You can hardly be surprised to find this wine up at this level after its fantastic improvement in 2013 and the increasing efforts made in the previous years. For the first time, all is well at Pichon Baron! (Pibran, Les Tourelles de Longueville, Les Griffons). Thanks to Jean-René Matignon. Elegant, very floral nose, but creamy too. Melting, big, luscious, aromatic and richly supple on the palate with an elegant mouthfeel and above all very long. Fine-grained tannin. Tasted blended the same way four times. A blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot. pH : 3,8 – IPT : 90 – Alcohol content: 13,3°. 96 points

The Château Pichon Baron 2014 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, almost the same as 2010. It was picked between late September and 16 October. It has a tightly wound bouquet at the moment, very "contained" and not as flamboyant as say, the 2009 or the 2010 at this early juncture. But there is remarkable precision here - an aristocratic nose with fleeting gl impses of cedar and pencil lead. The palate is medium-bodied. The acidity is quite noticeable although the pH is 3.8, higher than you would have expected. There is certainly a lot of body and structure (IPT came in at 91) with a precise, almost stoic, graphite finish. If the disappearance of Château Latour from en primeur is getting you down then this will fill that gap nicely. 92-94 points

There will be less new oak in the finished wine than there was in the en primeur sample, which is good news as I found Pichon a little too marked by notes of mocha and chocolate. The underlying wine is very smart indeed with good grip and structure and the density and fruit weight to age. 94 points