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

— 9 years ago

EatSommThings (Jimmy)

9.4

Rich and round with toasty notes and has bottle development — 10 years ago

with Diana

David Wanek

9.2

Great food wine. Wish I had more. — 11 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.2

53 years in waiting for this group... What can I say. Started off much younger than the label would say.. Like the old grand dame of St Estephe.. Nice fruit, wonderful nose, and a pleasant finish to round out a great bottle of wine from a era gone by. Shared with friends like it should be. Looking forward to 2015 to do it all again. — 11 years ago

Fabricio

9.5

A great wine for especial occasion. Great ripe black fruit, round tannins, well balanced and amazing red fruit in the palate. Long finish and delicious after taste. — 11 years ago

Fernando Motta

10

Plenty Of layers Of conomexity on nose. Elegant, silky and round in mouth. Awesome long finish. — 13 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Tawny brownish red color with amber rims. Huge bouquet in the nose of roses, berries, pencil lead, minerals and some dusty dirt. Light on its feet in the mouth. Round soft fruit. Better than the last bottle of this a few months ago. — 9 years ago

Sarah Stevens

9.0

Florally, lemony, crisp and perfect with chicken. Lovely summer white. — 10 years ago

with Evan

Paul Preibisch

10

Love this wine. I tried it at their winery, and ordered it today at a restaurant.
— 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.5

Like a grandfather - round, inviting, approachable with stories to spare. — 10 years ago

Natalee Ridenhour

9.0

Light crisp, would definitely buy again. Suzanne loves it! — 11 years ago

Christine Havens

9.5

The 1995 Shafer Hillside Select is still youthful, and would benefit from further another 10-20 years of cellaring. Saturating aromas of burnt brown sugar, toffee, cherry liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, graphite and dark chocolate round out the nose. In the mouth, its big and brawny, endowed with firm, ripe tannins, and vibrant acidity—that narrowly prevents a total plunge into velvety darkness. The intensity and concentration of fruit is over the top. A powerhouse from start to finish. 14.1% ABV — 11 years ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Drinking great now, lush and round with resolved tannins, mature and ready to drink. — 12 years ago

Craig Stanfield

9.5

Started wth a slight must on the nose, but that blew off. Opened to round and bright red and some blue fruit. Tobacco and wood (not lavish oak, maybe cedar) round it out. Fine grained tannins and a wonderful finish. Love the value of Rioja and hard to believe I just got some of these babies recently. This was the 125th vintage. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Ripe round blueberries, olallieberries, spiced plum, black cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, violets, Asian spice, baking spices, black tea, crushed/powdery dark minerals, dry light earth, nice acidity and a 45 second round lush ripe fruit finish. Drinking nicely with only four years of bottle evolution. Artemis is a nice value in an otherwise pricey SL lineup. Priced right at Costco. — 10 years ago

Christine Woo

9.2

Round, meaty and tobacco. Tasty stuff — 10 years ago

Joe Boudreau

8.9

Not the best year for Bordeaux's but this one continues to hold up well albeit a bit dirty....round structure easy to drink, but drink now, don't hold on to this vintage too much longer. — 11 years ago

Matt O'Leary

9.0

Very good wine. My tastebuds may be a little off tonight but I think it's a bit sweet for a cab not in a bad way. I like it — 11 years ago

Rob Moose

9.2

2009. Shy! Cream to drink, iodine to smell. Became more expressive after about an hour in the decanter. Very pretty, without angles but not quite round either. Curious. Cull&Pistol in Chelsea Mkt — 11 years ago

Melissa Boon

9.6

Beautiful brick color, deep, murky. Nose: chocolate, pepper, vanilla, toffee. Very interesting, round, red fruits, coffee, tobacco. Mouth: red fruit, sourness, blunt chocolate, tobacco. Very velvety, nose that is super expressive, nice acidity from sour red fruits. Very good wine, very good vintage. — 12 years ago