Wine Advocate
byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016
The 2015 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron was picked between 18 September and 9 October, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, 60% aged in new oak and the remainder one-year-old. It represents 22% of the total crop, essentially a second deuxième vin, a terroir-based separation since this comes from more gravel soils. It has an understated bouquet, perhaps more so than the 2015 Les Tourelles that contains more Merlot. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, heightened graphite notes with a focused, almost brittle, but quite compelling finish, pencil shavings scattered over the aftertaste.