Château Pichon Longueville Baron
Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

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Château Pichon Longueville Baron occupies one of the finest gravel terroirs in the south of Pauillac, adjacent to that of Latour. Classified as a Second Grand Cru Classé in 1855, this estate of some 73 hectares is planted predominantly with cabernet sauvignon, complemented by merlot and a touch of cabernet franc and petit verdot. The result is a powerful and structured Pauillac in which ripe blackcurrant mingles with cedar, pencil lead and tobacco, underpinned by firm tannins and an exceptional capacity for long ageing.

Acquired by AXA Millésimes in 1987, the estate returned to the summit from the late 1980s: the 1990 ranks among the greatest achievements in its history. This pursuit of excellence continues in more recent years, as demonstrated by the 2016 vintage, already regarded as one of the estate's contemporary peaks.

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Vintage Guide

Vintage Guide

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Pauillac Appellation

Pauillac Appellation
Second Classified Growths of the Médoc

Second Classified Growths of the Médoc

Bordeaux Region

Bordeaux Region

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The FAQ

What sets Château Pichon Longueville Baron apart from the other crus of Pauillac?

Located on a gravelly terroir adjoining Latour, in the south of Pauillac, Pichon Baron is a deuxième cru classé of 1855 whose quality has been spectacularly elevated since its acquisition by AXA Millésimes in 1987. Its grand vin, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, is recognizable by its depth, its firm structure and its aromas of blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco, in the tradition of the great age-worthy Pauillacs.

Which vintages of Pichon Baron should you look for?

The great successes of the late 1980s, notably 1989 and 1990, marked the estate's renaissance and remain highly sought after. The 1982 stands as a classic, while the vintages of the 2000s and 2010s confirm the consistency of the cru. To choose wisely, one distinguishes the great long-ageing years, to be left to mature, from the intermediate years that can be enjoyed earlier.

How long can you keep a bottle of Pichon Longueville Baron?

A great vintage can easily be kept for two to three decades, and the finest years will last over forty years in good cellar conditions. When young, the wine benefits from being decanted for one to two hours; with age, it develops notes of leather, truffle and undergrowth. Served at around 17 °C, it pairs well with red meats, lamb and game.

From origins to renaissance: the history of Château Pichon Longueville Baron

The history of Pichon Baron has its roots in the late 17th century, when Jacques de Pichon, Baron de Longueville, assembled a vineyard in Pauillac whose reputation was quickly established. In 1850, the great family estate was divided in two: on one side Pichon Baron was born, on the other Pichon Comtesse, two neighbouring estates that would both earn the rank of Second Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Classification. It was in 1851 that Raoul de Pichon-Longueville had the current château built, recognisable by its two pointed towers that give it the silhouette of a fairytale castle. Remaining in the family until 1933, then passing into the hands of the Bouteiller family, the estate went through quieter decades before a change of scale in 1987: the AXA Millésimes group acquired it and immediately undertook a complete renovation of the vineyard and cellars. Led by Jean-Michel Cazes until 2000, then by Christian Seely, long supported by technical director Jean-René Matignon, the estate reclaimed its place among the Médoc elite within just a few years.

The gravel terroir of Pichon Baron, in the south of Pauillac

The vineyard covers around 73 hectares in the south of Pauillac, on one of the most renowned gravel plateaux in the appellation, directly adjacent to that of Château Latour. The soil, made up of gravel and pebbles accumulated over millennia, plays a decisive role: it drains rainwater, stores the heat of the day and releases it at night, and forces the vines to sink their roots deep in search of sustenance. This poor, well-exposed terroir is ideally suited to cabernet sauvignon, a late-ripening variety that needs plenty of sun to reach full maturity. The proximity of the Gironde estuary also moderates the climate and protects the vines from frost as well as excessive heat. Since the 2000s, the estate has reserved its grand vin for a tightly selected group of its finest plots, ensuring concentration and consistency from one year to the next.

Cabernet sauvignon and the grand vin: the style of Pichon Baron wines

The grand vin of Pichon Baron gives pride of place to cabernet sauvignon, complemented by merlot for body and touches of cabernet franc and petit verdot. The grapes are harvested by hand, carefully sorted, then vinified plot by plot before ageing for around eighteen months in oak barrels, a good proportion of which are new. The result is a Pauillac of character: deep and richly coloured, it unfolds aromas of blackcurrant and ripe dark fruits, lifted by cedar, graphite — the famous "pencil lead" note of great Pauillacs — tobacco and spice. In its youth, the wine is powerful and tight, framed by firm tannins; with time, it softens and develops notes of leather, truffle and undergrowth that are the hallmark of mature bottles. At the table, it pairs happily with red meat, rack of lamb or game birds, served at around 17 °C after one to two hours of decanting.

Ageing potential and critical recognition of Pichon Longueville Baron vintages

A great Pichon Baron can comfortably age for two to three decades, with the finest years easily surpassing forty. In its youth, it calls for patience: its tannins need time to integrate and its bouquet to fully open. The renaissance of the estate under AXA Millésimes made itself felt from the late 1980s onward, with a series of vintages that captured attention and reminded the world that the estate could rival the very finest in Pauillac. Since then, consistent top-level performance has earned the château ongoing international critical recognition and a place among the benchmark references of the appellation. For the enthusiast, the key is to distinguish the great long-ageing years — to be left to mature in the cellar — from the intermediate vintages that can be enjoyed earlier.

Pichon Baron at the heart of Pauillac: Latour, Pichon Comtesse and neighbours

Located at the southern tip of Pauillac, Pichon Baron sits in prestigious company. Across the road stands Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the other half of the original estate, often showing a silkier style with a stronger merlot influence. Nearby, Château Latour embodies the extreme power and ageing potential of the appellation. A little further north, Château Lynch-Bages offers a generous and indulgent expression of cabernet, while Château Pontet-Canet has distinguished itself through its conversion to biodynamics. Placing Pichon Baron among these great estates sheds light on its personality: that of a great Pauillac built for ageing, structured yet refined, which contributes fully to the worldwide renown of the appellation and, more broadly, of the great wines of Bordeaux.

Les Tourelles de Longueville and Les Griffons: the second wines of Pichon Baron

The estate does not produce just one wine. Since the mid-1980s, it has crafted a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville, sourced from younger plots and designed to be enjoyed earlier, in a supple and fruity style. From the 2012 vintage, a complementary cuvée was born: Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, a fuller-bodied blend in which cabernet sauvignon and merlot share the spotlight. These two cuvées offer an accessible way to discover the château's signature style, while reserving for the grand vin the quintessence of the oldest vines on the historic terroir.

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