France

Chateau Clement-Pichon

Chateau Clement-Pichon Longueville Chateau Pichon Baron 2eme Cru Classe Pauillac

Bordeaux

Pauillac

Majors on the fragrant, slim and precise side of Cabernet Sauvignon, waves of cassis bud, rose stems, tobacco leaf and a mouthwatering finish. Don't expect the intensity of 2022 or 2023 at this excellent Pauillac estate, and yet there is impact and slow build through the palate. One of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, will be ready to drink within  five to six years compared to the usual ten to 15. 3.71pH, 70% new oak for ageing, 52% of overall production in the first wine. Harvest 15 September to 10 October, Pierre Montegut technical director, Christian Seely CEO.

Inside Bordeaux

Deep garnet-purple colored. Fresh crushed blackcurrants, boysenberries, and juicy raspberries notes jump from the glass, followed by hints of iris, tar, and cedar chest. The light to medium-bodied palate delivers approachable, grainy tannins and bright acidity to match the elegant black and red fruit layers, finishing long and minerally.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

The 2023 Pichon Baron is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, the nose erupts with classic scents of cassis, juicy plums, and redcurrant jelly followed by fragrant nuances of lilacs, camphor, and crushed rock plus a waft of wild thyme. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit, with impressive tension and fine-grained tannins framing the black berry flavors accented by fragrant herbs and floral notes, finishing long and mineral-laced. The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, with pH 3.70. It is aging in oak barriques, 70% new.

The 2022 Pichon Baron, 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It swans out with gregarious notions of blackcurrant jelly, baked black plums, and Morello cherries, giving way to hints of lavender, cedar chest, and cumin seed plus a touch of cinnamon. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with bright, bold, black and red berry layers, complemented by firm, grainy tannins and impressive tension, finishing long and savory/spicy. It will need time, but promises to be amazing.

The 2021 Pichon Baron has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs lots of shaking to wake up scents of freshly crushed blackcurrants, juicy raspberries, and boysenberries, followed by nuances of lavender, cedar chest, and crushed rocks. The light to medium-bodied palate has a fine-grained texture and bags of freshness supporting the youthful black and red berry layers, finishing with a floral lift.

Densely structured, with muscular tannins that confidently hold the cassis and blackberry fruits in check and load up on the Pauillac character. This is great quality, full of liquorice, gunpowder tea and grilled cocoa bean set against plump black fruits and a mouthwateringly fresh finish with eucalyptus and slate. Will be bottled in June 2020 (and go into vat a few months earlier), but will easily need 6 to 8 years in bottle to fully soften. 80% new oak, 48% of overall production, 30hl/h yield. Harvest September 14 to 30.

Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, a reflection of how exceptionally well this grape did in 2019. The aromatics are all-enveloping, powerful and nuanced and totally delicious, drawing you in and refusing to let go. Slate, pencil lead, cassis, damson, layer upon layer of brilliance, if not quite the over-aweing concentration and enveloping character of the 2016. 80% new oak.

An exceptionally successful vintage at Pichon Baron, juicy, concentrated and finessed, with powerful yet well balanced bilberry and blackberry fruits. The sense of complexity and nuance builds from beginning to end, coming in waves of baked earth, crayon and liquorice bud, with a slate texture to the tannins that slows the progress down through the palate and promises great things ahead. 80% new oak. They had to fight against mildew as everyone did, but came out a little better than some, at around 32hl/h yield. Jean-René Matignon technical director.

Enjoyable, softening in structure even at four years old, with an enticing grilled quality to the blueberry and blackberry fruit. Less concentrated than the 2016 vintage, as is typical for the 2017s even in a muscular appellation such as Pauillac, but with charm and finesse, and supple tannins. Crushed mint leaf character on the finish adds to the feeling of a well-handled, confident wine. 80% new oak, 30hl/h yield (not because oft the frost that affected many in the vintage, but because of their low-yielding 60-year-old Cabernet vines).

