CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON

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This issue will be finishing off our discussion on the Magical Bordeaux 20 wines.  The Editor selected Chateau Pichon Baron, as many of our tenants and their friends seem to like this wine.  Taking this opportunity, we at K-Cellars wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2018.

Pichon Baron has been regarded as a vividly masculine wine that showcases the style of Pauillac/Medoc.  Although it is a 2nd Growth of the 1855 Medoc Classification, Pichon Baron has won high points from wine critics all the time.  The most recent 2016 vintage got 99 to 100 points.

History

  • Pichon Baron and Pichon lalande started out to be the same estate
  • In 1850, this was divided into Baron and Lalande (Baron for the sons, Lalande for the daughters)
  • Baron was acquired by the French Insurance Group AXA in 1987
  • The estate is being managed by the wine expert Christian Seely currently

The Wine Making

  • The vineyards are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
  • The tendency is to increase the Cabernet Sauvignon, and reserve the CF and PV for the 2nd Wine
  • The 2nd wine Tourelles de Longueville was first released in 1983
  • The Chateau aims at reducing the production of the 1st wine year by year
  • In 2000, the production of Baron was 30,000 cases but at presently it only yields 18,000 cases annually
  • Pichon Baron always tries to be the leader in winemaking technology, e.g. being one of the first to use satellite imagery for the vineyards

Style of the Wine

  • Powerful, intense, elegant, and long finish are typical of Pichon Baron
  • In fact, it is not a wine to be consumed at young age
  • Some wine drinkers even decant the young vintages up to 6 hours
  • The 1989 and 1990 vintages can be perceived as representative of their modern era
  • After this, the 2000 vintage enters another new path, and is supreme

Our dear Friends of K-Cellars, why not take out 1 bottle or 2 from your private cellar to delight yourselves and friends during this happy festive time!

Thank you for reading :)