Pichon Baron - Pauillac 2018

Decanter.com

99

byYohan Castaingthe12/8/2021

Generous aromatics of dark berry fruit, caramel, and spice are clear indicators of a warm vintage, but there are also floral notes and no heaviness whatsoever. There is juicy, savoury substance on the palate, sustained by gossamer tannins of surprising delicacy, but lurking underneath is the power so characteristic of this vintage. A few years of cellaring will be needed for the terroir expression to hit its stride.

Wine Enthusiast

100

byRoger Vossthe5/1/2021

This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game. In this release, the tannins are as impressive and dense as the black fruits. Together they form a harmonious ensemble, richly structured, concentrated from the many old vines in the blend, and very ageworthy. Drink from 2027.

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. That will make the 2018 easy to drink relatively early, although my preference would be to leave it in the cellar for the better part of the next decade. Rose petal, spice, blood orange and mint add brightness and perfume on the long, finely-knit finish.

Wine Advocate

96

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts from the glass with flamboyant scents of stewed black plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, pencil shavings and espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy. 96+

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

A beautiful, majestic Pauillac that reminds me a little of the 2000, the 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. It shows the estate's more pure Cabernet, focused, elegant style yet offers full-bodied richness and serious depth of fruit as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and wet stone-like minerality. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more. It's a profound 2018.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Incredibly dark in color, the wine pops with Cuban cigar, cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, red and black currants, forest floor and peppery spice box aromas. This could be the most concentrated, powerful vintage of Pichon Baron ever produced. The wine is very concentrated, full and deep. Yet, with all this depth of flavor, everything remains perfectly balanced. The tannins are ripe. Full-bodied and lush on the palate, with layers of sweet, ripe, dark red fruits in the finish, the wine really sticks with you. Jean-Rene Matignon feels this is his best vintage. I am not sure I agree. But if it is not, it is damn close to it! The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. Due to its immense power, this is the only vintage of Pichon Baron aged in 100% new oak, however, the oak is already fully integrated into the wine.

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Pichon-Baron is matured for 18 months in 80% new oak. It has retained its quite extroverted, almost audacious bouquet featuring copious scents of blackberry, blueberry and mint, though I might contend that it still needs to show more Pichon Baron DNA. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins and firm grip, quite assertive and perhaps more austere than I expected in the mouth. Plenty of graphite here, much more than in barrel, and a foursquare finish. This 2018 Pichon-Baron will require 5–8 years in bottle because it is one of the more tannic Pauillacs of the vintage, but could also be one of the most rewarding for those with patience and a cool, damp cellar.

Jamessuckling.com

97

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2021

Aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, ash and cedar with hints of conifer. Full-bodied, yet so tight and refined with polished, toned tannins that are creamy and compact with a silky texture. Energetic and driven. Try after 2026.

Wine Spectator

97

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

A very polished and pure expression of Pauillac, but don't go to sleep on it. As charming and vibrant as the cassis, cherry preserve and blackberry paste flavors are, they have a latent saturated feel. And then there's a serious network of iron girders supporting it all, along with sweet tobacco, floral and worn cedar accents. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2050. 13,300 cases made. –JM

Falstaff

95

byPeter Moserthe1/29/2021

Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Mit anegenehmer Edelholzwürze unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Kirschen, ein Hauch von Röstkaramell im Hintergrund. Komplex, süße Herzkirschen, zartes Cassis, feine, tragende Tannine, gute Frische und Länge, verfügt über sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial. (2025 - 2045)

Yvesbeck.wine

99

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Que de finesse, de subtilité dans ce bouquet. Il annonce bien son terroir avec des nuances de graphite, de cèdre, réglisse, tout en finesse. En bouche le vin affiche rapidement une notion de force tranquille. Il est fin, puissant, imposant et d'une exceptionnelle profondeur. Quelle trame, quelle subtilité, quel art de lier délicatesse, puissance et longueur.

