I’ve fallen in love with Pichon Baron in the last 5 plus years and hope to back fill some addl btls from between 1990 & 2010. Looking at that time frame what are your personal favs?
1990, 1989, 2000, 1996, 2003. For my taste, and based on the bottles from my cellar, the ‘90 and ‘89 are drinking perfectly now. They will last for at least another 15 - 20 years. The ‘96 is probably 5 years away, but I really enjoyed a bottle a couple of years ago. Based on the one bottle of 2000 that I drank last year (purchased as a future) it won’t be ready for prime time drinking until 2030!
I can’t argue with 1989/1990/1996. Those are all special wines. I really like 2001 as a less expensive alternative that is also ultra classic, enjoyable, and ready now.
Any of 2005/8/9/10 will be joys in the cellar for decades to come if you want to store long term. The last 5 vintages (2014-2018) has been a great run for even longer term. I haven’t tasted them all but they are clearly big wines with big potential.
I tried one of my 2000’s and found it to be far too young, and I’m NOT a guy who likes tertiary characteristics, I’m firmly in the secondary camp, so I was hoping the 2000 was starting to hit that phase. To me it was still shut down HARD. Perhaps with a 24 hour decant?
It might be one of these bottle or storage variation type things. My wine club had it twice earlier this year (back in June and in the spring), both times basically off a pop and pour during a multi-hour dinner, and people loved it both times. Still had plenty of evident tannin of course but the midpalate fruit was absolutely gorgeous and made it very fun to drink. Great on the nose too. Definitely not locked down hard for us. I’m familiar with how locked down the upper level 2000s have been for many years so I was surprised as well. Sorry yours didn’t work out as well but hopefully it will turn the corner for you too in the coming years.
I never had Pichon Baron before until a year and half ago. I had the 2015 at the chateau. It was impressive.
Recently had the 2015 at home. The wine is complex, rich in texture, almost like a restrained Napa. For wine this good at this point in time, I don’t know what is the point of aging anymore. I don’t see the point of waiting 10-20 years for it to marginally improve. Anyway, bought 6 of each 2015 and 2016 based on how good 2015 was.
2010 is first growth quality - and I know the OP isn’t asking, but 2016 is cut from the very same cloth and also a nearly flawless wine. Had them side by side at the chateau this summer… had 89 a few times as well and may be my favorite Bordeaux of that vintage (haven’t had HB and Lynch Bages yet…)
Pichon Baron is one of my favorite wines. My first tier from 1990-2010 would be, in chronological order, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010. My second tier would include 1996, 2001, and 2003. And for the long-term, I think the 2014, 2015, and 2016 are all excellent. The 2014 was one of the best wines that I tasted at the UGC in 2017. Enjoy tracking some down!