Straight from the nose you feel the wave of power with the wine uncurling through the palate, starting with tight notes of cassis then gently softening into sweeter brambled hedgerow fruits alongside a ton of ink and pencil lead. The tannins are present but seductive, and as is often the case this year, they`re concentrated without being remote. It’s less monolithic than the 2010 with some of the seduction of 2009 at this property but with higher levels of extraction. The harvest took place between 24 September and 11 October. Again, we see here a Pauillac with the highest alcohol ever but it carries it extremely well. There was one week less of maceration than normal, so 21 days instead of 28, which will have helped control extractions. 86IPT. Drink 2026 - 2040. 97 points

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 18 months in oak, 80% new. Colour of elderberry juice. Intensely pure Cabernet nose, so intense it is quite introvert, especially compared with the Tourelles, but there is just a hint of fresh and creamy blackcurrant. A dry beauty on the palate. Not a great deal of acidity but finishes clean and fresh with these slub-silk tannins. There`s texture and depth but it`s still silky. Freshness of fruit compensating for moderate acidity. 18 points

The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is made up of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. The Merlot was harvested September 24-25, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested October 3-10. The wine is to be aged 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old, and production represents 50% of the harvest this year. Very deep purple-black colored, it begins a little coy, rolling slowly and languidly out of the glass with notions of baked raspberries, blueberry coulis, crème de cassis and incense plus nuances of lilacs, truffles, damp soil and garrigue with wafts of lavender and wild sage. Full-bodied, voluptuous and oh-so-seductive, the palate reveals layer upon layer of s avory, earthy and black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Beautiful. 97-99 points

Pichon Baron is exceptional in 2018. Pliant, silky and super-finessed, the 2018 has a level of textural finesse that really elevates the wine into Pauillac`s upper echelon. Ripe fruit and silky tannins give the 2018 much of its inimitable finesse. At the same time, the 2018 is bright, punchy and surprisingly fresh, not to mention absolutely impeccable in its balance. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, while new oak is 80%. 94-97 points

The grand vin in this vintage is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, sourced as usual from the original Pichon vines gathered close around the château. This accounts for 50% of the estate`s production. The alcohol is 14.1%, the highest ever on this vineyard, with a pH of 3.88. Aromatically this has a fantastic style, rich in scents of perfumed black plum, with notes of soot, black violets and essence of blackcurrant with a confit-like intensity. The palate is fresh, broad, so very complete, firm and structured with a soft blanket of dark fruits, polished and very pure, bright with dense and tightly grained tannins. A supremely fresh and correct style, with fabulous tannic grip. This is so long and complete, with savoury interest and yet it has a sweet intensity. Brilliant potential. The élevage will be in 80% new oak and 20% second-fill barrels. 97-99 points