Professional Reviews
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Jeb Dunnuck
97-99
Representing just 50% of the production and a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot aging in 80% new French oak, the 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron reveals a deep, saturated purple color as well as a decadent bouquet of crème de cassis, high class tobacco, crushed violets, and freshly sharpened cedar pencils, which is about as Pauillac as you can get. Full-bodied, incredibly opulent, with moderate acidity and silky tannins on the palate, it still shows beautiful purity, freshness, and elegance, with the tannins giving focus and length on the finish. It's a brilliant, brilliant wine that's in the same class as the 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010.
(05/2019)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
97-99
The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is made up of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. The Merlot was harvested September 24-25, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested October 3-10. The wine is to be aged 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old, and production represents 50% of the harvest this year. Very deep purple-black colored, it begins a little coy, rolling slowly and languidly out of the glass with notions of baked raspberries, blueberry coulis, crème de cassis and incense plus nuances of lilacs, truffles, damp soil and garrigue with wafts of lavender and wild sage. Full-bodied, voluptuous and oh-so-seductive, the palate reveals layer upon layer of savory, earthy and black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Beautiful. (LPB)
(04/2019)
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James Suckling
97-98
Deep and dark young wine that takes you down, deep down to its center palate of blackberries and blueberries, firm and very silky tannins and a vivid finish. Wonderful palate and depth in this with such class and finesse. So many layers of polished, fine tannins. Great wine.
(04/2019)
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Wine Enthusiast
96-98
Offering big, powerful tannins, this wine shows an amazing density of immense black fruits. It has a rich structure that's allied with great acidity and a strongly spicy character. There is a wonderful juiciness at the end that gives it an impressive lift. (RV)
(04/2019)
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Decanter
97
Straight from the nose you feel the wave of power with the wine uncurling through the palate, starting with tight notes of cassis then gently softening into sweeter brambled hedgerow fruits alongside a ton of ink and pencil lead.
The tannins are present but seductive, and as is often the case this year, they're concentrated without being remote. It’s less monolithic than the 2010 with some of the seduction of 2009 at this property but with higher levels of extraction.
The harvest took place between 24 September and 11 October. Again, we see here a Pauillac with the highest alcohol ever but it carries it extremely well. There was one week less of maceration than normal, so 21 days instead of 28, which will have helped control extractions. 86IPT. (JA)
(04/2019)
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Wine Spectator
97
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. (JM)
(01/2021)
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Vinous
94-97
Pichon Baron is exceptional in 2018. Pliant, silky and super-finessed, the 2018 has a level of textural finesse that really elevates the wine into Pauillac's upper echelon. Ripe fruit and silky tannins give the 2018 much of its inimitable finesse. At the same time, the 2018 is bright, punchy and surprisingly fresh, not to mention absolutely impeccable in its balance. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, while new oak is 80%. (AG)
(04/2019)
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Jancis Robinson
Colour of elderberry juice. Intensely pure Cabernet nose, so intense it is quite introvert, especially compared with the Tourelles, but there is just a hint of fresh and creamy blackcurrant. A dry beauty on the palate. Not a great deal of acidity but finishes clean and fresh with these slub-silk tannins. There's texture and depth but it's still silky. Freshness of fruit compensating for moderate acidity. 18/20 points. (JH)
(04/2019)
K&L Notes
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Staff Reviews
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By: Alex Schroeder2/22/2021K&L Staff MemberThis is an incredible wine. The warmth of the vintage is evident with powerful dark cherry and blackberry fruit, yet there’s plenty of delicate pencil-lead mineral tones and licorice. The fruit is balanced and restrained through the palate, then on the finish it soars, leaving you to contemplate the array of flavors you just tasted for over a minute.
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By: Gary Westby2/16/2021K&L Staff MemberBig, primary black fruit nose and a big rich palate impression made me think that I could have mistaken this blind for a Monte Bello, but the clean gravel and pencil lead minerality of Pauillac underneath make this inimitably Bordeaux. This is a hedonistic style for sure, but still has the freshness to dance with food in the future.
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By: Trey Beffa6/6/2019K&L Staff MemberVery tight and concentrated with an almost a chewy texture, this wine shows flavors of black licorice combined with red cherry and berry fruit. Lots of tannin and structure. Another wine for the cellar 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot
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