Decanter.com

97

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe11/1/2019

The 2018 Pichon-Baron is matured for 18 months in 80% new oak. It has a comparatively high-toned bouquet compared to recent vintages, featuring black cherries, blueberry, cedar and mint, although I think it needs to express more Pichon-Baron DNA. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins creating a huge frame that lacquers the mouth. This is almost a burly Pauillac, not muscular but very dense, though I would like to see more finesse on the finish by the time of bottling, and then it may warrant a higher score. I would use Christian Seely’s descriptor of the vintage: untamed.

WeinWisser

19

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Vinous

94-97

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

Pichon Baron is exceptional in 2018. Pliant, silky and super-finessed, the 2018 has a level of textural finesse that really elevates the wine into Pauillac's upper echelon. Ripe fruit and silky tannins give the 2018 much of its inimitable finesse. At the same time, the 2018 is bright, punchy and surprisingly fresh, not to mention absolutely impeccable in its balance. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, while new oak is 80%.

Vinifera

94-96

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

On devine un cabernet racé, d'une grande vinosité dès l'attaque. Vin séveux, garni de tanins très mûrs et fins, très corsé, de longue garde.  

My Bettane + Desseauve

97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/24/2019

Pichon de grand format, intense, noblement aromatique, encore un peu ferme et rigide dans sa construction, mais tout est là, présent pour un élevage qui l’affinera.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

The color is pure purple and on the nose the level of fruit is enormous. Blackberry, boysenberry, dark cherry, smoke, espresso, black currant and cigar wrappers are the first thing you'll notice. Powerful yet regal, rich, concentrated and multi-layered, the fruit comes at you with non-stop waves of flavor. But more importantly, the fruit is fresh, pure and quite dense. Although quite tannic, the ripe berries coat your palate, teeth and gums and stay with you. The tannins do not intrude. There is no touch of heat, jam or overripe sensations even though the wine reached 14.1% alcohol. This stunner will age and develop into one of the great vintages for Pichon Baron. To enjoy this at its best, you'll need to have some patience, at least 10-12 years are needed before popping a cork. The wine will age and evolve for 3-4 decades after that. The wine was made from blending 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. The Grand Vin was made from 50% of the harvest with the picking taking place September 24-25 for the Merlot and October 3-10 for the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate

97-99

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is made up of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. The Merlot was harvested September 24-25, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested October 3-10. The wine is to be aged 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old, and production represents 50% of the harvest this year. Very deep purple-black colored, it begins a little coy, rolling slowly and languidly out of the glass with notions of baked raspberries, blueberry coulis, crème de cassis and incense plus nuances of lilacs, truffles, damp soil and garrigue with wafts of lavender and wild sage. Full-bodied, voluptuous and oh-so-seductive, the palate reveals layer upon layer of savory, earthy and black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Beautiful.

Decanter.com

97

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

Straight from the nose you feel the wave of power with the wine uncurling through the palate, starting with tight notes of cassis then gently softening into sweeter brambled hedgerow fruits alongside a ton of ink and pencil lead.
The tannins are present but seductive, and as is often the case this year, they're concentrated without being remote. It’s less monolithic than the 2010 with some of the seduction of 2009 at this property but with higher levels of extraction.
The harvest took place between 24 September and 11 October. Again, we see here a Pauillac with the highest alcohol ever but it carries it extremely well. There was one week less of maceration than normal, so 21 days instead of 28, which will have helped control extractions. 86IPT.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

Deep and dark young wine that takes you down, deep down to its center palate of blackberries and blueberries, firm and very silky tannins and a vivid finish. Wonderful palate and depth in this with such class and finesse. So many layers of polished, fine tannins. Great wine.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

98

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

95-98

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Warm, dense and fleshy in feel, featuring cassis, plum and cherry compote flavors infused with tobacco and worn cedar details. Seriously long, with a well-buried iron note, though the purity of the fruit is the dominating feature overall. This cuts a pretty broad swath as it moves along. A big wine.