An exceptional vintage where the Cabernet expression at five years old is dominant - savoury and sculpted cassis bud, bilberry and blueberry fruit alongside waves of rosebud and violet. The tannins are concentrated and still austere, but this is a great Pichon Baron, with liqourice, slate, pencil lead, waves of flavour resonating through the palate. Just a brilliant reflection of a vintage and a terroir. 80% new oak.

Plum, damson, cassis and rosebud notes curl out of the glass immediately. The texture deepens and widens through the mid palate, with grilled bacon, cocoa bean, espresso, fig, grilled cedar, dense and concentrated, with a crush of mint leaf on the finish. Love this, a generous wine that resonates through the palate with waves of flavour and a smoky finish. This has the weight and sense of occasion that tells you this is a classified wine in a great vintage, and is one to look out for. 80% new oak, Jean-René Matignon technical director.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 Pichon Baron offers up serious, straight-laced notes of blackcurrant cordial, cedar chest, and tobacco leaf leading to hints of cardamom, pencil lead, and truffle. The medium-bodied palate is gracefully styled, with lovely tension and ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and minerally.

Medium garnet colored with a touch of brick, the 2013 Pichon Baron gives up notes of blackcurrant pastilles, baked plums, and sauteed herbs, followed by touches of cigar box and beef dripping with a waft of cast-iron pan. Light to medium-bodied, the palate delivers a solid core of expressive black fruits with a firm, grainy texture and refreshing finish.

Real confirmation that these top Pauillacs take their first steps towards being ready to drink at the 10 year window in these 'medium' vintages - compared to 15 in the bigger vintages. This is just stretching its limbs, charming if a little short, showing aumtumnal hedgerow fruits, cracked pepper, cocoa bean, cappucinno. Has power and depth, and is extremely enjoyable. Where in a vertical of the estate it doesn't stand out, in a horizontal across the vintage it really does. 70% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

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.

Amateur

Crayon, cigar and cedarwood aromatics, relatively subdued because this is tightly packed with still-chewy tannins, but there is so much waiting underneath. Give this another few years, or a good few hours in a carafe, to fully appreciate how the dense brambly fruits unroll and expand outwards through the palate. Great quality, with muscular tannins that ensure the ripe fruit remains engaged and at the very beginning of their life. An exceptionally successful wine. 80% new oak. Jean-René Matignon technical director.

Grilled caramel and liqourice on the nose, plump blackberry and blackcurrant fruits, sinewy tannins with touches of pencil lead and black chocolate. This is signature Pauillac but an enticing version that welcomes you in. The Merlots make their impact here, because they were of such great quality in this vintage, fleshy and supple, giving width to the mid palate. 80% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

Smoky edged from the first nose (a true signature of the vintage) with gunsmoke and campfire notes. The fresh acidities of a cooler summer are clear through the mid palate, softened by blackberry, caramel and white pepper spice. Soft tannins, finessed, a little soft on the finish, no need to wait to drink this, but you'll find plenty to enjoy. No more Cabernet Franc from this point in the blend. 80% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

One of the rare estates where the 2006 is a step above the 2005 - one of those wines that makes doing a vertical so rewarding, as you discover the hidden successes, and this is one I highly recommend. Waves of sweet blackberry and juicy raspberry fruits, toned and muscular tannins, sinewy with bounce, extremely inviting overall. Tobacco leaf and slate, signature Pauillac pencil lead and grilled cedar all combine to give a drawn out finish. The underground cellar opened in this year, so they were able to extend the length of ageing because had more space for the barrels, and it has paid off. 80% new oak. Jean-René Matignon technical director.

