2003 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

86889 Views

2003
96
Blackberries, charcoal, smoke, cigar wrapper, sea salt, currants and tobacco leaf with crushed rock accents firm the nose. The nose is great, and the palate is even better. Loads of creamy blackberries, spicy currants, black cherries, blue fruit, with the perfect hint of chalk and chocolate on the backend. No decanting needed. Pop, pour, and enjoy the night. Drink from 2024-2034.

Blackberries, charcoal, smoke, cigar wrapper, sea salt, currants and tobacco leaf with crushed rock accents firm the nose. The nose is great, and the palate is even better. Loads of creamy blackberries, spicy currants, black cherries, blue fruit, with the perfect hint of chalk and chocolate on the backend. No decanting needed. Pop, pour, and enjoy the night. Drink from 2024-2034.

1,499 Views   Tasted
If you have been waiting to pull a cork here, there is no reason for further aging. The wine has more gas in the tank, but all of its layers of dark red, lusciously textured, sweet, ripe fruits are ready to go. Drink from 2022-2033.

If you have been waiting to pull a cork here, there is no reason for further aging. The wine has more gas in the tank, but all of its layers of dark red, lusciously textured, sweet, ripe fruits are ready to go. Drink from 2022-2033.

3,586 Views   Tasted
Rich, opulent, lush, ripe and dense, the wine serves up its layers of blackberry, dark cocoa, cassis, wet earth and cigar store notes easily. Full-bodied, concentrated and supple, this is really in a great spot for drinking today.

Rich, opulent, lush, ripe and dense, the wine serves up its layers of blackberry, dark cocoa, cassis, wet earth and cigar store notes easily. Full-bodied, concentrated and supple, this is really in a great spot for drinking today.

5,126 Views   Tasted
It is time to be drinking this wine. Slightly flamboyant, the wine offers depth, richness and soft, round tannins. Full-bodied, with tobacco, cassis, scorched earth and ripe berry aromatics, the wine feels great on your palate. Popped and poured, the wine was ready to go with just 15 minutes in the glass. It might not be a text-book example of this cherished house, but so what? It is delicious and ready to go.

It is time to be drinking this wine. Slightly flamboyant, the wine offers depth, richness and soft, round tannins. Full-bodied, with tobacco, cassis, scorched earth and ripe berry aromatics, the wine feels great on your palate. Popped and poured, the wine was ready to go with just 15 minutes in the glass. It might not be a text-book example of this cherished house, but so what? It is delicious and ready to go.

5,149 Views   Tasted
Just showing great, there is a lot to like here. The wine is rich, almost opulent in texture, but it is not over the top ripe, or hot. Instead, there is a wealth of creme de cassis, dark chocolate cigar box, black cherry, tobacco leaf and wet earth. Full-bodied, concentrated and closing in on full maturity, the wine improved in the glass. Not classic in style, still a beautiful Pauillac. This is probably the best showing I recall for this wine. If you have been waiting for the right moment to check it out, there is no time like the present.

Just showing great, there is a lot to like here. The wine is rich, almost opulent in texture, but it is not over the top ripe, or hot. Instead, there is a wealth of creme de cassis, dark chocolate cigar box, black cherry, tobacco leaf and wet earth. Full-bodied, concentrated and closing in on full maturity, the wine improved in the glass. Not classic in style, still a beautiful Pauillac. This is probably the best showing I recall for this wine. If you have been waiting for the right moment to check it out, there is no time like the present.

6,246 Views   Tasted
Soft, elegant, charming and for the most part, ready for prime time drinking. The wine is full-bodied, with depth of flavor, but the short finish takes away some of the thunder here. The fruit, tannins, flavor and character are all that you need, it is that shortness in the finish that I wish was just a bit longer. If this was the only bottle on the table, it would be great. But when compared with other vintages, it held up, but did not shine. 10-15 years is probably the remaining window here.

Soft, elegant, charming and for the most part, ready for prime time drinking. The wine is full-bodied, with depth of flavor, but the short finish takes away some of the thunder here. The fruit, tannins, flavor and character are all that you need, it is that shortness in the finish that I wish was just a bit longer. If this was the only bottle on the table, it would be great. But when compared with other vintages, it held up, but did not shine. 10-15 years is probably the remaining window here.

5,710 Views   Tasted
This bottle seemed a little less fresh than previous examples, most of which came from the same case. The nose was great, with its tobacco, cassis, truffle and cigar box aromas. But it seemed to lack the same level of lift on the palate. Soft, polished and lush, there is no real hurry to drink this. But there is probably no upside to holding it for further evolution either.

This bottle seemed a little less fresh than previous examples, most of which came from the same case. The nose was great, with its tobacco, cassis, truffle and cigar box aromas. But it seemed to lack the same level of lift on the palate. Soft, polished and lush, there is no real hurry to drink this. But there is probably no upside to holding it for further evolution either.

5,678 Views   Tasted
This is a beauty and it is drinking great today. With about an hour of air, the supple textures, sweet, ripe, juicy fruits, tobacco, earth, cherry and cassis come out to get noticed. The wine feels great on your palate. There is freshness and subtlety going on here. You can drink this now, or age it. This is not at the level of the really great vintages, but it's not so far either.

