2020 Chateau Pichon Baron

Red Bordeaux Blend

France / Bordeaux / Medoc / Pauillac

$190
JD 98
RP 97
V 98
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 16

2eme Grand Cru Classé

2020 Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac, France

Winery Tasting Notes

Our Grand Vin Château Pichon Baron 2nd Cru Classé in 1855 comes from the very oldest vines grown on the historic plots of the estate. This authentic Pauillac offers an amazing sensory experience with its black fruit flavours and spicy hints. Château Pichon Baron shows great elegance, intensity and exceptional length on the palate. It is a wine that improves year after year and can age for over 40 years in the cellar.

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 midAugust, 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. The harvest took place from 14th to 22nd September for the Merlot and from 22nd to 30th September for the Cabernet-Sauvignon.

BLEND
76% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 24% Merlot

AGEING
70% in new barrels, 30% from barrels of one vintage for 18 months

JD 98

Jeb Dunnuck

Rating (96- 98) The inky hued 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot that spent 18 months in 70% new barrels. It's a dense, rich, powerful 2020 offering loads of pure cassis and almost blue fruits as well as full-bodied richness, a round, lush, incredibly sexy texture, sweet tannins, and ample classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and violet aromas and flavors. It's unquestionably in the same ballpark as the 2015, 2016, and 2018, and given its sweet tannins and beautifully integrated acidity, it should have some up-front appeal as well, yet still age at a glacier pace. Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: Unavailable.
RP 97

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Rating (95 - 97)+ The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot aging for an estimated 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. The production of the grand vin represents 48% of the harvest this year. Opaque purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notions of blackberry pie, preserved plums and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, chocolate mint, graphite and cedar chest with a touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy. Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: 2027 - 2052.
V 98

Vinous

Rating (96 - 98) The 2020 Baron is utterly breathtaking, and also one of the very best young vintages I have tasted here. An exotic melange of red cherry, mint, rose petal and blood orange comes alive in a glass. More than anything, though, the Pichon-Baron possesses remarkable energy and vibrancy that builds to an intense, beautifully focused finish. This is hands down one of the most impressive wines of 2020. Superb. Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: 2035 - 2055.

For INTERNATIONAL shipping, click HERE.

We ship within the United States to:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 98

Jeb Dunnuck

Rating (96- 98) The inky hued 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot that spent 18 months in 70% new barrels. It's a dense, rich, powerful 2020 offering loads of pure cassis and almost blue fruits as well as full-bodied richness, a round, lush, incredibly sexy texture, sweet tannins, and ample classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and violet aromas and flavors. It's unquestionably in the same ballpark as the 2015, 2016, and 2018, and given its sweet tannins and beautifully integrated acidity, it should have some up-front appeal as well, yet still age at a glacier pace. Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: Unavailable.
RP 97

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Rating (95 - 97)+ The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot aging for an estimated 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. The production of the grand vin represents 48% of the harvest this year. Opaque purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notions of blackberry pie, preserved plums and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, chocolate mint, graphite and cedar chest with a touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy. Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: 2027 - 2052.
V 98

Vinous

Rating (96 - 98) The 2020 Baron is utterly breathtaking, and also one of the very best young vintages I have tasted here. An exotic melange of red cherry, mint, rose petal and blood orange comes alive in a glass. More than anything, though, the Pichon-Baron possesses remarkable energy and vibrancy that builds to an intense, beautifully focused finish. This is hands down one of the most impressive wines of 2020. Superb. Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni, Issue date: May 2021. Drinking window: 2035 - 2055.

2020 Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac, France

Winery Tasting Notes

Our Grand Vin Château Pichon Baron 2nd Cru Classé in 1855 comes from the very oldest vines grown on the historic plots of the estate. This authentic Pauillac offers an amazing sensory experience with its black fruit flavours and spicy hints. Château Pichon Baron shows great elegance, intensity and exceptional length on the palate. It is a wine that improves year after year and can age for over 40 years in the cellar.

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 midAugust, 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. The harvest took place from 14th to 22nd September for the Merlot and from 22nd to 30th September for the Cabernet-Sauvignon.

BLEND
76% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 24% Merlot

AGEING
70% in new barrels, 30% from barrels of one vintage for 18 months

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