Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron 2018

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "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."

DECANTER: "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. Drinking Window 2025 - 2070"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "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."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und rubinrotem Rand. Was für ein edles Bouquet, noble Cassiswürze, schwarze Johannisbeeren und dunkle Waldbeeren. Im zweiten Ansatz Holundergelee, heller Tabak und Schokopralinen. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit butterweicher Textur, engmaschiges Tanninkorsett, fein körniges Extrakt und durchtrainierter Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, tiefschürfende dunkle Mineralik und eine volle Ladung Szechuanpfeffer. Klingt sehr lange nach – unbedingt Geduld bewahren!"

WINE SPECTATOR: "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."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

FALSTAFF: "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)"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Not much nose but the suggestion of a lot lurking underneath. Thick and the polar opposite of Pichon Lalande with its massive tannins and not much flavour. Not so much my style but it will probably come right eventually! There’s mintiness and concentration."