1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1989
97
I am fortunate to taste this gem at least once a year, and it consistently delivers an incredible Pauillac experience. Loaded with cedar, lit cigar, tobacco leaf, peppery spice, herbs, currants and blackberry, this wine remains perfectly perched on the precipice of balance and power. Everything about this is just great!

I am fortunate to taste this gem at least once a year, and it consistently delivers an incredible Pauillac experience. Loaded with cedar, lit cigar, tobacco leaf, peppery spice, herbs, currants and blackberry, this wine remains perfectly perched on the precipice of balance and power. Everything about this is just great!

5,009 Views   Tasted
Superb in every way, this is a stellar example of Pauillac. Full-bodied, powerful, a bit reserved and yet regal, the wine is long, rich, and intense with a gorgeous combination of cedar, cigar wrapper, earth, spice and ripe, juicy currants. Drink this now, or in a decade.

Superb in every way, this is a stellar example of Pauillac. Full-bodied, powerful, a bit reserved and yet regal, the wine is long, rich, and intense with a gorgeous combination of cedar, cigar wrapper, earth, spice and ripe, juicy currants. Drink this now, or in a decade.

5,401 Views   Tasted
At 30 years of age, this is a rock star Pauillac! It combines power, refinement, polished tannins, ripe, juicy, bright fruit, tobacco, cedar and cigar box notes that hit you with their full-force. The wine is rich and mouth-filling. The tannins are soft, polished and long, there is freshness and purity of fruit in the finish that hangs with you for close to 50 seconds. This could get a bit better, or not. So if your bottles are in great shape, drink it now and over the next 12-15 years for maximum enjoyment, before it begins its gentle decline.

At 30 years of age, this is a rock star Pauillac! It combines power, refinement, polished tannins, ripe, juicy, bright fruit, tobacco, cedar and cigar box notes that hit you with their full-force. The wine is rich and mouth-filling. The tannins are soft, polished and long, there is freshness and purity of fruit in the finish that hangs with you for close to 50 seconds. This could get a bit better, or not. So if your bottles are in great shape, drink it now and over the next 12-15 years for maximum enjoyment, before it begins its gentle decline.

5,963 Views   Tasted
This wine just keeps getting better and better. The tannins have really become quite silky. Concentrated, round, long, deep and complex, the wine feels like each berry has been polished with velvet. There is more than enough layers of fruit here to keep any taster busy. The wine continued improving in the glass for hours. This has morphed into a true classic example of a great, fully mature Pauillac that is well worth the money asked today.

This wine just keeps getting better and better. The tannins have really become quite silky. Concentrated, round, long, deep and complex, the wine feels like each berry has been polished with velvet. There is more than enough layers of fruit here to keep any taster busy. The wine continued improving in the glass for hours. This has morphed into a true classic example of a great, fully mature Pauillac that is well worth the money asked today.

6,605 Views   Tasted
This just keeps getting better, year after year. This could be the best showing yet. Silky, refined, long, complex and concentrated. The wine is packed with its tobacco, cedar, smoke, cassis and spicy characteristics. This is a very complete experience.

This just keeps getting better, year after year. This could be the best showing yet. Silky, refined, long, complex and concentrated. The wine is packed with its tobacco, cedar, smoke, cassis and spicy characteristics. This is a very complete experience.

6,588 Views   Tasted
This textbook Pauillac is showing great today. The tobacco, blackberry, earth, cedar and cigar box aromas really pop. Full bodied, concentrated, rich and long, the wine lingers and builds. If you have a bottle, this is a great time to taste it.

This textbook Pauillac is showing great today. The tobacco, blackberry, earth, cedar and cigar box aromas really pop. Full bodied, concentrated, rich and long, the wine lingers and builds. If you have a bottle, this is a great time to taste it.

7,563 Views   Tasted
Over the past few years, this has really started to kick into high gear. The wall of fruit and tannin has softened and developed, offering a long wave of rich, deep, concentrated, earthy fruits. At 25 years of age, you can enjoy this now, or wait another decade and it's only going to get better.

Over the past few years, this has really started to kick into high gear. The wall of fruit and tannin has softened and developed, offering a long wave of rich, deep, concentrated, earthy fruits. At 25 years of age, you can enjoy this now, or wait another decade and it's only going to get better.

7,945 Views   Tasted
By coincidence, I was lucky enough to taste and compare 1989 Pichon Baron and 1990 Pichon Baron from perfect bottles, two different times over a two week period, with consistent results. While the 1990 is rich, luscious, opulent, refined, concentrated and drinking perfectly today, the 1989 was firm, tannic, more structured and did not become truly civilized until it was decanted for at least three hours. After 3 hours, the wine began to blossom, lose its tannic edge and while it remained classic (in all the right ways) the long, fresh, cassis filled finish seemed to go on and on. The 1990 will age for at least another 15-20 years, but the 1989 could improve for another 30-40 years.

By coincidence, I was lucky enough to taste and compare 1989 Pichon Baron and 1990 Pichon Baron from perfect bottles, two different times over a two week period, with consistent results. While the 1990 is rich, luscious, opulent, refined, concentrated and drinking perfectly today, the 1989 was firm, tannic, more structured and did not become truly civilized until it was decanted for at least three hours. After 3 hours, the wine began to blossom, lose its tannic edge and while it remained classic (in all the right ways) the long, fresh, cassis filled finish seemed to go on and on. The 1990 will age for at least another 15-20 years, but the 1989 could improve for another 30-40 years.

