2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron En Primeur
Pichon-Baron have made a real blockbuster this year, "hands down one of the most impressive wines of 2020" according to Antonio Galloni (96-98 points).
We found it a muscular, intense wine with dark, powerful fruit and an energetic, mineral character. Lisa Perotti-Brown MW finds this muscular character too, using uncharacteristic language, describing it as "built like a brick house (95-97+ points)". Pichon-Baron is frequently overshadowed by its slightly more glamorous sibling Pichon-Lalande, but with these scores and at £663 per six versus Lalande at £807, it is a compelling buy.
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2023
To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
See Christian Seely introduce the 2020 vintage:
Producer Profile
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is a Deuxième Cru Classé estate in the commune of Pauillac. Originally part of a single estate known as Pichon with Pichon-Lalande, Pichon-Baron became a separate estate when, in 1850, in a Lear-like move, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the estate between his five children on his death bed. His sons received the Pichon-Baron lands and his daughters received what became Pichon-Lalande.
Pichon Baron continued in the ownership of the Pichon-Longueville family until 1933. The estate was in decline through the 1960s and 70s until it was acquired by AXA insurance, who installed Jean-Michel Cazes to improve quality. Cazes was succeeded by Christian Seely in 2000, ushering in a new phase of far more successful vintages.
The 73 hectare vineyard is split into 4 plots and further subdivided into many small parcels, planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
