Pichon Baron - Pauillac 2017

Wine Advocate

95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% new, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Pichon-Longueville Baron slips sensuously out of the glass with provocative cherry preserves, baked raspberries and fresh blackcurrants scents, leading to nuances of red roses, charcoal, tilled soil and cardamom plus a waft of forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant, refreshing and refined, with a compelling line of soft, grainy tannins and lots of perfumed accents, finishing fragrant. Drinking Window : 2021 - 2042

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Pichon-Baron has developed into a potent wine, even by its own standards. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, grilled herbs, licorice, new leather and spice all flesh out in a succulent Pauillac that shows the racier personality of the year. In the glass, Pichon is dark, racy and sumptuous as it so often is, with terrific density and explosive energy. Today, I see less of the aromatic brilliance the wine showed en primeur; perhaps that will come with time. The 2017 spent 18 months in 80% new oak. 94+

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/26/2020

A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot aged 18 months in 80% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron sports a vivid purple hue as well as gorgeous notes of creme de cassis and black raspberry fruits interwoven with classic Pauillac lead pencil, crushed rocks, chocolate, and violet notes. Full-bodied and concentrated, yet elegant and seamless, it has remarkable purity, flawless tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's going to hit the early stages of prime drinking in 7-8 years and cruise for 20-25 years or more.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Well-built, featuring the pure, fresh core of currant and blackberry fruit that is the vintage's hallmark, all backed by well-integrated tobacco, cast iron and roasted apple wood notes. Grippy, but with enough energy to keep bringing you back rather than tiring you out. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2040. 13,916 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

The currants, blackberries and spices are very pretty here on the nose. The palate is medium-to full-bodied with round, compact tannins and a fresh, linear finish. Cool and racy. Strong and focused. Drink after 2023.

Le Point

17

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Nez expressif, fruits noirs, riche, épices, bouche dense, tendue, fine amertume, finale sur l’élevage, mais bon fond de vin, va se fondre, bien construit, strict.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-97

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The saturated purple-colored 2017 Pichon-Longueville Baron will compete with the best of the best in 2017. Possessing full-bodied notes of ripe blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with background graphite and oak, it hits the palate with beautiful purity of fruit, building tannin, and a great, great finish. Its oak is brilliantly integrated, it has a stacked mid-palate, and again, just incredible purity of fruit. It has the fruit/texture to drink nicely in its youth yet deserves 4-6 years and will keep for two decades or more. The 2017 is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot aging in 80% new French oak, which accounts for only 50% of the total production.

Vinum

18

byRolf Bichselthe6/5/2018

Von absolut klassischer, sehr ausgewogener und stilvoller Art, dicht, maskulin, aber ohne Härte, mit Tiefe und Rasse und von grosser Spannung und Länge, hervorragend.

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

Pichon Baron is one of the sexiest Pauillacs I tasted in 2017. Silky, nuanced and finessed to the core, the 2017 hits all the right notes. In the glass, the 2017 possesses striking aromatic presence, vivid flavors, silky tannins and exceptional balance. In 2017, Pichon Baron is a wine of incomparable elegance and total finesse. I loved it.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Extremely dark and almost inky in color, you’ll find wet forest, cedar wood, tobacco, espresso and ripe blackberries from the beginning. Dense, concentrated and full bodied, the wine wraps around your palate with immaculate purity and plush velvety tannins. This is opulence, power, structure, austerity and balance, which lingers in the mouth for nearly 50 seconds. The wine was made from blending 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, reaching 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The Grand Vin was made from 50% of the harvest and the picking took place September 18 to October 3.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Pichon Baron was picked from 18 to 21 September for the Merlot and 27 September to 3 October for the Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a very sophisticated, pure and quite intense bouquet with black fruit, cedar and potent graphite aromas. This feels very focused and the 80% new oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth entry, very sleek and silky with a gentle grip. There is a lovely sweetness here, perhaps less austere than I was anticipating with a very long, quite spicy finish. Tasted four times with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate

95-97

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

The grand vin represents 50% of production this year. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, the 2017 Pichon-Longueville Baron is deep garnet-purple in color and simply sings of vibrant blackcurrants, black cherries and rose hip notes with nuances of potpourri, incense, licorice and pencil shavings plus touches of cigar box and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, super intense and possessing stunning poise, it has very firm, fine-grained tannins and a beautifully silken texture, with bags of freshness and a very long, perfumed finish.

La Revue du Vin de France

18-19

byOlivier Poelsthe4/27/2018

Il va une fois encore falloir compter avec Pichon Baron. Le cru propose un 2017 terriblement vibrant, musclé et civilisé. Un vin complet dont la finale mentholée semble interminable et scintille. L’Avis d’Olivier Poels : Très cher certes, mais il tutoie les meilleurs. Sans conteste au niveau d’un Premier, sans en atteindre le prix.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJulia Harding MWthe4/27/2018

Very dark with black core and purple rim. Seductively dark fruit and graphite. Seductive without being flirtatious, rather serious in fact. Deep with black fruit, not sweet, dry and super-smooth with a dry elegance and restraint. Extremely fine and surprisingly juicy on the finish. Long and elegant. Firm, compact and delicious.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

A wonderfully rich and beautiful wine, intense and concentrated but with real generosity of spirit and huge persistency. It's in keeping with the more focussed and intensely intellectual style of wine that Pichon Baron has produced over the past few vintages, meaning that the austerity of the year really suits it. The 30hl/ha yield was not because of frost, but because of their low-yielding 60-year-old Cabernet vines. 80% new oak. 50% of production went into the grand vin. Harvested 18 September to 3 October, followed by an early and rapid fermentation and blending, meaning that wines were transferred into barrel by the end of November. A wine to age, and then some.
Drinking Window 2026 - 2042

Bettane & Desseauve

17-17,5

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/25/2018

Très classique et homogène, dans sa forme et son soutien tannique, avec un grand potentiel sur vingt ans.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,75

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

94-96

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This wine has power and plenty of concentration. Rich fruit bursts out of the glass already, suggesting a wine that will age relatively quickly for this estate. It does have concentration as well as bold fruits that will let the wine mature from 2025.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is very centered and focused on the mid-palate with beautiful currant, coffee and walnut character. Full-bodied and superfine. Strong tannins and a long and bright finish. Lots of blackcurrants and blackberries in the end.

Wine Spectator

92-95

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

This is nice, with dark plum and blackberry compote flavors that have a fleshy edge, while light bay, tobacco and savory notes add range, combining with the vintage’s fresh acidity and bright mineral edge.—J.M.

WeinWisser

18,5

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2018

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 36hl/ha. Sattes Purpurgranat mit lila Schimmer. Viel-schichtiges Bouquet mit Brombeer und blauen Holunder. lm zweiten Ansatz ge-trocknete Heidelbeeren, heller Tabak und zarte Cassisblüten. Am Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und feinmehligem Extrakt, die Mus-keln sind durch die geniale Prâzision deut-lich definiert. lm gebündelten Finale eine Ex­plosion von blauen Beeren, Lakritze und Graphit. Grossartig! Kürzere Mazeration, da-her wurde die Frucht perfekt erhalten, Kratzt an die 19/20.  
18.5/20 2030 — 2055