By Chateau Pichon Baron
2018 Pauillac

Vintage Conditions
2018 was characterized by moderate winter temperatures with rainfall from early December to the end of March. The total precipitation was significant, approximately 180 mm above average. Spring was mild, followed by a very hot, dry summer. Bud break, which started in early April, was consistent. However, heavy rainfall led to significant crop losses in some areas. Great care was taken to protect the vines' health until the end of July. Veraison began in the last week of July and mid-veraison in early August. Moderate temperatures throughout the harvest resulted in very good ripening conditions. High temperatures and water stress were optimal for early-ripening tannins. At the same time, potential alcohol content increased rapidly, total acidity and malic acid levels were low, and pH was high.

Blend
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot

Winemaking
The old Merlot vines were harvested between September 24th and 25th, and the Cabernet Sauvignon vines from October 3rd to 10th. Plot-by-plot and intra-plot selection are the foundation of our approach. This year, sorting ensured consistent vatting quality. The temperature increase was gradual to favor extraction. Temperatures were kept at 25 to 29 degrees C. Maceration lasted between 18 and 23 days. The wine was transferred to barrels by the end of November.

Aging
18 months in 80% new barrels and 20% barrels of one vintage

Winemaker's Notes
Our Grand Vin, Chateau Pichon Baron, comes from the oldest vines on the estate's historic plots. This authentic Pauillac offers an amazing sensory experience with its black fruit flavors and spicy hints. Chateau Pichon Baron shows great elegance, intensity, and exceptional length on the palate. It is a wine that improves each year and can age for over 40 years in the cellar.
[Information provided by Beyerman]

Wine: Chateau Pichon Baron 2018 Pauillac
Score/Rating: 100 - Cellar Selection
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink from 2027
Review Date: 05/01/2021
Reviewed By: Roger Voss
Tasting Notes: This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game. In this release, the tannins are as impressive and dense as the black fruit. Together they form a harmonious ensemble, richly structured, concentrated from the many old vines in the blend, and very ageworthy. Drink from 2027.

Wine: CHATEAU PICHON BARON Pauillac 2018
Score/Rating: 99
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2050
Review Date: 01/2022
Reviewed By: J. D'Angelo
Tasting Notes: The 2018 Chateau Pichon Baron is simply gorgeous. It opens to a striking aromatic profile of fresh dark currants, which are joined by graphite, flowers, crushed gravel, tobacco and hints of herbs all coming together beautifully. On the palate this possesses a gorgeous medium to full body that is impecabbly [sic] balanced. It goes on to display [a] remarkable structure with polished tannins that hold everything in place beautifully all the way through the long, focused finish. This shows plenty of power along with a wonderful sense of restraint and it should ultimately be cellared for at least a few more years to allow it a chance display its full potential. Nonetheless, this is a truly fascinating vintage for Pichon Baron that is poised for a brilliant future ahead.

Wine: Chateau Pichon Baron, Pauillac, 2eme Cru Classe 2018
Score/Rating: 99
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2070
Review Date: 12/07/2021
Reviewed By: Yohan Castaing
Tasting Notes: Generous aromatics of dark berry fruit, caramel, and spice are clear indicators of a warm vintage, but there are also floral notes and no heaviness whatsoever. There is juicy, savoury substance on the palate, sustained by gossamer tannins of surprising delicacy, but lurking underneath is the power so characteristic of this vintage. A few years of cellaring will be needed for the terroir expression to hit its stride.

Wine: 2018 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron (Pauillac)
Score/Rating: 98
Review Date: 03/09/2021
Tasting Notes: Incredibly dark in color, the wine pops with Cuban cigar, cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, red and black currants, forest floor and peppery spice box aromas. This could be the most concentrated, powerful vintage of Pichon Baron ever produced. The wine is very concentrated, full and deep. Yet, with all this depth of flavor, everything remains perfectly balanced. The tannins are ripe. Full-bodied and lush on the palate, with layers of sweet, ripe, dark red fruit in the finish, the wine really sticks with you. Jean-Rene Matignon feels this is his best vintage. I am not sure I agree. But if it is not, it is damn close to it! The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. [...]

Wine: 2018 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron
Score/Rating: 97+
Suggested Drinking Window: 2031 - 2081
Review Date: 03/11/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: A beautiful, majestic Pauillac that reminds me a little of the 2000, the 2018 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. It shows the estate's more pure Cabernet, focused, elegant style yet offers full-bodied richness and serious depth of fruit as well as awesome notes of creme de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and wet stone-like minerality. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more. It's a profound 2018.

Wine: Chateau Pichon Baron Pauillac 2018
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2030 through 2050
Review Date: 03/31/2021
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: 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. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2050.

Wine: 2018 Pichon Baron
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: 2030 - 2058
Review Date: 03/2021
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. That will make the 2018 easy to drink relatively early, although my preference would be to leave it in the cellar for the better part of the next decade. Rose petal, spice, blood orange and mint add brightness and perfume on the long, finely-knit finish.

Wine: Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac 2018
Score/Rating: 97
Suggested Drinking Window: Try after 2026
Review Date: 01/27/2021
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, ash and cedar with hints of conifer. Full-bodied, yet so tight and refined with polished, toned tannins that are creamy and compact with a silky texture. Energetic and driven. Try after 2026.

Wine: 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron
Score/Rating: 96+
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
Review Date: 03/31/2021
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts from the glass with flamboyant scents of stewed black plums, creme de cassis and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, pencil shavings and espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy.

Wine: 2018 Pichon Baron
Score/Rating: 95+
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
Review Date: 02/09/2023
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: The 2018 Pichon Baron has a deep garnet-purple color. It starts off with savory notes of black olives, sauteed herbs, chargrill, and beef dripping, over a core of creme de cassis and stewed plums. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate takes a slight dip in the middle, finishing with good length, if a little warm.

Wine: Ch Pichon Baron 2018 Pauillac
Score: 18/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2032 - 2050
Review Date: 03/27/2023
Reviewed By: James Lawther MW
Tasting Notes: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot. Aged 18 months in oak barrels (80% new). Deep crimson hue. Big and intense on the nose - bit of a bottomless pit. Enormous weight and volume on the palate. Layers of fruit with powerful but polished tannins. Persistence on the finish. Overwhelming at present but clearly for the long haul. (JL)