RENAISSANCE OF A TOP CHÂTEAU

From the website, "Pichon-Longueville Baron managing director Christian Seely will lead you through an exclusive tasting from one of Pauillac’s greatest estates, Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, 2nd Grand Cru Classé. Start with the Tourelles de Longueville, and then explore seven vintages of the Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, each expression reflecting the unique personality of this great vineyard."

• 2009 Les Tourelles de Longueville 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep ruby core, fading to slight pinkish rim. On the nose, bit closed at first, but once opened up, plum, spices, herbaceous notes, alcohol. On the palate, medium plus acidity, cassis. Tannins slightly coarse compared with the grand vin. Not particularly complex, but well-balanced. (25% CS, 60% Merlot and 15% CF)

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• 1990 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep ruby core, fading to brickish rim. Some sediment. Smoky paprika jelly, baking spices such as anise, fennel, savoury note. Interesting. On the palate, dark fruit, baking spice, herbaceous, smoke, hint of barnyard. Velvety, tactile tannins, medium plus finish, medium (plus) bodied. Balanced. Not as concentrated as Pichon Baron these days. The director Christian Seely admitted yield was high in those days. Classic Bordeaux nonetheless. At peak, drink within next five years. (63% CS and 27% Merlot)

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• 1996 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep ruby core, just a tad lighter than the 1990, showing slight hint of brick on the rim. On the nose: dark fruit, dried fruit, spice, smoke, gamey note. Shy, not too expressive. Medium plus acidity, fine tannins. Shut down at the moment, similar to the 2005. Hopefully it will come out of its shell sometime soon. (80% CS and 20% Merlot)

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• 2001 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep ruby core, fading to medium ruby rim. Very nice nose: dark fruit, such as cassis, red fruit, hint of mint (slightly cool year?), cedar, coffee grounds, cigar box (from the 3% CF which is normally excluded from the grand vin?) alcohol. Complex. On the palate, medium plus acidity, velvety tannins. Body wise, lighter compared with the 1996 and the 2003 in a vertical flight. Long finish. Well-balanced, classic Bordeaux. Showing very well at the vertical tasting in the beginning, then kind of tapering off, makes me wonder if it's at peak.

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• 2003 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  A somewhat underrated vintage that's better than one expected. (65% CS and 35% Merlot) Deep ruby core, garnet rim. Very nice nose: dark fruit, such as cassis, plum, only hint of dried fruit, baking spice, hint of mint, savoury gamey notes, espresso coffee. Full bodied, medium to medium plus acidity that gives good structure to the wine. Ripe, but firm tannins. Medium plus finish with notes of dark chocolate. Well-balanced. No plummy, cooked flavours that seems to be prevalent of this vintage. Showing very well at the vertical, but can certainly age. Drink within next 5 to 10 years.

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• 2005 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep ruby core, garnet rim, slow moving legs. On the nose, cassis, dark fruit. On the palate, firm and powerful tannins, but quite fine-grained. Medium plus acidity that gives freshness and structure. Medium plus finish with notes of dark chocolate and baking spice. Still in ugly duckling stage: nose and palate not as expressive as the 2001, 2003, etc. Another 5 years at least. (64% CS, 33% Merlot and 3% CF)

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• 2009 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Medium plus purple core, going almost all the way to the rim. Slow moving legs. Slightly muted at first, but soon opening up to reveal notes of dark chocolate, cassis, violet, dark fruit, smoke, cedar, baking spice, licorice. Very complex. Palate similar to the nose. Powerful but ripe tannins, with long finish. The most accessible wine in the vertical flight. The higher portion of Merlot definitely helps. (67% CS and 33% Merlot)

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• 2010 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Medium plus purple core, going almost all the way to the rim. Expressive nose of cassis, dark fruit, slight hint of dried fruit, sweet vanilla, cedar, baking spice, smoke. Still evolving, picking up different things every time I nosed the wine. Seductive. On the palate, concentrated, medium plus bodied. Tight, but ripe tannins. Medium plus acidity. Long finish with notes of dark chocolate. My favourite in this vertical flight. To be laid down for a decade or so. (79% CS and 21% Merlot)

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