Pichon Baron

Château Pichon Baron

 

Pichon Baron, a leading second growth, is the fraternal relation of Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, indeed, for much of their history each comprised a part of the same estate. It was, as is so often the case in European wine tradition, through marriage that the chateaux were to become two, each now as famous as the other and among the most respected and established chateaux in the Medoc, indeed Bordeaux. 

Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville took the helm of the whole estate at just 19 years of age, his tenure was remarkable ceding only upon his death, in 1850, 71 years later, at 90. The estate was divided in equal parts between his five children, to his three daughters he bequeathed what was to become Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, then Pichon Lalande. To his two sons were given those vineyards upon which was founded Pichon Baron. In the few years following their father’s death, Raoul, the Baron Pichon Lalande, ran the estate as one for it later to be divided as we find it today.

In 1933, the Bouteiller’s, descendents of the official wine steward to the King, acquired Pichon Baron. Theirs was a comparatively short tenure, indeed Pichon Baron suffered somewhat from a lack of investment during the 1960s and 1970s, in which period it was bought by AXA insurance group. The company brought with them Jean Michel Cazes, of Chateaux Lynch Bages. Jean Michel Cazes immediately undertook much needed renovation and in just three years had placed Pichon Baron back among the top echelons of Medoc chateaux, producing among the world’s finest wines.

There was a dip in quality during the 1990s, however, Jean Michel Cazes stewarded the chateau until his retirement in 2000, handing the reigns to Christian Seely, who took over all 7 wine properties of the AXA group, after already having managed some of its major properties since 1993; Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Petit Village and Quinta do Noval. Throughout the 2000s Pichon Baron has produced some of the finest wines of Bordeaux with vintages such as 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2010.

 

Style

Pichon Baron has seen a great renaissance in style producing text book Pauillac, expressing a deeply flavoured, spicy style with Cohiba and cedarwood notes.

 

Top-rated vintages

Vintage	RP	JR	Market price £	£ / Parker points
2010	97-99	18	1,490	15.20
2009	93-95	18	950	10.11
2008	95	17.5	880	9.26
2000	97	18.5	1,800	18.56
2005	94	17.5	925	9.84
2003	94	16	900	9.57
2004	93	17	750	8.06
2001	93	17	950	10.22
2007	92	16.5	680	7.39
2006	92	17	680	7.39

As per June 2011

 

Market

Pichon Baron is a globally known brand in the world of fine wine, its trading trend of the past few years has been at or around its position as marked in the 1855 Classification. Strong branding and consistent pricing against the back drop of a string of recent top-performing vintages make Pichon Baron a strong proposition, particularly with the spectacular 2010 just released.

 

Liv-ex Power 100 ranking

2010	total score	2009	move
69	340	35	-34

As per June 2011

The Liv-ex Power 100 is a list of the top performers over the previous year and their position starting the current year. The indice traces the movement of chateau and other wines using a sophisticated weighting system based on average prices, production, notional availability and Parker Points.

 

Release price evolution

Vintage	ex Negociant € / btl	London release price £ / cs
2010	132	1,490
2009	90	996
2008	43	498
2007	50	495
2006	57	520
2005	78	720

 

Pichon Baron at a glance

Commune: Pauillac

Soils: gravel and sand, iron and clay, in parts limestone and the level of clay increase, ample water.

Climate: maritime.

District: Medoc

Classification: 2eme Cru Classe 1855

Owner: AXA Millesimes Group.

Winemaker: Jean-Rene Matignon.

Vineyard: 70ha./173 acres Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%).

Vinification and ageing: stainless steel vats, then barrique.

Production: 24,000 cases.

Other properties: Cantenac-Brown, Petit Village, Suduiraut.