CHÂTEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON

Grilled cedar on the nose giving appellation signature right from the start, with smoky notes that ripple through the dense blackcurrant and bilberry fruit, along with cocoa bean, liquorice and smoked earth. This remains powerfully concentrated at seven years old, and will take its time to unwind. Give it another three or four years or a good long carafe, and expect it to last for another few decades without breaking a sweat. Enjoyable, this is a brilliance slice of what Pichon Baron can deliver so effortlessly. 80% new oak. Jean-René Matignon technical director. Drinking range: 2024 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Dec 2021)

The 2014 Pichon-Baron repeats its performance of just a few weeks earlier, presenting blackberry, undergrowth and graphite on the detailed nose, though perhaps a little more black currant than the previous bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, and extremely pure and precise. A tingle of cold stone, an almost flint-like sensation, appears toward the pixelated finish. Very fine. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château. Drinking range: 2022 - 2050 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

The 2014 Pichon Baron has a similar bouquet to the Pichon Lalande: very precise and classic Pauillac replete with black fruit, graphite and perhaps a little more undergrowth. Maybe there is a touch more Merlot here, suggesting Pichon Lalande (when in fact it is Pichon Baron!) The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well defined with great depth, mineral-driven towards the finish that possesses wonderful harmony and length. It is just a beautiful, quite delicious Pauillac. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2055 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Mar 2018)

Suave and polished. Thick and rewarding with an inky spine. Big and bold. Very clean and understated. Very long. Drinking range: 2024 - 2044 Rating: 18 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Feb 2018)

A wine of pure sophistication and class, the 2014 Pichon-Longueville Baron exudes depth and intensity from the very first taste. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in the glass. This is a surprisingly ripe style for the vintage. Readers should give the 2014 at least a few years in bottle to come together. Drinking range: 2020 - 2034 Rating: 94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2017)

A solid rendering, with an ample core of cassis, cherry preserves and plum cake backed by energetic, brambly tannins. A singed apple wood accent on the finish adds range. Shows good cut throughout. Drinking range: 2020 - 2035 Rating: 94 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Jan 2017)

The Château Pichon Baron 2014 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, almost the same as 2010. It was picked between late September and 16 October. It has a tightly wound bouquet at the moment, very "contained" and not as flamboyant as say, the 2009 or the 2010 at this early juncture. But there is remarkable precision here - an aristocratic nose with fleeting glimpses of cedar and pencil lead. The palate is medium-bodied. The acidity is quite noticeable although the pH is 3.8, higher than you would have expected. There is certainly a lot of body and structure (IPT came in at 91) with a precise, almost stoic, graphite finish. If the disappearance of Château Latour from en primeur is getting you down then this will fill that gap nicely. Drinking range: 2020 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2015)

Lots of depth and meaty grip from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon. Broad and powerful now with elegance to come. Very good future. (Highly Recommended Pauillac, Decanter.) Drinking range: 2020 - 2035 Rating: 92 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2015)

Dark red cherry, plum, cedar, smoke and cinnamon are some of the notes that meld together in the 2014 Pichon-Longueville Baron. One of the rounder, more supple wines from this sector of the Médoc, today, the 2014 appears to be a wine that will drink well with only a handful of years in the cellar. The soft, seamless finish is quite striking, but there is plenty of tannin lurking beneath, it is just buried by the fruit. Technical Director Jean-Renè Matignon adds that the tannin levels are the same as 2010, although that would be nearly impossible to ascertain on taste and feel alone. In 2014, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Overall, this is a very stylish Pichon-Baron distinguished by the great purity of its fruit. Tasted twice. Rating: 91-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2015)

There will be less new oak in the finished wine than there was in the en primeur sample, which is good news as I found Pichon a little too marked by notes of mocha and chocolate. The underlying wine is very smart indeed with good grip and structure and the density and fruit weight to age. Drinking range: 2022 - 2035 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2015)

A fabulous young wine with superb depth of fruit and density that shows blueberries, blackberries, oyster shells and stones. Full-bodied, chewy yet with a laser-guided backbone of tannins. Goes on for minutes. Concentrated yet so fine and beautiful. The tannin content analysis is the same as 2009 and 2010 apparently from the winemakers, but the tannin quality is better. Amazing. This could be a remake of the 2010 but fresher. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2015)

Features a solid core of dark plum and blackberry fruit, backed by judicious toast that allows tobacco and loam hints to emerge in end. This picks up steam through the finish, showing ample base notes. Rating: 92-95 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2015)