This is a beauty and it is drinking great today. With about an hour of air, the supple textures, sweet, ripe, juicy fruits, tobacco, earth, cherry and cassis come out to get noticed. The wine feels great on your palate. There is freshness and subtlety going on here. You can drink this now, or age it. This is not at the level of the really great vintages, but it's not so far either.

6,055 Views   Tasted
With a big mouthful of ripe, sweet cassis, the wine has depth, weight and length and avoids any of the trappings found in the wines where overripe flavors are part of the character. The lush, rich, opulent textured finish is exactly what the doctor ordered. Popped and poured, this is already quite nice to drink and I suspect it's going to get better still.

With a big mouthful of ripe, sweet cassis, the wine has depth, weight and length and avoids any of the trappings found in the wines where overripe flavors are part of the character. The lush, rich, opulent textured finish is exactly what the doctor ordered. Popped and poured, this is already quite nice to drink and I suspect it's going to get better still.

6,777 Views   Tasted
Tobacco, cigar box, cassis and a faint whiff of espresso bean create the nose. The wine is full bodied, rich, lush, opulent, concentrated and sexy. The finish is round, fruit filled and smoky. This is drinking great with only 15 minutes of air. I cannot wait to see how this develops over dinner.

Tobacco, cigar box, cassis and a faint whiff of espresso bean create the nose. The wine is full bodied, rich, lush, opulent, concentrated and sexy. The finish is round, fruit filled and smoky. This is drinking great with only 15 minutes of air. I cannot wait to see how this develops over dinner.

6,598 Views   Tasted
Roasted black cherries, pie crust, cedar chest, licorice, spice box and crème de cassis produce an inviting set of aromas. On the palate, the wine is soft, supple, round and plush. The tannins are ripe, the fruit is sweet and rich, finishing with layers of sweet, delicious fruit. Over the past few years, this has started to mature at a slightly more rapid pace. There is no hurry to drink this delicious wine. But I would not hold it for decades.

Roasted black cherries, pie crust, cedar chest, licorice, spice box and crème de cassis produce an inviting set of aromas. On the palate, the wine is soft, supple, round and plush. The tannins are ripe, the fruit is sweet and rich, finishing with layers of sweet, delicious fruit. Over the past few years, this has started to mature at a slightly more rapid pace. There is no hurry to drink this delicious wine. But I would not hold it for decades.

7,660 Views   Tasted
A vintage of Pichon Baron that allows tasters to enjoy it, before its 15th birthday! Tobacco leaf, cigar box, truffle, crème de cassis, blackberry and spice, plush textures and a luscious, cassis, blackberry and spice box finish are found in this delicious Pauillac. As good as it is, it will get even better over the next decade.

A vintage of Pichon Baron that allows tasters to enjoy it, before its 15th birthday! Tobacco leaf, cigar box, truffle, crème de cassis, blackberry and spice, plush textures and a luscious, cassis, blackberry and spice box finish are found in this delicious Pauillac. As good as it is, it will get even better over the next decade.

11,110 Views   Tasted
Pops out of the glass like a Jack in the Box! Perfume explodes in your face with spice, creamy black and red fruits, cassis and raspberry notes. Multiple layers of decadent ripe fruit drench your palate. There is a lot to like in this wine.

Pops out of the glass like a Jack in the Box! Perfume explodes in your face with spice, creamy black and red fruits, cassis and raspberry notes. Multiple layers of decadent ripe fruit drench your palate. There is a lot to like in this wine.

9,454 Views   Tasted
Coffee, chocolate, licorice, toffee and cassis roars from the glass. Suave, sweet entry that develops into a splendid, corpulent feel filled with deep, soft, polished dark fruit.

Coffee, chocolate, licorice, toffee and cassis roars from the glass. Suave, sweet entry that develops into a splendid, corpulent feel filled with deep, soft, polished dark fruit.

6,241 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Pichon Baron, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Pichon Baron is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and backward during its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-6 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Pichon Baron is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Pichon Baron offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15 and 50 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Pichon Baron with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Pichon Baron is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Pichon Baron is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Pichon Baron is also good when matched with Asian dishes, and rich fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms and pasta.

The estate made two changes starting with the 2012 vintage. Consumers are now able to go to the website for the chateau and use the visual recognition system that is now placed on the bottles on both on the capsule and back label.

Each capsule and back label has a unique code they can enter into the website to show if their bottle is authentic and the consumer can also know where the wine was initially sold, as a way to guarantee its authenticity. It's a step in the right direction that helps fight wine fraud and counterfeiting.

Additionally, the same technical team that is responsible for Chateau Pichon Baron produces Cap Royal. A quick glance at the label will remind you of the relationship. Cap Royal is available as a Merlot-dominated wine from Bordeaux Superieur.

Cap Royal is also available as a white Bordeaux wine made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Cap Royal is a true value Bordeaux wine. Interestingly, Cap Royal is a certified vegan wine.

www.pichonbaron.com