Among the most sought-after names on the Left Bank, the Château Pichon Baron de Longueville 2018, 2nd Grand Cru Classé, embodies the nobility of an iconic Pauillac. Born of old gravel terroir overlooking the Gironde, this vintage combines the sunlit amplitude of 2018 with a stylistic precision inherited from exemplary know-how. The material, both concentrated and finely sculpted, unfolds a sovereign balance where the vigour of Cabernet Sauvignon nestles into the suppleness of a perfectly nuanced Merlot. For the informed enthusiast as well as the collector, this wine answers a quest for a characterful red capable of moving today after extended aeration, while promising majestic development over the decades. Its aristocratic bearing, aromas of black fruit, cedar and truffle, and its very persistent finish make it a top-class dining companion and a flagship for the cellar.

Blend and winemaking

Produced from the oldest vines of the estate, this 2018 highlights a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, completed by Merlot to ensure depth and velvety texture. The vintage's composition sits at around 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, an emblematic Pauillac balance that provides uprightness, energy and complexity. The harvest, carefully sorted, preserves the integrity of the berries, while an ageing of about 18 months in oak barrels, with a high proportion of new oak, brings additional structure, a fine tannic grain and an enhanced aromatic dimension. The selected woods, perfectly integrated, underline the fruit without masking it and carve a creamy, silky texture destined for remarkable development. Each stage is designed to capture the essence of the terroir and deliver a long-lived wine, precise in its expression, harmonious in its architecture, radiant in its persistence.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Deep purple with ruby highlights, bright and dense, promising rich texture and great concentration, with a clarity that reflects the care taken in ageing.
• Nose : Sumptuous bouquet of blackcurrant and blackberry, lifted by violet and liquorice. Notes of cedar, graphite and truffle intertwine, bringing complexity, freshness and perfectly integrated oak.
• Palate : Ample, serene attack, a creamy mid-palate carried by jammy black fruits and a breath of cocoa. The very fine tannins unfold a straight, noble frame. Long, precise finish with a peppery touch and the freshness that signs great age-worthy Pauillacs.

Serving temperature and recommendations

For optimal expression, serve between 15 and 18°C in large glasses to reveal the aromatic range and the wine's fine energy. Prolonged aeration is recommended, ideally decanting for 5 to 6 hours to round the structure and unfold floral, spicy and oak nuances. Kept in a cellar in darkness, protected from vibrations, at stable temperature and humidity, this 2018 is built to last, with a cellaring potential extending over several decades. Already accessible, it gains in harmony with time and will reach a peak around 2035 to 2040, then offering a plenitude of aromas and a texture of rare refinement.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : comté gougères, shavings of robust cured ham, generous duck rillettes. Serve in small portions to awaken the palate.
• Starters : game terrine, aged beef tartare, porcini sautéed in browned butter which converse with its oaky frame and undergrowth notes.
• Main courses : roasted rib of beef, herb-crusted rack of lamb, partridge or venison, reduced jus and seasonal garnishes that underline the tannic depth.
• Cheeses : aged comté, extra-old mimolette, sheep's tomme, whose maturity complements the nobility of the Cabernet.
• Desserts : high-cocoa dark chocolate, prunes in spiced wine, a rare but subtle pairing with the cocoa and gentle spice accents.

Occasions to enjoy

The Château Pichon Baron de Longueville 2018 is the natural companion for moments that matter:

• To mark an intimate celebration around a grand meat dish, in the spirit of an exceptional French table.
• At a gastronomic dinner where the food-and-wine pairing creates true gustatory drama.
• As a gift for an enthusiast destined for a collector, to enrich a cellar with fine wines made for ageing.

Characteristics

• Name : Château Pichon Baron de Longueville 2018, 2nd Grand Cru Classé
• Appellation : Pauillac AOC
• Type : Red wine, Fine wines
• Vintage : 2018
• Grape blend : Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 22%
• Alcohol by volume : information shown on the back label
• Ageing : about 18 months in oak barrels, high proportion of new oak
• Volume : 75 cl
• Cellaring : very long, peak estimated between 2035 and 2040
• Serving temperature : 15 to 18°C, with prolonged decanting