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2011 Château Pichon Baron

We have a good parcel available of perhaps the best value drinking vintage available today of one our favourite properties in Pauillac - Château Pichon Baron. The parcel is in magnums – the perfect size for both the cellar and for sharing.
 
At the annual Ten Years On tasting hosted here at Farr Vintners in 2021, 2011 Pichon Baron was the performer of the tasting.  Out of 139 wines tasted, it came second only to Latour, out-scoring all of the remaining left bank first growths AND Pétrus, Le Pin and Ausone.  No mean feat.
 
Neal Martin described it as “superb”, writing “Classy, sophisticated, this has plenty of breeding”. It also garnered a rare 18 points from Jancis Robinson at the same tasting.
 
It has taken time for the 2011s to come around. The initially firm, unyielding wines have softened beautifully. What remains are deep and dark fruited wines with good backbones and fantastic freshness.  2011 Pichon Baron has everything that is good about the vintage and, moreover, it is the least expensive vintage of this outstanding Pauillac that we can offer today.

The 2011 Pichon-Baron has an impressive bouquet with intense mineral-driven black fruit, cedar and a lovely marine influence that comes through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very harmonious with a fine bead of acidity. Classy, sophisticated, this has plenty of breeding. Superb. This is perhaps the best bottle that I have encountered. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

A distinctly Pauillac nose of cassis, cedar and a touch of cigar box. This is open and fruit-driven and very impressive indeed. A wine of its place and one that is impeccably made. There is lots of power here though the wine is very much in balance. Very impressive. Drink now with some time in the decanter or keep for another decade. One of the vintage’s great successes.

95
Farr Vintners, November 2021

The black fruits that dominate the palate on this vintage are savoury, slightly subdued, so make sure you give them time to be coaxed out of the glass. As it opens, a floral and chiselled Cabernet expression takes over, with rose stems, smoked earth and tight cassis fruits. This is a lovely wine that shows a more subtle side of Pauillac. Tannins remain young, in that they are present at the forefront of the mouth, pressing in and slightly austere, but with juice on the finish and plenty of promise. Unrolls slowly and has decades ahead of it. 80% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, December 2021

Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Almost impenetrably deep. Very ambitious with the fruit, plus a saline hint, almost overpowering the (massive) tannic charge. Lip-smacking. Long and rewarding.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, October 2021
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