Pichon Baron 2013

Potentially the best of all the Pauillacs in 2013 (along with Mouton Rothschild), Pichon Baron is dense purple to the rim, which is not typical in this vintage, and exhibits stunning creme de cassis notes along with licorice, forest floor and white flowers. It is medium-bodied, but very complete, with serious texture, impressive purity, depth and ripe tannins on the finish. This is another 2013 that tastes atypically full and impressive. The final blend from a tiny crop at Pichon Longueville Baron was 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot. Drink it over the next 12-15 years

The 2013 Pichon-Longueville Baron is definitely one of the better Pauillacs of the vintage, although it does not quite hurdle over the obstacles placed by the growing season with the ease I thought it would. Blackberry, cedar and a touch of chimney soot here, good fruit intensity for the vintage with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, quite compact in the mouth, linear and masculine with a slightly austere but fresh, short finish. Not bad at all, though Christian Seely has overseen wines in a different league from this in recent years.

This has a really beautiful depth and finish to it with chocolate, blackberry, black currant and light mint character. Full. Very long. Seamless tannins. Hints of acidity. Better in 2019 but already excellent.

A severe selection and careful work in the vineyard helped them to navigate the pitfalls of this difficult vintage. Far more successful than many, with brambled autumnal fruit and plenty of smoke. A softer frame than many other years of Pichon Baron, but there is density through the mid palate, and balance. I suggest drinking over the next 5 to 10 years to really maximise the fruit. Yield around 20hl/h, 70% new oak.