2016 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, Les Griffons

ABOUT THE WINE
In 1850 the Pauillac estate of Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville was divided between his five children; two-fifths to his two sons, and three-fifths so his three daughters. The former portion became the estate of Pichon-Baron. Neglect in the mid-20th Century saw the estate dwindle in both quality and vineyard area until it was purchased in 1987 by the AXA Millésimes Group, which made significant investments, and by 1989 the estate was again producing world-class wines, its return heralded by the two exceptional vintages in 1989 and 1990. The 73-hectare vineyard runs adjacent to that of Château Latour, on deep gravel soils which imbue the wines with an inexorable puissance tempered by extraordinary aromatic complexity.

TASTING NOTES
18 months in oak, 60% new, has given this wine a powerful toasted-oak character, which blends beautifully with blackberry, bramble and graphite aromas. The palate is rich, with finely-grained tannins and a bright, herb-etched finish. Deep and dense, excellent value.

FOOD PAIRING
Best with rich, meaty dishes – steaks and stews would work perfectly.

FRIARWOOD SAYS
About 30% of the harvest was declassified for the second wine in 2016; this will be drinking well from 2019, and will continue to develop for a further decade.