Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville - Pauillac, 2009
Chateau Pichon-Longueville, listed as Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths) in the original 1855 Classification, is one of the most famous producers in Pauillac. Its wines are notoriously powerful and muscular, requiring a long period of cellaring before really shining in all their splendour. In 1987 Chateau Pichon-Longueville was bought by the AXA Insurance Group, who built a state-of-the-art winery there.
Dark ruby and a deep color in the glass, this splendid Bordeaux starts slightly austere to the nose. But it’s grand, majestic and complex. Ripe notes of black fruit (cassis compote, black plums, blackberry) mix with loads of different nuances: dense liquorice, cedar box, graphite, old wood, earth, black tea, tobacco and even hints of dark chocolate and clove. So concentrated and intense, a splendid bouquet!
On the palate, the wine is full in body, with a perfect high acidity to balance the explosion of ripe (but not jammy!) black fruit. The tannins are high in level, but so ripe and velvety. A wine of massive structure, powerful, multi-layered and succulent. Very complex, the flavours of black fruit, earth, tobacco, leather, toast, cedar wood and graphite perfectly mingle together.
An opulent wine, splendidly put together, with a rich and lush mouthfeel and a very long satisfying finish enhanced by a touch of iron minerality.
Every facet of this Bordeaux is beautifully crafted, achieving huge concentration, definition and balance. An excellent example in a great vintage. An outstanding Pauillac.