Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2014

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is the Second Wine from Château Pichon Longueville Baron.  This Pauillac “Super Second” powerhouse produces some of the most muscular, energetic, and age worthy wines in its class.  Perhaps this is due to the close proximity to Château Latour, but either way the wines of Château Pichon Longueville Baron are forces to be reckoned with.  The grand vin from this estate demands some time before it expresses its fullest potential.  For those who want to experience these intense, masculine wines without having to wait as long – Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is the perfect wine.  

The history of this famous Second Growth estate dates back to the Grand Siecle - “Great Century” - of France during the reign of Louis XIV.  The first vineyard plots of this property were close to Château Latour in the Left Bank appellation of Pauillac. It was the fashion of the day for estates to be passed amongst the noble families through marriage or inheritance, and the story of Château Pichon Longueville is no different.  After the marriage of Therese de Rauazan to Baron Jacques Pichon de Longueville in 1697, the estate was created.  Eventually the property was passed to Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville who managed the property at the age of 19.  He divided the large estate in two before his death.  The estate he gave his two sons would later be known as Château Pichon Baron, the illustrious “Super Second.”  The other one he gave to his three daughters became known as Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, which is called "Pichon Lalande" for short among wine connoisseurs.  Interestingly enough, wine critics believe that Pichon Baron has a more masculine style and Pichon Lalande has a more feminine one.  

After a period of neglect in the mid 20th Century, AXA Millésimes, the vineyard investment arm of a global insurance company, purchased the estate and vowed to restore it to its former glory.  The legendary Jean Michel Cazes of Château Lynch Bages took over management of Château Pichon Longueville Baron and turned things around.  

Château Pichon de Longueville Baron is home to terroir that is considered a “winegrower’s paradise.”   Production has been cut in half throughout the decades and the winemaking team at Château Pichon de Longueville Baron has no qualms sacrificing quantity to ensure the quality of their wine.  Some of the best vintages are massively extracted, flamboyant wines -- with aromas of cassis, tobacco, and cedar.  For Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, the blend is a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, heavily favoring Cabernet.  The Cabernet vines grow on a finely graveled portion of the property, and some do eventually go into the grand vin.  Current style is less emphasis on extraction, allowing the fruit to shine through, while presenting nature's true stories of the terroir.

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a lot closer to the grand vin in terms of power.  There’s a smoky, spicy aroma to this wine with plenty of intensity and purity of fruit.  It is a great way to discover this incredible property. 

"The Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2014 comes from terroir that is close to the Grand Vin in style, composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot that is aged in 60% new oak. It has a pretty "bud" of a nose: violets and cassis infused with cedar, nicely defined and actually quite sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and purity. This is clearly superior to their alternative second wine, Les Tourelles. This is well worth seeking out as it should represent good value." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, Ratings: 90-92, Drink: 2018-2030