Les Griffons de Pichon Baron - Pauillac 2018

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a heady, wild Pauillac. An exotic mélange of inky black fruit, chocolate, spice, grilled herbs, espresso and new oak gives the Griffons its extroverted personality. The tannins need a bit of time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to. This is an especially dense, rich Pauillac.

Wine Advocate

91

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is composed of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, aged for 12 months in barriques, 30% new and 70% one year old. Production of this label represents 20% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose opens with wonderfully pure cassis and ripe black plums notes, leading to hints of clove oil, chocolate-covered cherries and tobacco leaf, with a waft of bay leaves. The palate delivers a firm, rugged texture and soft acidity, framing the mouth-coating black fruits nicely, finishing on a savory note.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

The 2018 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is normally a more Cabernet Sauvignon dominated cuvée, but Merlot excelled in 2018 and the blend is closer to an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a much more focused, tight, backward wine compared to the Les Tourelles and has a terrific nose of spiced blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and lead pencil. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied wine with ripe yet firm tannins, impressive overall balance, and outstanding length. It's certainly a more classic, focused Pauillac and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink nicely for a decade.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Cigar box, dark red and black fruits, hints of bitter chocolate and tobacco leaf fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with depth and richness, finishing with round textures, soft, ripe tannins, loads of sweet, ripe, dark red fruits, freshness and another nice bite of Cabernet in the endnote.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is matured in 60% new oak, and I must comment that I still feel the wood component is just a little vociferous now that the wine is in bottle. The palate is dense and structured, delivering intense black fruit laced with graphite and cracked black pepper, and tightening up toward the classically styled finish. Those tannins are still a little abrasive, so I maintain my view that this deserves 3–4 years in bottle. Good potential, but be patient.

Jamessuckling.com

92

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2021

Blackberry, plum, cocoa and gravel aromas. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine tannins framing a solid core of spiced black fruit. Tight, mineral finish. Very fine and balanced. Try from 2024.

Wine Spectator

89

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

Direct, with fresh and pure cherry, damson plum and raspberry flavors laced with subtle cedar and savory notes through the slightly taut finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2028. 7,650 cases made. –JM

Falstaff

93

byPeter Moserthe1/29/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Mit feiner Kräuterwürze unterlegte Nuancen von Cassis und Kirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz, etwas Nougat, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, elegant, reife Kirschen und Pflaumen, runde Tannine, gute Frische, bleibt haften, ein mineralischer Speisenbegleiter mit extraktsüßem Nachhall.

Decanter.com

90

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Wine Enthusiast

94

byRoger Vossthe1/5/2021

Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this is one of a pair of second wines from this estate. With its classic Pauillac black-currant flavors and dense tannins, the wine is a slow developer. By 2025, it should show great fruits and a balanced texture.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is matured in 60% new oak, and at the time of my tasting the wood is dominating the fruit. Christian Seely remarked that it has "pulled ahead" in the months since en primeur. That will be subsumed with time – wood and fruit seem proportionate to each other. The palate is quite dense and powerful, offering layers of toasty black fruit laced with white pepper and sage. This is one of the most intense Les Griffons that I have tasted, and it will need several years to temper those slightly abrasive tannins. In a word: big.

WeinWisser

18

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

[...] Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, fleischigem Extrakt; reifes stützendes Tanningerüst und gute Frische. Im gebündelten Finale mit herrlichem schwarzbeerigem Fruchtdruck, viel Graphit und Eisenkraut. Tolle Leistung!

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

Deeply colored, with a rocking bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil, black cherries, earth and flowers, it's more finesse-driven and structured than the Les Tourelles de Longueville, with a straight, focused, yet still layered and ripe personality. It's another beautiful wine.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

With a strong floral character, the wine needs a bit of coaxing to bring out its deep, dark red fruits. Graceful, agile and fresh with the tannic bite of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the roundness from the sweet Merlot, this wine was made from blending 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot and will age in 60% new, French oak barrels.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, to be aged 12 months in barriques, 30% new and 70% one year old. Production represents 20% of the harvest this year. Very deep purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with frisky cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and boysenberries scents followed up by notions of dried Provence herbs, moss-covered bark, charcuterie and tapenade. Full, rich and opulent in the mouth, it has bold black fruit and savory expressions, with firm, grainy tannins and a long, meaty finish.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/22/2019

[...] Gorgeous Cabernet aroma: upright, a touch spicy and such pure non-sweet cassis. Slightly charry on the palate, but the tannins are so fine, you don't see their density. More chewy than the Tourelles on the finish, more structured but still supple and generous on the finish. A very impressive Griffons.
Dans l’article : “[...] I would also single out Ch Pichon Baron's Les Griffons, which revealed the glory of perfectly ripe, slowly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon [...]”.

Anthocyanes

94-96

byYohan Castaingthe4/18/2019

Cassis, épices, mûre avec une touche florale élégante. Bouche massive mais bien enrobée, de la fraîcheur, une grosse charge tannique avec une tension superbe, des tanins serrés et frais avec de l'allonge. Superbement construit dans la masse tout en ayant du charme et une réelle ossature. Bravo !

Decanter.com

90

byJane Ansonthe4/14/2019

This is a concentrated Griffons this year, with claws (I'll get my coat). It’s intense with lots of power and layers up quickly with inky tight cassis notes and akin to 2010 in feel. [...] it certainly makes you feel the link to the first wine [...].

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

Structured yet very fine-tannined with lovely integration and depth of blackberry and blueberry character. Medium to full body. Vivid finish.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

93

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur. Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez moyennement aromatique, au fruité fumé et crémeux, avec une profondeur inhabituelle. Moelleux à l'attaque, éclatant de fruits dès le milieu de bouche, le vin évolue puissant, juteux et gras en finale, avec du goût et une très bonne enveloppe tannique. C'est délicieux.

Wine Spectator

90-93

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Solid, with a core of cassis and dark cherry flavors flanked by iron and sweet tobacco notes. A solid, singed cedar frame wraps around it all. Very Cabernet-like in feel.