Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2015

Solid, with a direct core of black currant and plum coulis flavors lined with a graphite note. Singed alder and warm tobacco details score the finish. Nicely focused overall, lingering with a juicy edge. Drink this now while the big boys mature. Best from 2019 through 207. 6,583 cases made.

It’s hard to argue with the success of this second wine from Pichon Baron. There’s clear depth and richness of fruit, damson and cassis abound, alongside highly polished tannins. It combines finesse and power and is very well controlled with liquorice and dark chocolate notes on the finish. For me, it is the best of the second wines in this line-up, and easily better than some of the grand vins in the vintage. 60% new oak.

An impressive Pauillac with rich dark-berry aromas and flavors. The tannins are nicely cast and really fulfill the potential of the fruit. This finishes fresh. Try from 2020.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. 60% new oak. Deep, thick crimson. Fresher than Les Tourelles. Racy and lively, slightly inky and polished. Lots of structure. (JR)

The 2015 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is dense, powerful and quite juicy, with plenty of black cherry, menthol, licorice and smoke nuances that all build in the glass. Polished and racy to the core, the 2015 is a terrific choice for drinking over the next decade or so.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Smoky black-berry nuances, cabernet-driven, a hint of cassis, dark cherry in the background. Taut, tightly knit, elegant, fine plum fruit, vivid integrated tannins, fresh acidity.

The second wine of the estate (of which there are two), first made in 2012, the 2015 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron sports a deep ruby/purple color and a medium- to full-bodied, concentrated yet sumptuous style that’s so common in this great vintage. Black fruits, graphite, lead pencil, loads of gravelly minerality (almost Graves-like), and smoky, meaty notes all emerge from this ripe, polished, and more than a little impressive Pauillac that’s going to shine for upwards of 20 years.

Deep purple with violet highlights. Spicy bouquet with a hint of liquorice and notes of black berries. Juicy, fruit-forward attack. On the palate, the wine is supple, rounded, and framed by a refreshing structure. The tannins are perfectly integrated and compact, slowly revealing themselves on the finish. A wine that balances power and freshness well, quite indulgent yet with good ageing potential. One to watch.