Pichon Baron

1988 $119.99 very limited
"A classic new style of Pichon-Baron, with rich, thick, velvety tannins and complex berry, currant and mint character. Full-bodied, it's extremely balanced for showing such impressive power. A real beauty.--1988 Bordeaux horizontal." 95 The Wine Spectator 11/30/98
"The 1988 Pichon-Longueville promises to be one of the half-dozen superstars of this vintage. Surprisingly large-scaled for a 1988, with an oaky, cassis, and licorice-scented nose, it is deep in color, rich, softly tannic, medium to full-bodied, and should reach maturity early on, but keep for 15-20 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010. Last tasted 1/93" 90 Robert Parker, Bordeaux

1989 $194.99 limited
"Youthful and gorgeous. Hedonistic. Super young ruby, black color. Masses of ripe fruit. Blackberry, cassis and spices. Full-bodied and very soft, with round, caressing tannins and a deliciously fresh berry, plum aftertaste. Hard not to drink it now.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2005." 98 The Wine Spectator 5/31/99
"Both the 1989 and 1990 vintages exhibit opaque, dense purple colors that suggest massive wines of considerable extraction and richness. The dense, full-bodied 1989 is brilliantly made with huge, smoky, chocolatey, cassis aromas intermingled with scents of toasty oak. Well-layered, with a sweet inner-core of fruit, this awesomely endowed, backward, tannic, prodigious 1989 needs another 5-6 years of cellaring; it should last for three decades or more. It is unquestionably a great Pichon-Longueville-Baron." 95 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #109

1990 $169.99 very limited
"One of the finest values in top-class Bordeaux has been the 1990 Pichon-Longueville-Baron. I originally gave a one point preference to the 1989, and I am still convinced that ultimately that wine will last longer and hit a higher peak of pleasure than the 1990, but, wow, the 1990 is showing great. Both the 1989 and 1990 vintages exhibit opaque, dense purple colors that suggest massive wines of considerable extraction and richness. The 1990 Pichon-Longueville-Baron exhibits more of the roasted overripeness of this vintage, but it manages to keep everything in perspective. The wine is opulent and flamboyant, with lower acidity, and noticeably less tannin than the 1989. It is equally concentrated, with a more evolved nose of cedar, black fruits, earth, minerals, and spices. On the palate, the wine offers sensational quantities of jammy fruit, glycerin, wood, and sweet tannin. It is far more fun to taste and drink (more hedonistic perhaps?) than the more structured, backward, yet exceptional 1989. Ideally, readers should have both vintages in their cellars. The 1990 can be drunk now as well as over the next 25+ years." 96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #109
"Very dark ruby color. Beautiful aromas of berries, minerals, cherries and chocolate. Full-bodied, with very rich yet ripe tannins and a long, long tobacco, cherry, berry aftertaste. Goes on and on. Always been superb; in fact, it keeps getting better.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now through 2015." 97 The Wine Spectator 8/31/00

1995 $99.99 limited
"An opaque purple color and sweet, toasty, chocolatey, black currant aromas are followed by a wine with outstanding richness, an impressive, fleshy, medium to full-bodied personality, and fine length. The 1995 is not as flamboyant as the remarkable 1990, or as concentrated as the massive 1989, but this is a beautifully made, outstanding wine that recalls the 1988 in its weight and texture. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. Last tasted 1/97" 91 Robert Parker, Bordeaux

1996 $89.99 limited
"Pichon Longueville Baron's 1996 has turned out to be even better than I thought from cask. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend (about 80%) resulted in a wine that has put on weight in the bottle. An opaque purple color is accompanied by beautiful aromas of tobacco, new saddle leather, roasted coffee, and cassis. It is dense, medium to full-bodied, and backward, with moderately high tannin, but plenty of sweet fruit, glycerin, and extract to balance out the wine's structure. This well-endowed, classic Pauillac should be at its finest between 2006-2022." 91 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #122
"Marvelous aromas of raspberry, coconut and mineral. Full-bodied, with superbly well-integrated yet powerful tannins. Chewy and fruity finish. Needs a lot of time to mellow. Much better than the barrel samples I tasted. Best Pichon-Baron since 1990." 92 The Wine Spectator 1/31/99
1997 $67.99 limited
"Seventy percent new oak casks were utilized for this 80% Cabernet Sauvignon/20% Merlot blend. I liked it on each of the four separate occasions I tasted it. Not a heavyweight, it is a medium-bodied, dense purple-colored claret with low acidity and moderate tannin. Well-focused and delineated for a 1997 (most wines of this vintage are open-knit and round), this offering is characterized by copious quantities of sweet black currant fruit intermixed with toasty pain grille scents. In the mouth, there is a well-focused feeling, moderate tannin, and a moderately long finish. This was one of the lesser-evolved 1997s I tasted, so it will probably need 2-3 years of cellaring when it is released. It should keep for 15 years." 87-90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #116
The Wine Spectator
1998 $62.99 available
"A definitive Pauillac, the dense purple-colored 1998 Pichon-Baron offers up a sweet bouquet of licorice, smoke, asphalt, blackberries, and creme de cassis. In the mouth, the wine is elegant rather than full-blown, with medium body, sweet fruit, nice texture on the attack and mid-palate, and moderate tannin in the long finish. No, this is an outstanding effort. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020." 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #134