CHATEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE au Baron de Pichon-Longueville 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2008 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron 2008 is a powerful yet refined Pauillac showing mature depth and classical structure. Deep garnet with an orange rim, it opens with cassis, black cherry and cedar, then leather, truffle and graphite with aeration. Full bodied with a ripe tannic spine and velvety mid palate, flavours of black cherry, plum conserve and black olive sit alongside savoury cured meat and soy reduction. Integrated oak brings clove, cocoa and toasted spice while bright acidity lends lift, finishing long, saline and mineral. Drink now with decanting or cellar to 2036. Pair with roast beef, lamb or venison. Critics: Vinous 95 "Quintessential Pichon Baron"; Wine Advocate 95 "Dense and concentrated"; Decanter 95 "Balanced and powerful."

ABOUT THIS WINE
Chateau Pichon Longueville au Baron de Pichon Longueville 2eme Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 2008 is a powerful yet refined Pauillac that balances concentration with classical structure. The colour is a deep garnet with an orange tinged rim that signals maturity while retaining a vibrant core. The nose opens with evolved blackcurrant, cassis and dried plum framed by cedar, cigar box and polished pencil lead; with airing tertiary aromas of leather, forest floor and truffle emerge alongside a subtle graphite mineral note that anchors the bouquet.

On the palate the wine is full bodied with a firm but ripe tannic spine and a generous yet refined mid palate, showing a velvety texture that carries concentrated dark fruit. Flavours of black cherry, plum conserve and black olive are layered with savoury notes of cured meat, soy reduction and olive tapenade. Oak derived elements of clove, cocoa and toasted spice are integrated and add depth without overwhelming the wine’s core. Fresh acidity provides lift and balance, guiding the flavours to a long saline and mineral finish where hints of dried herb and tobacco linger.

The 2008 vintage in Bordeaux produced wines of good ripeness tempered by cooler spells, resulting in bottles that combine concentration with clarity rather than unbridled opulence. At Pichon Longueville this has yielded a wine that now displays complex tertiary development while retaining structural integrity.

This bottle is drinking very well now with decanting to open the aromatics, though further integration may continue over the short term. Drink 2026 to 2036, peaking 2026 to 2032. Match with roast beef, lamb with rosemary, beef Wellington, braised short rib, venison with juniper, mushroom and truffle dishes, or an array of mature hard cheeses to complement the wine’s savoury depth and refined tannic frame.

VINOUS 95 points
The 2008 Pichon-Baron has a much better bouquet than the 2007 (as you would expect), replete with blackberry, blueberry, minerals and graphite that are all very well defined and focused. The oak here is superbly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, and full of tension and energy. It builds nicely in the mouth, delivering real brightness and vivacity on the finish but retaining that sense of subtle Pauillac austerity. In many ways this is quintessential Pichon-Baron and one of the overachievers in recent years. It comes highly recommended. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château. - Neal Martin

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 Pichon Longueville Baron is one of the densest, most concentrated wines of Pauillac in 2008. An inky/purple color is followed by aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, blackberries, charcoal, coffee and licorice. Exceptionally full-bodied with velvety tannins and undeniable appeal, this gorgeous, well-proportioned, larger than life 2008 should age effortlessly for two decades or more. With the realistic pricing that remains for many 2008s, this is a no-brainer.
Published: May 02, 2011

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson
(at BI, London, 01 Jan 2018)
Part of How Bordeaux 2008 wines taste now: 70 top names rated
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2042
As you would expect, this turns up the bass on its neighbour. It's a full-throttle display with a powerful dark undertow, approaching peak-Pauillac. It is wonderfully balanced, with flavours of graphite, dark plum, coffee and grilled rosemary, and the tannins are so well structured, fine and layered. It's a great wine in an average year, showing its pedigree and easily among the best in the appellation in 2008.

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
Wow. So much bright fruit in this with orange peel and black currant character. Floral and lively. Full body, silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Hard not to drink now. Do it.

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ABOUT CHATEAU PICHON-LONGUEVILLE au Baron de Pichon-Longueville
Château Pichon Longueville au Baron, commonly known as Pichon Baron, is a distinguished Second Growth from the 1855 Classification, located in the Pauillac commune on Bordeaux’s left bank. The estate occupies deep gravel terraces that favour Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blends, producing wines known for their power, precision and capacity for long term ageing. Pichon Baron combines classical Pauillac structure with an ability to show elegance and aromatic complexity in favourable vintages.

The property has been owned since the late 1980s by AXA Millesimes, whose stewardship has brought sustained investment in vineyard renewal, cellar technology and scientific research. AXA Millesimes has emphasised a long term vision for quality and terroir expression, supporting meticulous vineyard work and measured technical development while respecting the estate character defined by gravel soils and cool maritime influences.

Vineyards extend across extensive, well delineated plots planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in smaller proportions. Vine age varies across parcels and clonal selection together with site specific management are used to refine balance and concentration. Viticultural practice focuses on canopy management, yield control and selective hand harvesting to ensure physiological ripeness and to preserve natural acidity and aromatic lift. Increasing attention to sustainable soil care and biodiversity supports vine longevity and resilience.

Winemaking is led by an experienced technical team appointed by the estate and supported periodically by recognised consultants. The cellar approach privileges parcel by parcel vinification with careful sorting, temperature managed fermentations and calibrated extraction to build structure without sacrificing aromatic clarity. Ageing takes place in French oak, chosen to integrate tannin and enhance complexity while allowing the primary fruit and mineral thread to remain evident. Rigorous blending trials determine final assemblage to balance immediacy with ageing potential.

Stylistically Pichon Baron is often described as poised and powerful, showing blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, spice and a saline mineral undertow, framed by firm yet refined tannins. The wines reward patient cellaring and are regarded as a benchmark of Pauillac quality and longevity.