CHÂTEAU PICHON BARON 2020

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 2020

“This has a very large-scaled yet properly proportioned core of cassis, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that are remarkably pure and focused. Buried deep within is a sleek, vibrant iron spine that drives the finish as the fruit keeps pace. Extra savory, tobacco and cedar nuances fill out all the remaining available space. A towering wine, with a buttoned-up feel. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030.” – 97/100, #8 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023

VARIETIES: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot
REGION: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
AGEING: 80% in new barrels, 20% from barrels of one vintage for 18 months
GUARDING POTENTIAL: Enjoy now or will cellar well up to 20 years ±, at an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%
SERVE: Serve at 16ºC – 18ºC, decant it ideally 6 to 7 hours before tasting
FITS TO: Pair perfectly with a Herb-crusted Rack of Lamb, Roasted Saddle of Venison, Beef Chuck with Porcini Mustard and Smoked Tea, or Roasted Quail with Mushrooms
CRITICS SCORES: JS/99, D/98, JD/98, WE/98, RP/97, WS/97

___________________________________________________

2ème Grand Cru Classé – 1855, Pauillac Appellation | Range | Château Pichon Baron 2020

TASTING NOTE

Château Pichon Baron 2020 reveals a very beautiful, intense garnet colour. The fresh, precise and complex nose offers aromas of ripe red fruit, spices, cedar and pencil lead. The attack is ample with a powerful, creamy and elegant palate. The tannins are silky and racy. The finish is long, fruit-driven and peppery.
Pierre Montégut – Technical Director – September 2022, Bottling date: June 13th 2022

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

2020 began with a historically rainy winter followed by a tropical spring. Vigilance was required in soil management and protecting the vines against mildew. Warm, dry weather then led to one of the earliest flowerings on record, two weeks ahead of the norm. The first flowers were observed between 9th and 10th May and flowering took place between 15th and 25th May. Rainfall stopped at the end of June, giving way to cool, dry weather until the onset of ripening in mid-July.

Mid-veraison was reached between 23rd and 25th July on the earliest ripening Merlot plots and subsequently developed well in warm and dry conditions. Summer brought drought and sporadic heat waves until mid-August, when thunderstorms cooled down excessive temperatures and caused the Merlot grapes to swell. The later-ripening Cabernets remained small until the harvest.

Picking started about ten days ahead of the norm, mostly in sunshine for the Merlots and thundery showers for the Cabernets. The Merlots and Cabernets were tannic and colourful, with acidities and potential alcohol content within normal ranges.

Ripening took place in hot weather, apart from the second half of August. Thunderstorms of varying intensity, with between 80 and 120 mm of rain, struck Pauillac between 12th and 16th August, in most cases counteracting the water stress observed in early August. The Merlots once again benefited from the rainfall, with the grapes growing swiftly, unlike the Cabernets.