Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2020

Delightful Griffon, with juice, density and breed in the style of the Grand vin. Should age.

Juicy, ripe and focused, with a delicious core of cassis and damson plum notes that mingle well, flanked by a hint of singed cedar and carried by floral and iron notes through the finish. Lovely. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. 6,400 cases made.

Dark and heady on the nose, richly fruited and perfumed, it smells serious, deep and utterly inviting, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and mocha, blackcurrant and black cherry, plus spiced vanilla, tobacco and cedar. Energetic, lively, vivid and bright on the palate yet deep too, with a lovely vibrancy laced with liquorice, tobacco and bitter chocolate. Definitely serious, but I love the energy, potency and florality. Structured and intense, totally seductive in a heady way yet still lively, with a juicy core of strawberry, red cherry and blackcurrant. Feels nicely crafted and considered. A great second wine.

Blackcurrants and dark chocolate with rose stems and flowers. Full-bodied with chewy tannins, racy texture and a spicy finish. Polished. 50% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot. Try after 2028.

The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a powerful, concentrated wine. Dark and sumptuous in the glass, with terrific textural intensity, Les Griffons exudes charm. Black cherry, espresso, licorice, cloves, chocolate and menthol infuse the 2020 with tons of character. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout in this Pauillac from gravelly soils.

Deep ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Ripe black cherry gently underlaid with vanilla, fine cassis, ripe plum, notes of dried spices, delicate noble wood. Medium complexity, ripe cherry, vivid, ripe tannins, lively freshness, mineral touch, some dark nougat on the finish.

More Cabernet Sauvignon-based in most vintages, the 2020 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is a slight shift and is based on 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. More pure cassis, redcurrants, acacia flowers, violets, and graphite flow to a full-bodied, beautifully textured, concentrated 2020 with enough tannins to warrant 4-5 years of bottle age.

(50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 25% of the production from Pichon-Baron) Silky, powerful bouquet, plum, cassis, cedar, dark tobacco, currants. Balanced, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins, dark fruit, finely muscular structure, powerful aromatics, long, silky finish. 17/20 2025 - 2042

A blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is deep garnet-purple in color. It charges out with intense notes of juicy blackberries, blackcurrant pastilles, and cracked black pepper, leading to suggestions of wood smoke, black olives, and truffles. The medium-bodied palate is lively, with a remarkably fine-grained texture, finishing with compelling finesse.

92-93

Rather restrained on the nose, with notes of graphite and stewed dark fruits. Rich and hedonistic on the palate, with a black-fruit character and pronounced tannins.

Griffons is asserting itself more and more through its role as an ambassador and the one to open the festivities! Aged for 18 months in barrels, 50% new and 50% one-wine. Production accounts for 25% of the estate’s 73 hectares. It puts forward notes of graphite and black berries, complemented by aromas of licorice and cocoa powder. It shows a discreet sweetness on the attack, which makes it inviting, but it doesn’t shy away from flexing its muscles! In short, it has power but knows how to use it with restraint. Its acidic structure supports it ideally, bringing temperament, freshness, and persistence.

The nose is fruity, fresh and offers concentration (with finesse), a lovely tightly knit fine grain and depth. It reveals notes of boysenberry, violet and, more subtly, ripe/fresh wild berries, combined with delicate touches of racy minerality/fresh gravel, as well as hints of sweet blond tobacco, mocha, nutmeg and toasted almond. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, minerality, good definition, indulgence, roundness, silkiness, a tangy backbone, tension, a certain finesse of grain and well-managed richness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant blackberry, blackcurrant and, more slightly, fleshy cherry, combined with touches of crushed raspberry, blueberry, violet, cardamom, as well as hints of star anise, caramelization and a subtle hint of vanilla. The tannins are precise and well handled. Good length. A lovely elongated feel, with notes of hazelnut and toasted almond on the finish.