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Pichon Baron 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Also available in the following mixed case:

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Label

Tasting Notes

Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate's colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine's wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years.

97+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

Cabernet dominant and here we are really sinking into the heart of Pauillac, with its slate, pencil lead, liquorice, chocolate and tightly packed black fruits all held in by rippling tannins. The whole structure expands through the mid palate, and then takes a long, slow progression towards a mouthwatering mint leaf finish. It merited the extra time in barrel that this vintage was given, and shows the extraordinary potential of this site. 80% new oak. The purity and the finesse of great Cabernet Sauvignon is fullly on display, and this is a wine to savour. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

98
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, December 2021

Borderline perfection in a bottle, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron (79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot) boasts a saturated purple color as well as truly extraordinary aromatics of crème de cassis, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality, graphite, and spring flowers. Possessing full-bodied richness, a huge, unctuous mid-palate, and building tannin, it shows the purity, grandeur, and precision that makes this vintage so remarkable. Hide bottles for another 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades.

99+
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2018

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron delivers expressive scents of baked black cherries, plum preserves and crème de cassis with hints of cedar chest and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and lovely freshness with bags of energetic black fruits and a long, wonderfully pure finish. 2020-2055

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Dark, nuanced crimson. Spicy nose with drive and both tannin and freshness – as well as ripe Cabernet fruit in ascendant. Lots going on here. Smooth, sculpted tannins and lots of drama. 13.5%
Drink 2022 – 2048

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2020

A dense and layered wine with lots of ripe and sweet fruit. Loads of currants, plums and tar. This is concentrated and almost jammy with velvety tannins. Powerful. Chewy. Try in 2020.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2013
96
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2011

Wonderfully smoky fruit, quite compacted still with great natural depth of Cabernet Sauvignon and a great future. Drink 2022-45.

18.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

2010: A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon Longueville Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate's titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity. Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.

97/99+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London and later at the chateau. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot representing 50% of the total production, matured in 80% new oak for 18 months, the Pichon Baron has a glorious bouquet with blackberry, briary and wild hedgerow. The aromatics are bestowed ethereal purity and elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with abundant, mineral-laden black fruit tinged with espresso. This is very harmonious, a mouth-filling bravura of a Pauillac (perhaps the equivalent of Cos d'Estournel?) There is a pleasing sense of linearity and austerity on the graphite-tinged finish, plus enormous length that will leave you convinced that this is a benchmark Pichon Baron that sits comfortably alongside the 2009. Comparing them both side by side, I would put them on equal par although instinct tells me to bet on '10 over the long-term. Tasted November 2012.

97
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2013

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Pichon Barton 2010 has a very linear, very focused bouquet with blackberry, cedar and mineral notes, not as intense as other wines but showing great clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, very fine acidity, a gentle grip with very composed, lightly spiced finish. This is a relatively understated wine within its group, sophisticated and classy. It has closed down a little since I last tasted it, hence the slightly lower score, but expect that to rise in the future. Tasted January 2014.

94+
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2014

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, 13.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and total acidity of 3.3gms/L that will be raised in 80% new oak (the remainder one year old). This has a refined, much more understated nose than the 2009 that grabbed you by the lapels. It opens beautifully with aeration, blackberry, a touch of cassis, cedar and graphite, but a little gentler than other Pauillac 2010s at this early juncture. The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, good acidity, like the 2009, a Pauillac imbued with great symmetry and focus, very elegant and refined towards the finish that for once reminds me of the Pichon over the road. Very persistent and very "classic" towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2015-2040+ Tasted March 2011.

94/96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

This has wonderful purity of fruit with currants, blackberries and licorice on the nose and palate. Full body, with velvety yet poished tannins and a long, long finish. Roses and flowers at the end. Tar too! Reminds me of the 1990 PB

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2011

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot which had late malos. Vibrant purple colour. Very sumptuous nose with rather more interesting nose than most at this early stage. Very rich and sumptuous and gorgeous on the palate. Much more difference between the grand vin and second wine here than at Pichon Lalande across the road. Lovely complete expression of the ripeness of both fruit and tannin in 2010. Dry and cool on the finish. Very complete. Tea-leaf aromas and lovely texture. Unctuous and much less dry on the end than many 2010s. This should be a lovely wine that could be broached relatively early but will last. 2017 - 2032

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.