Château Pichon Baron

Overview

Château Pichon Longueville Baron or Château Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville (commonly referred to as Pichon Baron) is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. Château Pichon Longueville Baron is also the name of the red wine produced by this property. The wine produced here was classified as one of fifteen Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths) in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

History

The estate was founded in the late 17th Century. This period was known as the Grand Siècle, or “great century”, in reference to Louis XIV’s 1661 accession to the French throne. In 1850 the property was divided in two. Baron Raoul Pichon de Longueville’s section became the Pichon Baron estate. The second section, belonging to his three sisters, became Pichon Comtesse.

Baron Raoul was proud of his prestigious property, and in 1851 he commissioned the imposing château inspired by Renaissance architecture that we know today. This uniquely charming and romantic château, with its two emblematic turrets, has stood proudly at the vineyard’s heart ever since.

During the Universal Exhibition of 1855, the wine was classed as a Second Grand Cru Classé according to the ranking system requested by Emperor Napoleon III, who wished to showcase Bordeaux’s great wines.
In 1933 the Pichon de Longueville family sold the property to the Bouteiller family, who managed Château Pichon Baron for over 50 years.

The Terroir

Pauillac, a Médoc appellation, is located approximately 40 kilometres to the north of Bordeaux, on the left bank of the Gironde River.

The land, which features quaternary gravel deposits and the large pebbles and sand which are typical of the appellation, is a winemaking paradise. The subsoil composition allows the retention of water to feed the roots, while the undulating relief of the gravel soils is ideal for drainage.

This exceptional terroir has a maritime climate; its proximity to the Gironde estuary lends it an increased mildness. All the right conditions come together to make the Pauillac appellation the most prestigious of Bordeaux wines.

The Pichon Baron estate comprises 73 hectares of high quality gravelly soil. Low in nutrients and with little excess water, this unique soil sparingly nourishes the vines, whose average age is 35 years.

The estate is actively committed to protecting the environment to safeguard this exceptional legacy for future generations. The Pichon Baron team is dedicated to producing consistently exceptional wines that are faithful to the spirit of this great terroir. A very strict selection from the older vines on the noblest soils is dedicated to the production of Château Pichon Baron, the Grand Vin of the property, of which the number of bottles is limited in order to produce only the best.

Pichon Baron’s vineyard is planted as follows: 65% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, and is meticulously divided into separate plots. Each plot receives specific care and attention adapted to its particular profile.

The terroir’s best land – the “Butte de Pichon Baron” – is devoted entirely to the production of the Grand Vin, making up the majority of the blend. It is among the estate’s historic plots; it was already in use in 1694, when the wine was first produced.

Pichon Baron also produces two second wines, from other parcels of its vineyard: Les Tourelles de Longueville and Les Griffons de Pichon Baron.

Planting density: 9.000 vines/Ha

Vinification

Upon arrival at the winemaking facilities, the grapes are placed in vats. Vinification is a key stage which continues the winegrower’s work and reveals the wine’s individual characteristics.

Vinification comprises a complex maceration process of grape skins and pulp.

Fermentation transforms the sugars into alcohol, breaking down the tannins and colours, and drawing out the wine’s aromatic components. Maturation lasts between three and four weeks. A wine’s success depends on the monitoring of the process – on a daily basis – for each vat.

When the wine’s malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine reaches a natural state of equilibrium. The vats are emptied and select portions of the wine are put into barrels.

The wine is aged in barrels in the semi-darkness of the cellars. It is racked every three to four months, using the traditional candle method, to separate the wine from the lees. Parcel selection produces a remarkably diverse range of wine profiles. It is this variety that gives the final blends their richness and sophistication. To produce a successful blend, over 40 different wines are tasted in a series of strictly-controlled tastings. Blending is a highly complex procedure which changes from one year to the next, giving each vintage its distinctive character.

Upon removal from the vats, the best batches are set aside to make Château Pichon Baron’s Grand Vin. Most are initially aged in new barrels made from the finest French oak. Three months later they are tasted again, and the final blend is assembled.

The wine slowly adjusts during barrel ageing, which lasts for 18 to 20 months.

Château Pichon Baron Pauillac Grand Cru Classé

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron