Pichon Longueville Baron 1997 (Red)

The vineyard of Pichon Longueville Baron extends over the exquisite land of Garonne gravel to the south of the appellation on the high plateau which is a transition between the commune of Pauillac and that of Saint-Julien. Planted with vines since the end of the 17th century, it achieved almost instant renown. Produced under the leadership of Jacques de Pichon, the Baron of Longueville, the wines follow in the footsteps of those of Latour at the start of the 18th century. Classified as a Second Cru in 1855, the property was divided in favour of a succession and the vinified wines separately from 1860 : Raoul, the only surviving son of the Baron Joseph, therefore takes the head of the current Pichon Longueville Baron, often nicknamed « Pichon Baron »,whilst his daughter Virginie, the wife of the count of Lalande, received the other part of the property, hence the addition : « Comtesse de Lalande ». The dwelling itself, inspired by the Château d'Azay le Rideau, was built in 1851 by Raoul. The domaine belonged to the Pichon family until 1933 when it was then sold to the Bouteiller family. It was managed by their descendants for the next fifty years and it was a Sleeping Beauty which the company AXA Millésimes purchased in 1987. A significant renovation programme of the château, the wine cellars and the technical installations of Pichon-Longueville followed. Cabernet Sauvignon reigns indisputably in the vineyard of Pichon Baron, carefully managed by the team of Jean-René Matignon, the domaine's technical director. Total destemming is done though manual harvesting. This property's wines are nowadays considered amongst the most renowned of Pauillac. Les Tourelles de Longueville, formerly the second wine, has become a separate cru. The second wine, made of young vines, is nowadays called Les Griffons.

Over the space of a few years, the grand vin of Pichon Longueville Baron has established itself as one of the best crus of Pauillac. Full and concentrated, it has unique, fine-grained tannins which make it absolutely delicious. Indeed, like the best wines of appellation, it is extremely effective at marrying contrasts: power and finesse. Drink after 10 to 30 years of aging. Prices have remained very reasonable in comparison with premiers crus which makes it an indispensable reference point for all connoisseurs of major Bordeaux wines.

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