![]() Together they form a harmonious ensemble, richly structured, concentrated from the many old vines in the blend, and very ageworthy." (WE) In this release, the tannins are as impressive and dense as the black fruits. "Cellar Selection, This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more. It shows the estate's more pure Cabernet, focused, elegant style yet offers full-bodied richness and serious depth of fruit as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and wet stone-like minerality. "A beautiful, majestic Pauillac that reminds me a little of the 2000, the 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Full-bodied, yet so tight and refined with polished, toned tannins that are creamy and compact with a silky texture. "Aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, ash and cedar with hints of conifer. Rose petal, spice, blood orange and mint add brightness and perfume on the long, finely-knit finish." (VM) That will make the 2018 easy to drink relatively early, although my preference would be to leave it in the cellar for the better part of the next decade. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. ![]() Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. "Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy." (WA) Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts from the glass with flamboyant scents of stewed black plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, pencil shavings and espresso. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. "The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. And then there's a serious network of iron girders supporting it all, along with sweet tobacco, floral and worn cedar accents. As charming and vibrant as the cassis, cherry preserve and blackberry paste flavors are, they have a latent saturated feel. "A very polished and pure expression of Pauillac, but don't go to sleep on it.
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