Pichon Baron - Pauillac 2010

Decanter.com

97 / 100

byStephen Brookthe11/15/2017

A truly great vintage in Bordeaux, with wines replete with tannin, acidity, and an almost extreme ripeness. 2010 is often seen as level-pegging with the fleshier 2009s, but at this estate 2010 is ahead by more than a whisker. The nose is reserved, with blackcurrant and chocolate aromas, brooding but intensely ripe. The palate is very rich, opulent and full-bodied, with massive but ripe tannins. Powerful, taut and muscular, it's crackling with tension -the fruit is not yet fully expressive, but it's just beneath the dense but velvety surface. Exceptional length.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/31/2013

Good deep ruby-red.  Ripe, exotic nose offers scents of dark berries, black cherry, graphite, peat, iron, flowers and chocolatey oak.  Very ripe and impressively dense, showing compelling depth to its lush dark berry and graphite flavors.  A sexy sugar/acid balance gives this sharply delineated wine very good early balance but its powerfully structured, very long finish suggests that it will be long-lived.  Big tannins are wonderfully smooth for the vintage. 95 (+?) points

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

Solidly built, with a roasted edge to the steeped fig, blackberry and black currant flavors, quickly followed by brambly tannins and notes of bay leaf and espresso. Stays dark and tarry through the finish, with superb drive and verve. Best from 2017 through 2030. –JM

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate’s colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine’s wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/18/2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London and later at the chateau. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot representing 50% of the total production, matured in 80% new oak for 18 months, the Pichon Baron has a glorious bouquet with blackberry, briary and wild hedgerow. The aromatics are bestowed ethereal purity and elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with abundant, mineral-laden black fruit tinged with espresso. This is very harmonious, a mouth-filling bravura of a Pauillac (perhaps the equivalent of Cos d’Estournel?) There is a pleasing sense of linearity and austerity on the graphite-tinged finish, plus enormous length that will leave you convinced that this is a benchmark Pichon Baron that sits comfortably alongside the 2009. Comparing them both side by side, I would put them on equal par although instinct tells me to bet on ’10 over the long-term. Tasted November 2012.

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

A dense and layered wine with lots of ripe and sweet fruit. Loads of currants, plums and tar. This is concentrated and almost jammy with velvety tannins. Powerful. Chewy. Try in 2020

La Revue du Vin de France

19-19,5 / 20

the5/31/2011

Le rendement moyen du grand vin s'établit à 33hl/ha cette année. Largement dominé par ses beaux cabernets, le 2010 possède un profil très racé et profond, avec une bouche bien dessinée, des tanins abondants mais intégrés. Un grand pauillac très classique, promis à un très bel avenir.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

the5/31/2011

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, eine um 15% Kleinere Ernte als 2009. Die Farbe ist unglaublich dunkel. Im Bouquet Lakritze und Rauch, getrocknete Heidelbeeren, Black Currant, Korinthen. Cremiger Gaumen, dit Säure zeigt sich im enorm fülligen Körper erstaunlich weich, schwarze Pfeffernoten, sattes, fleischiges Extrakt, massive Konzentration mit mineralischen Anklägen. Ein Monument, das deutlich an den jugen 1989er erinnert. 2020-2045

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon Longueville Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate’s titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity. Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040. Drink 2015-2040 (97-99+ points)

Asian Palate

93-96 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

The deep ruby 2010 Pichon Baron offers up notes of spices, anise, plum and blackcurrant, opening onto a wonderful fresh mid palate and finish. This a full bodied, very densely packed Pichon Baron, with good length but chunkier and thicker in texture than the 2009. The 2009 was poured next to the 2010 and both are clearly excellent vintages for Pichon Baron.

Le Point

18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Fruits noirs, résine, dense, épicé, long, frais serré, très séveux, beaucoup de caractère ; vin sérieux, profond, très pauillac. O=2020 G=25 ans

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/30/2011

Wonderfully smoky fruit, quite compacted still with great natural depth of Cabernet Sauvignon and a great future. Drink 2022-45. (18.5 points)

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

This has wonderful purity of fruit with currants, blackberries and licorice on the nose and palate. Full body, with velvety yet poished tannins and a long, long finish. Roses and flowers at the end. Tar too! Reminds me of the 1990 PB.

TAST

18-19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Grande harmonie, fruit superbe, élan remarquable, plus de précision dans le potentiel aromatique qu’en 2009.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

Pichon Longueville Baron utilized only 45% of the harvest to make a great 2010. The wine reached 13.75% alcohol, the same level as in 2009. From an assemblage of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, this deep, dark, purple colored wine opens with cassis liqueur, oak, truffle, tobacco and walnuts Powerful, concentrated and stuffed with ripe cassis and licorice flavors, this dense, classic style of Pauillac ends with a long generous, round, tannic finish. The best wine from this estate since 2005, it will be aged in 80% new oak. 96-97 Pts

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/8/2011

A big, smoky and juicy wine, with strong fruit overriding its acidity and complex tannins. Black currants are ripe and intense, resulting in a beautiful as well as severly structured wine.-R.V.

Wine Spectator

95-98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2011

This is mouthfilling, with terrifically dense yet graceful layers of roasted coffee, warm fig sauce, currant preserves and Kenya AA coffee. The powerful finish blends iron-clad tannins and a hint of loam. Cuts a broad swath, but remains pure. Destined for a long life. —J.M.