A fine tannic frame, blackberry and cassis fruits, hints of cigar, rosebud and tobacco leaf. You will be able to find more generous examples of the 2005 vintage in Pauillac appellation right now, as there remains some austerity to the tannins through the mid palate, but this is a vintage that has proved stubborn over the past 15 years, and is only just starting to come into its own - I would suggest giving this another few years and then checking back in. 80% new oak. Watch out for bottle variation - a second bottle we opened showed more nuance and generosity. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

This is a vintage that is tasting great right now, and I definitely suggest getting out any bottles that you have and starting to explore them. Plenty of concentrated cassis and blackberry fruits, waves of fresh mint leaf and eucalyptus on the finish, tannins that are beginning to fully melt into the structure but still confidently holding everything in place. This is juicy and enjoyable. 80% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

A famously hot dry year that could be challenging on well-draining gravel soils, but this has held up well, majoring on cinnamon and turmeric spice, touches of black chocolate and liquorice. Soft tobacco notes on the finish, you know you are in Pauillac here, because the tannins are still present and confident even at 19 years old, and there is a mouthwatering edge of salinity on the finish. No need to wait, but also no great rush to drink up. 70% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

Inky purple in colour, holding its shape and form right through to the core of the wine, and plenty of Pauillac character to the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant nose. Touch of smoked caramel, cassis and bilberry, the fruit is less nuanced than with the 2001 or the 2000, but this is packed with slate-textured tannins and juicy minerality on the finish. Woodsmoke and ash curl out of the glass as it opens. 70% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

Unusually this feels even more muscular than the 2000, with dark fruits, fresh acidities and a ton of appellation signature. Powerful tannins that form walls around the fruit even at 20 years old, with nuanced black pepper spice, cocoa bean, woodsmoke, black cherry and blackberry fruit as it opens. 70% new oak. This was the first year with Christian Seely as director, and the selection process for the first wine became more severe, with lower yields and a greater focus on fruit from the historic plot of vines directly opposite Château Latour. Jean-René Matignon remained as technical director.

This remains powerful at 21 years old, a lovely slice of well-aged Pauillac at an excellent moment to begin drinking. Soft curls of tobacco and liqourice, tannins remain muscular but softening into an embrace of the cassis and bilberry fruit. Not the same density as you will find in more recent years of Pichon Baron, but this is extremely well balanced, the finesse of fully aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Perhaps a little more evolved than many top Pauillacs from this vintage, with hints of the heat of the summer in the fig fruit character and the soft russet edging to the plum colour, but succulent and enticing. Last year with Jean-Michel Cazes as director, Jean-Rene Matignon technical director. 80% new oak.

Deep dark fruits, edge of brett, beautiful floral notes, fresh acidities that keep things powering along, enticing tobacco and cigar box aromatics, this is enjoyable, with appellation signature and still delivering please. 80% new oak.

Touches of cocoa bean, espresso, chocolate shavings, clear concentration, blackberry and raspberry fruits, cracked black peppercorns, spiced cedar and earth. A franction of a dip through the mid palate, but showing no signs of fading away. One of the most enjoyable 1998 Left Banks that I have tasted recently - but not at the level of the best Right Banks from the vintage. Served from magnum. 80% new oak.

A vintage that is really delivering right now, so many drinkable, juicy and delicate wines that should be relished but not cellared for much longer. This majors on soft black fruits, brambled loganberry and cassis, with tobacco, saffron, liquorice. Gently mouthwatering on the finish, but fades quickly. Served from magnum, and I would suggest looking for it in this format to maximise the fruit character. First vintage with Cabernet Franc in the blend. 80% new oak.

Clearly more depth in colour than the preceding three years, and this is classic Pauillac, as with the 1995, but a little more structured. Cedar and cassis notes, still sombre and stubborn tannins, opens to show woodsmoke, cold ash, and touches of eucalyptus. 59IPT, 80% new oak.

Plenty of spice, tannins, structure, frame, tobacco, cigar box, very much old school undergrowth and pencil lead, slate, essence of Pauillac. A little soft through the mid palate, with some chewy tannins on the finish, but you would be so happy to open and share this. Served from magnum. Don't wait too long but this is one to look out for right now. 80% new oak.

