Jamessuckling.com | JS 92
Published: Feb 2, 2018

An impressive Pauillac with rich dark-berry aromas and flavours. The tannins are nicely cast and really fulfil the potential of the fruit. This finishes fresh. Try from 2020. 

The Wine Advocate | RP 87
Published: Feb 21, 2018

The 2015 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is medium to deep garnet-purple in colour with a nose of black currants, black cherries and mulberries with earth, tar and meat suggestions. The medium-bodied palate is firm with a muscular core of the earth and herbs-accented fruit and a long finish.
Drink Date: 2019 - 2029

Winemaker

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is one of the second wines of the property. Created since the 2012 vintage, it has na pure and direct character.

The grapes which make up this wine's blend come primarily from gravelly plots of land near the Gironde nestuary, a good environment for Cabernet-sauvignon.

Les Griffons offers a vigorous and fresh tasting experience, full-bodied and clean, overflowing with energy. It can be laid down in the cellar for over 20 years or enjoyed right away.

TASTING NOTE

The colour is dark; a deep red garnet. The nose is enhanced by fresh fruit, blackcurrant cream and blueberries with an elegant oaky note. The palate is soft and velvety with delicate, precise tannins. Carried by the great maturity that emanates from the quality of the fruit, the finish is delectable, elegant and distinguished. Overall it is opulent yet light. Jean-Rene Matignon - Technical Director - August 2017

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Winter rain helped to replenish the water table satisfactorily. Consistent bud break took place in the second

half of April.

Flowering started at the end of May. Thanks to stable weather conditions with very constant temperatures, the fruit set accelerated in mid-June. Summer started with warm and sometimes scorchingly hot dry weather.

Summer pruning began with leaf and shoot thinning in June and July in order to make the most of this favourable microclimate. The first significant water stress then helped the skins to thicken and led to early ripening of the grapes. In these ideal conditions, targeted thinning was carried out early in order to encourage the assimilation of compounds essential to ensure perfect ripening.

During the last days of July, still dry and hot, the first grapes started to change colour. Stormy periods in August and September boosted ripening. The skins grew finer and flavours became more expressive. On the whole, maturity was very consistent. Thanks to firm, strong skins, phenolic maturity progressed without risk of over-ripening. The harvest took place under optimum weather conditions. The Merlot was harvested from 18 to 25 September and the Cabernet-Sauvignon from 1 to 9 October.

Perfect soundness combined with a careful selection policy ensured precise vatting of meticulously sorted grapes.

BLEND: 60% Cabernet-sauvignon, 40% Merlot

AGEING: 60% in new barrels, 40% from barrels of one vintage for 18 months