8,773 Views   Tasted
Powerful, tannic, structured and classic, with a cedar, tobacco, crème de cassis, blackberry, truffle, earth and forest floor perfume, there is a lot going on in this Pichon Baron. However, it could use a few more years to soften and develop.

Powerful, tannic, structured and classic, with a cedar, tobacco, crème de cassis, blackberry, truffle, earth and forest floor perfume, there is a lot going on in this Pichon Baron. However, it could use a few more years to soften and develop.

10,330 Views   Tasted
Familiar scents of cedar, cassis, tobacco, cassis, blackberry, earth and cigar box, led me to Pauillac. Big, dense tannic and masculine, the wine has developed a bit of firmness in its personality. It’s in a drink or hold stage. I’d probably give it a few more years, hoping it will soften.

Familiar scents of cedar, cassis, tobacco, cassis, blackberry, earth and cigar box, led me to Pauillac. Big, dense tannic and masculine, the wine has developed a bit of firmness in its personality. It’s in a drink or hold stage. I’d probably give it a few more years, hoping it will soften.

10,936 Views   Tasted
Now we're talking! And I love what it has to say. The deep ruby color looks great in the glass. Cedar, cassis, tobacco, truffles and spice get your senses going. Deeply concentrated with layer upon layer of rich, ripe Cabernet and blackberry glide over your palate. This wine perfectly combines power with elegance. Still young, as good as it is, it's going to get even better over the next several years

Now we're talking! And I love what it has to say. The deep ruby color looks great in the glass. Cedar, cassis, tobacco, truffles and spice get your senses going. Deeply concentrated with layer upon layer of rich, ripe Cabernet and blackberry glide over your palate. This wine perfectly combines power with elegance. Still young, as good as it is, it's going to get even better over the next several years

7,015 Views   Tasted
1989 Pichon Baron is filled with ripe plums, cassis, Asian spice, licorice, earth, coffee, truffle and forest floor aromas. This full bodied, intense, concentrated wine is powerful. With round tannins and multiple layers of ripe, juicy cassis, this wine offers a text book Pauillac experience. While not in the lush style of the 90, this is wine Bordeaux lovers should have in their cellars. It's still young and it's only going to get better with age. 95 Pts

1989 Pichon Baron is filled with ripe plums, cassis, Asian spice, licorice, earth, coffee, truffle and forest floor aromas. This full bodied, intense, concentrated wine is powerful. With round tannins and multiple layers of ripe, juicy cassis, this wine offers a text book Pauillac experience. While not in the lush style of the 90, this is wine Bordeaux lovers should have in their cellars. It's still young and it's only going to get better with age. 95 Pts

10,955 Views   Tasted
The dark ruby color looks great in the glass. Cedar, cassis, tobacco, truffles, and spice get your senses going. Deeply concentrated and full bodied with layer upon layer of rich, ripe cabernet and blackberry that glides over your palate. This wine perfectly combines power with elegance.

The dark ruby color looks great in the glass. Cedar, cassis, tobacco, truffles, and spice get your senses going. Deeply concentrated and full bodied with layer upon layer of rich, ripe cabernet and blackberry that glides over your palate. This wine perfectly combines power with elegance.

7,150 Views   Tasted
Big, beefy and structured as well as more tannic, this is a very impressive wine. Boat loads of spicy cassis and ripe blackberries greet your nose. The stellar levels of concentration found in this perfectly balanced wine make it a treat for your intellect and senses. This is classic and classy Pauillac that will continue to improve for years.

Big, beefy and structured as well as more tannic, this is a very impressive wine. Boat loads of spicy cassis and ripe blackberries greet your nose. The stellar levels of concentration found in this perfectly balanced wine make it a treat for your intellect and senses. This is classic and classy Pauillac that will continue to improve for years.

7,027 Views   Tasted
Firing on all cylinders. This concentrated wine was chocked full of ripe, rich Cabernet fruit. The long clean, pure finish remained with you.

Firing on all cylinders. This concentrated wine was chocked full of ripe, rich Cabernet fruit. The long clean, pure finish remained with you.

7,059 Views   Tasted
This powerful, elegant Bordeaux offeres an intoxicating perfume of cassis, smoke, earth, black raspberries, coffee and spices. This full bodied, richly concentrated wine coated your palate with layers of fabulous, deep, rich, fruit. The wine had it all, attack, beautiful mid-palate and lengthy finish.

This powerful, elegant Bordeaux offeres an intoxicating perfume of cassis, smoke, earth, black raspberries, coffee and spices. This full bodied, richly concentrated wine coated your palate with layers of fabulous, deep, rich, fruit. The wine had it all, attack, beautiful mid-palate and lengthy finish.

7,091 Views   Tasted
Still young, this larger-scaled wine offers layers of thick, ripe, black fruit, spices and cassis. Powerful and balanced.

Still young, this larger-scaled wine offers layers of thick, ripe, black fruit, spices and cassis. Powerful and balanced.

6,960 Views   Tasted
Textbook Paulliac. Boat loads of cassis, earth, dark fruit and tobacco fill your glass. At 17 years old, it’s still very young. Fresh, plush, long and round in style, this is only going to get better.

Textbook Paulliac. Boat loads of cassis, earth, dark fruit and tobacco fill your glass. At 17 years old, it’s still very young. Fresh, plush, long and round in style, this is only going to get better.

7,033 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