Black fruits, rosebud and rose stem nuances. There are tannins still in evidence, and some architecture to hang the acidity from, but this is a little disappointing overall, with a dip through the mid palate. The last in a series of three (even four) extremely challenging vintages in the Médoc. 80% new oak.

Another challenging vintage that is overdelivering expectations but is very much on the last few years of its prime drinking window. Dark fruits, a little soft thorugh the mid palate but still plenty of brambled blackberries, bilberries, undergrowth, soft leather, touches of white pepper, and clear Pauillac tannins. 80% new oak.

Not an easy vintage but it is showing well right now, although definitely at its full drinking window. Fine tannins, acidities that struggle to remain balanced through the mid palate, gently fleshy raspberry fruits, leather, liquorice and cloves. The challanges of the vintage are clear, but even this still has something to say. 60hl/h yield.

Cold ash, rose stem, redcurrant, raspberry, some dip through the mid palate, but this is enjoyable, with cassis and dark blueberry fruits, soot and tobacco, gently fades through the finish. From the 1991 vintage onwards, they enlarged the selection for the 1st wine as had bought and planted more land (this remained true through to the arrival of Christian Seely as estate director in 2001), which contributed to some uneven performance in the 1990s. First year with Petit Verdot in the blend. 45hl/h yield after frost.

Beautifully rich, enticing, soft tannins, a lovely old Paullac that you can sink into. Love this wine, shows plenty of structure but zero hard edges. The fruits are mellow at this point, fig, wild strawberry, leather and undergrowth. A huge yield by modern standards of 70hl/h, and at the time at least 70% would have gone into the 1st wine (but Pichon Baron was smaller at the time, and the vast majority of this wine would have come from the same deep gravel terrace that the 1st wine comes from today).

A hot dry vintage that at over 30 years old is really beginning to be sorted out into the great and the 'drink up' wines. This is one to look out for, welcoming aromatics of smoked earth, rosebud and liqorice root, great complexity of flavours, waves of tobacco and brambled blackberry and raspberry puree. Still plenty of fruit here, although tertiary and unfussy. Exotic spices also of cinammon and turmeric. Lovely - you can see why Jean Marie Matignon calls this his first great vintage, five years after he took over as technical director, and it just sings of Pauillac restrained power. Yields up at 55-60hl/h.

Welcoming, tobacco and undergrowth aromatics, touches of smoked earth, grilled almonds, fine tannins, showcasing the finessed side of Cabernet as it ages. This has a gentle power, wild strawberry puree, brambled fruits with fresh acidities, lilting, subtle and a lovely moment to drink. Don't expect a Pauillac powerhouse here, but there is life in the glass, a mouthwatering finish and it has something to say. 55-60hl/h yield.

A more challenging vintage than the 1986, with a lack of sunshine, and this is soft in colour, rose pink and tawny. Aromatics of tobacco, soy and earth, definitely reaching the end of its plateau, although charming and still with structure, aniseed spices and smoked cedar, builds slowly over the palate, and there is pleasure to be had, but needs to be drunk within the next decade. 65hl/h yeld, first year with AXA Millésimes as owners, and Jean-Michel Cazes as director.

Significantly deeper in colour than the 1985, highlighting that in these decades vintage made all the difference, because there were less techniques to mitigate the challenges. The Pauillac tannins are out on display, and the overall feel is darker, charcoal, cassis, cigar box, tobacco. Not generous, but you feel very much a time capsule of Pauillac at an age where the Cabernet Sauvignon takes on finesse and delicacy without losing shoulders and structure. They began to lower yields at this point, but still up at around 55hl/h. Last year with the Bouteiller family as owners of the estate, in place since the 1930s.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau Clement-Pichon
Vintages	2024
Country	France, Bordeaux, Pauillac
Bottle	75 cl

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Sugar	g/l

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