Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2016

Well built, full of breed, a faithful reflection of the Grand Vin in a more accessible version. It should still benefit from some aging.

This is fleshy and caressing in feel, letting warm plum sauce and cassis notes roll along, lined with pretty violet and anise accents. There's a light tug of earth through the gently toasty finish, but this is pretty much all fruit and is ready to go. Drink now through 2030. 7,667 cases made.

This is closer to the signature of the grand vin than that of the Tourelles de Longueville as it comes from soil with a higher gravel content. It represents 30% of production. Beautiful, rich dark purple in colour from a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, a more classic interpretation of a Médoc second wine than Les Tourelles. This is gorgeous, with a sense of restraint behind the deep, plump fruit. 18 months in 60% new oak reinforces the silky tannins. I like this very much.

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot. 60% new oak. Production is 30% of Pichon Baron production. Meant for ageing. Glossy, dark crimson – very dense. Rich and racy with much more subtlety than the Tourelles. Inky finish. Good energy. (JR)

The 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is quite powerful and dense. Aging, and specifically, the barrel regime of 18 months in oak (60% new), has left the 2016 with a heavy toast/torrefaction quality that for now overpowers the dark fruit and Cabernet aromatics the wine showed from barrel. Frankly, I liked the 2016 more en primeur.

Dark ruby colour, with purple reflections and a delicate bright rim. There are ripe blackberry and black cherry aromas, along with some delicate nougat notes. On the palate it is juicy, elegant and well-developed, with round tannins and a gentle hint of chocolate on the finish. It is a lovely savoury food wine.

There are two second wines from this estate. The 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon-based and sees 60% new French oak. It’s also deeply colored, offers classic Pauillac aromatics, and has a medium- to full-bodied, concentrated, backward profile that will benefit from 4–5 years of bottle age.

(52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot) Spicy, herbal bouquet, blue and black berries, coffee beans, tobacco. Medium-bodied, velvety palate with powerful fruit, good tannins, sweet, full aromatics, broad structure, long finish. 17/20 2023 - 2036

Deep purple. Complex, intense bouquet with notes of graphite and black berries. Lively, fresh character on the palate. The wine has body and personality, with perfectly integrated tannins that emerge on the finish. A balanced, compact Griffon, well supported by its structure. The latter brings welcome freshness while ensuring harmony with the tannins. Fruity, persistent finish. A wine that deserves a lot of attention!

The nose is delicate, elegant and offers fine concentration as well as a subtle, captivating character. It reveals notes of fresh/ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and violet, combined with a hint of redcurrant, a discreet touch of plum, caramelized oak and a subtle hint of sweet spices. The palate is fruity, fresh and balanced, delivering delicate gourmandise, a fine fleshiness, an acid-driven backbone, clarity, subtle power, fine depth, as well as tension and juiciness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fresh/fleshy Boysenberry, plum and fine notes of fresh raspberry, combined with a hint of redcurrant, toasted oak, cocoa, a subtle toasted note, as well as a touch of cardamom and Ceylon tea. The tannins are fine, racy and structuring. Good length. Good persistence on a subtle hint of caramelization/vanilla.

Intense, purple colour. Fruity, pure nose. Creamy note with a hint of violet. Full-bodied palate, particularly fruity, tasty and pleasant. Medium-length finish. Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot.

Attractive, modern style with assorted, ripe summer berries, layered with upbeat, toasty oak. The palate is fresh and gently muscular tannins serve this wine well. Try from 2022.