Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have to say this is my favorite Chateau to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose, spice, wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, mint, tobacco leaf and dark fresh & dry flowers. It's drinking nicely with silty medium-medium + tannins & full bodied. Ruby, ripe wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, crushed dry minerals, mint, tobacco leaf and violets, dark fresh & dry flowers. The acidity is round and mouthwatering. The long finish has great elegance, beauty, length, tension & balance. It's just starting to hit it's stride and has plenty of life ahead of it. Another 15-20 years. Who said 04 was a difficult vintage? This will continue to improve and will stun with another 10 years in bottle. Photos of the the exterior Chateau front & side, tasting room and Christian Seely Managing Director. Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande were originally part of the same estate. Pichon Baron got it's name when Therese, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. Chateau Pichon Baron changed because of the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. He took over managing Pichon Baron when he was only 19 years old! When the Baron passed away at 90 in 1850, he divided his Pauillac estate. The sons were awarded what became Chateau Pichon Baron and the daughters were given what later became Chateau Pichon Lalande. Pichon Baron went through three rough decades in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Part of the issues were, lack of investment and they machine harvested. The first really great vintages for them were 89 & 90 after Jean Rene Matignon, Jean-Michel Cazes join them and AXA Insurance Company purchased them adding capital. The 73 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Baron are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. However, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are reserved exclusively for the second wine. The terroir is mostly deep gravel, sand clay soils. Pichon Baron uses 80% new French oak and rests in barrel 18 months. @ FogoDeChao

— 8 years ago

Paul Gordon

9.3

Very good GSM blend — 10 years ago

Meghan Chun

8.9

Florally and sweet!! — 10 years ago

Robert Scholl

8.9

1966- Still with some youthfulness; dark red fruit spectrum with tobacco/leather and gravel. Nice balance and good bottle. — 11 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.1

Wonderfully balanced with an appealing cassis, blackberry, loam, cedarwood character. Very persistent on the palate. Long finish. From magnum. Young approachable now, but would love to revisit in 5 years! 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol — 11 years ago

Nate Kresge

9.2

From our Niagara trip — 12 years ago

with Lauren

Matt Trader

9.4

2012 wasn't the best year for left bank Bordeaux, but don't tell that to Pape Clement, because they crushed it! (All puns intended) Decanted from 11-4pm before jumping in, and it could have spent even more time breathing. The nose was divine - rose water, crushed gravel, pencil box, cloves, espresso bean, and mulled black fruits. The pallet was full of focused tannins and dark rich fruit - black plum, creme de casis, red licorice, red delicious apple skin, mineral, vanilla, green bell pepper, nutmeg, and a lingering finish of dark chocolate. Absolutely a full throttle wine, and this one will age just as long as their 100 pt 2010. Also, this vintage is average only $90, compared to about $250, so it is the best value in some of the best of Bordeaux. Buy all this up while you can, try one, and hold on to them for as long as you can! Hold, and drink from 2027-2047. — 9 years ago

with Tais

Nick Piccone

8.9

Awesome value - good oak and red fruit, some tannin — 9 years ago

April Wang

9.5

Dark ruby to garnet. Sweet, candied cherries, hints of gravel, toasted tea leaves. — 10 years ago

Joseph Colao

9.1

A very good bottle of wine and even better for the price. Price v quality makes it one of the best values in my opinion. — 10 years ago

Adrian Weisell

9.3

Deep and rich- notes of cassis, dark berries, wet gravel, dried black tea leaves, rose petals cigar box, On the palate surprisingly elegant, soft coating tannins and amazingly vibrant for the age. Really beautiful. — 11 years ago

Jayme Wortley

10

Such a great wine! Loved how the owner did the tasting and explained how they made each bottle!! — 11 years ago

Camille Rogine

9.6

Incredible. Everything I've ever wanted! Full, dark fruits, jammy, wonderful!
— 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Classic Graves with plum & red fruits, cedar, graphite, gravel & mineral notes. Good complexity with floral, pepper and herbal spices. This is one of my favorite vintages of SHL for current drinking. — 9 years ago

Maxwell Burns

Hospitality Kenwood Vineyards, Winemaker GARA

9.6

Fresh turned earth and gravel, deep dark red fruits. This wine needs a few more years. — 9 years ago

John L

9.0

Complex dark fruit, leather and clay-gravel. Pairs well with grilled lamb steak. — 10 years ago

Rollie Wright

Sales Wine Spectrum

9.2

Great bang for the buck — 10 years ago

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.4

Red cherry, cedar, bit of mint, gravel. Nice texture and finish. Showing quite well and in its prime. — 11 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

10

Well balanced , jammy dark cherry, black pepper, soft rounded edges. — 11 years ago

Miguel Tortosa Iglesias

10

Sabores a frutas silvestres, olores a madera de roble y regaliz. Final largo y muy suave. — 12 years ago