Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

The 30th Anniversary of this signature wine grapes Puente Alto vineyard, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits and espresso notes, a blend of 98% Cab Sauv & 2% aged for 15 month in French oak (66% new). On the palate flavors of black cherry and  blackberry with herb, tobacco and smoky oak spice notes. Firm tight tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao and toasty spice, needs time to develop, cellar a while! Tasting Sample! — 4 years ago

Chris England

9.2

Fab @ £63 & doesn’t disappoint but 05 nicer for a little more 💵

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Smokey torched oak, leather, gravel, minerals & pencil lead through spiced dark berries & plum

👄 Med body of dark ripe plum & blackcurrant w/ a touch of bitter mocha, liquorice & blackberry

🎯 Med+ plummy blackcurrant mineral loaded linger — 7 years ago

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

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by next generation. Dark Ruby with aromas of ripe fruit, smoke & spice, A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, & Graciano from top Haro producer. On the palate ripe blackberry and cherry, firm dry tannins with smoky oak, wrapped in perfect acidity. Aged 30 mos in French & American oak + 18 months in the bottle before release. On the finish a touch of vanilla on a long ending. Will continue to improve! Nice! Tasting Sample. — 5 years ago

Shane Walker

9.0

Very smooth but with nice crispness and tannins. Lovely dark ruby colour. Great with the lamb rack. — 7 years ago

with Michele

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Bright ruby red. A touch green and earthy on the nose. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Notes of unripe cherries and earthiness on the palate with a long finish. This is a baby that needs some time to develop. Give it a few years in the bottle before opening. Drink from 2019 till 2030. (89+) — 8 years ago

with India

Chris England

9.5

👨‍👨‍👧 Joint rev w/ Burgnut & Deena

❤️ 09&10 got 11/12 to try, so 13 @ £130 how's it stacking up? Like Deena said before - this needs more time to flex its 💪 as it's very delicate 👶

💨 8hr

🐮 Beef Wellington

🍇 85% Cab S & 15% Cab F

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Smoked cedar through spiced blackberries, herbs, flint minerals, black tea, lavender w/ a touch of cherry & cocoa

👄 Med bodied med acidity tart blackcurrant & red cherry w/ fine tannins & hint of light mocha

🎯 Med+ length light dark fruit dry finish

.... 💥 Extra Note: @ 6 hrs w/ no food this was a 4⭐️ pushing 4.25 but after 7-8hrs air & food it was a solid 4.5⭐️ - loads of potential in this bottle 2020-2035 😎 very elegant but 09 more punchy now 👍 — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dark ruby, bright, doesn’t look it’s age. Awesome funky old Cal Cab nose. Notes of cherry, cranberry sauce, dirt and some balsa wood. Some steminess. Great perfume. Nice in the mouth but missing just a little bit in the mid palate. Really enjoyed this. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

I’m a huge Ygay fan so getting hold of the latest 09 @ £85 was like a kid gone wild in a candy store 😁 It’s showing fabulous already but time will definitely bring immense happiness 😉

Needs 4-5 years to shine more 👍

📍Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay 2009

🏵 93-94 with 96-98 potential

🍇 81% Tempranillo & 19% Mazuelo

🍷 Opaque deep ruby

👃 Buttery cocoa vanilla bathed dark cherry in light soft smokey oak w/ balsamic, red fruit tones, subtle blueberry & raspberry liquorice

👄 Med+ body of rich ripe dark cherry bathed in cocoa cram w/ a dry balsamic vanilla backbone

🎯 Long dark cherry & red liquorice cocoa smooth creamy balsamic linger w/ a touch dry end — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

Great Pomerol Chateau & @ £105 this 08 still needs more time to shine 😉 Good now, great in 5yrs 👍

🍇 70% Mer, 20% Cab F & 10% Cab S

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Smokey oak through squished spiced dark plum w/ herbs, cocoa, minerals & red fruit tones

👄 Med body of creamy smooth dark plum & blackcurrant

🎯 Med dark fruit finish - a little short for VCC 🤔 — 8 years ago