Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.ĭefining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. The barrel cellar complements a production process in which excellence is paramount, in the finest tradition of great Pauillac wines. And since 2008, its silvery expanse conceals an underground cellar, reminiscent of Jules Verne's Nautilus, with view of both the water and sky. Reflected in an ornamental pool stretching majestically before it. Since then, the 19th century chateau's image has been The comprehensive reconstruction of the fermenting room and cellar, and renovation of the chateau, began in 1988. An architectural competition was launched in collaboration with the Paris Pompidou Centre to provide the estate with new operational buildings. In 1987 the estate was bought by AXA Millesimes, whose aim is to enable great wines from the vineyards with a glorious past to achieve their full potential. In 1933, the Pichon de Longueville family sold the property to the Bouteiller family, who managed the chateau for over 50 years. During the Universal Exhibition of 1855, the wine was classed as a Second Grand Cru Classe according to the ranking system requested by Emperor Napoleon III, who wished to showcase Bordeaux's great wines. This uniquely charming and romantic chateau, with its two emblematic turrets, has stood proudly at the vineyard's heart ever since. Baron Raoul was proud of his prestigious property, and in 1851 he commissioned the imposing chateau inspired by Renaissance architecture that we know today. The second section, belonging to his three sisters, became Pichon Comtesse. Baron Raoul Pichon de Longueville's section became the Pichon Baron estate. It remained in the same family for generations. An illustrious estate, with an enduring reputation, was born. These vines were part of his daughter Therese's dowry when she married Baron Jacques Pichon de Longueville in 1694, the year in which the Pichon Baron estate was founded. In 1689 Pierre Desmezures de Rauzan, an influential wine merchant and steward of the prestigious Latour and and Margaux estates, bought plots of vines close to the Latour estate to create Enclos Rauzan. This period was known as the Grand Siecle, or "great century", in reference to Louis XIV's 1661 accession to the French throne. Stays dark and tarry through the finish, with superb drive and verve.The Estate was founded in the late 17th Century. Solidly built, with a roasted edge to the steeped fig, blackberry and black currant flavors, quickly followed by brambly tannins and notes of bay leaf and espresso. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine’s wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate’s colossal wines from vintages such as 19.
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