoke. Crunchy black fruit and notes of mint come to the fore after aeration. The Palate is both unctuous and fresh, but also an animal note. The imposing tannic structure has yet to smooth out, but underneath there is remarkable depth and substance. It will take some time for this racy thoroughbred to hit its stride.

Continuing to edge closer to maturity, this stunner offers everything you want in classic Pauillac. Loaded with tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar, red and black currants, forest leaf and smoke, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, tannic and expressive on the Nose and Palate. It could take 5 years to reach its peak, but with 2 hours in the decanter now, it is already a stunning tasting experience.

The 2005 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is brilliant and is drinking spectacularly well today, with notes of ripe currants, smoked tobacco, crushed stone, and that utterly classic, freshly sharpened pencil Pauillac characteristics that's so hard to find from anywhere else. Ripe, full-bodied, expansive, and seamless, this sexy, opulent, incredibly seductive 2005 will continue to drink well for another 30-40 years if well stored.

Spicy, deep-rooted bouquet with plenty of dark berries, noble woods and dark herbs, magnificent mature Pauillac wine. Concentrated and fleshy palate with good astringency, well-supporting and firm tannins, plenty of suppleness with a clear, mineral line, enormously long and substantial. Develops slowly and can easily maintain this fantastic level for another 10 to 15 years.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 35 Hl/ha. Deep garnet with lilac and purple hints. Spicy, profound nose, gently dry on the entry, then plenty of dark berries, noble wood, herbs and cedarwood. Firm palate, highly concentrated and fleshy, rich astringency with well-structured tannins requiring at least 10 years of aging, though currently appearing tannic and lending the wine a certain harshness. Overall highly concentrated, and to display more suppleness it almost lacks a touch of juice, which may later be compensated by the fatness brought by the barriques. Its mammoth-like potential should certainly warrant an extra point at maturity. When that might be is currently very difficult to determine. 07: Shortly before bottling at the estate. A dramatic Pauillac terroir nose, truffle, dark leather, raisins, extremely deep, noble and very spicy. On the palate an orgy of blue and black berries, powerful body, the aromatic profile recalls a great Latour in the style of the 1995 vintage, energetic finish with incredible pressure. Among the finest vintages from this estate and only half a point short of a top score. 08: A reincarnation of Pichon-Baron 1989! 11: Shimmering garnet, ruby rim. The nose is subtle, blotting paper note, candied fruits, a hint of lemon balm, mineral, almost no olfactory communication possible. Juicy palate, the aromatic profile is equally subtle and currently seems to be in the background, well-structured acidity with a slightly drying finish. Had no desire to be tasted! (19/20). 15: Extremely dark, still showing plenty of violet in the garnet. Begins with an already near-dramatic concentration on the nose, this with pepper and very ripe berries, one senses a nuance of ripe bananas (a good sign). On the palate the wine has little inclination to be tasted and shows itself still reserved. A situation I had already observed exactly the same way four years ago. So there's nothing for it but to wait. The potential is enormous. (19/20). 15: Brilliant nose, showing a lot of fine, sweet Pauillac terroir character. On the palate this sweetness returns and marries with the melting extract. In a way it has already reached its first drinking maturity. A stunningly beautiful, particularly refined Pichon-Baron. And that's not always the case for this estate in its greatest vintages.

Deep, dense, concentrated, velvety, complex bouquet with notes of plums, liquorice, fine dried fruits, dark berries, cassis. Concentrated, powerful, aromatic palate with dense, dark aromas, muscular structure, velvety fruit, plenty of fine tannins, very long, full finish with many retro-olfactory aromas. 19/20 drink - 2045

A fine tannic frame, blackberry and cassis fruits, hints of cigar, rosebud and tobacco leaf. You will be able to find more generous examples of the 2005 vintage in Pauillac appellation right now, as there remains some austerity to the tannins through the mid palate, but this is a vintage that has proved stubborn over the past 15 years, and is only just starting to come into its own - I would suggest giving this another few years and then checking back in. 80% new oak. Watch out for bottle variation - a second bottle we opened showed more nuance and generosity. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

The 2005 Pichon Baron is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with open-knit scents of blackcurrant pastilles, blackberry preserves, and licorice, with hints of mocha, black truffles, and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm, with ripe, grainy tannins, supporting the voluptuous mid-palate fruit, finishing long and decadent. Maturing now, this is a 2005 with great richness and soft acidity. It is delicious right now and should continue to cellar to 2040+.

Its smooth and explosive character immediately captivates. Immense potential

The 2005 varies, depending on the batches probably. One bottle was not clear, the next one was perfect. Marked by notes of cedar and tobacco box, the bouquet cannot therefore escape the terminology «