Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron (6 Bottes in OWC Futures Pre-Sale) 2020

Professional Ratings

• 98 James Suckling
  This young Bordeaux is totally seamless with fine, velvet-like tannins that are integrated and refined. Underlying freshness and verve. It’s full-bodied, linear and long with a compact palate.
  Barrel Sample: 97-98
• 98 Jeb Dunnuck
  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.
  Barrel Sample: 96-98
• 98 Wine Enthusiast
  Made with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine offers dark tannins that give density and massive black fruits. With a magnificent combination of dark fruits and rich structure, it is set for long-term aging.
• 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  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.
  Barrel Sample: (95-97)+
• 97 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
  COMMENTARY: The Château Pichon Baron, consistently one of the best Pauillacs, turned in a stellar performance with the 2020 vintage. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows aromas and flavors of authoritative black fruits, oak, and earthy notes. Pair it with braised oxtail. (Tasted: January 27, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
• 96 Decanter
  Intense, concentrated, rippling with power while still delivering finesse. A muscular Pichon Baron, layered with liquorice and chocolate shavings. Unmistakably Pauillac, and hugely Cabernet dominant, with savoury spice notes of grilled cumin and the same muscular, saline-backed tannins that you find in Les Griffons, just here with more definition and depth.
  Barrel Sample: 96