2018 Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac 750 ml

In the world of powerful, dark-fruited Cabernet, there are few better wines than Pauillac’s Château Pichon Longueville Baron. The estate borders Château Latour and offers the intensity, ageworthiness, and complexity that have made this corner of Bordeaux famous—and their 100-point 2018 may be the greatest bottle in their history. 

The warm 2018 vintage imbued this Super Second-Growth Pauillac with an extra layer of opulence—powerful fruit layered on top of a classically built structure. Vinous’ Antonio Galloni called it “a real head-turner” and longtime winemaker Jean-René Matignon declared it the best vintage he’s ever made.

On the nose, you’re rewarded with deep cassis fruit accented by exotic spices, cigar box, graphite, and hints of mocha. There’s a powerful intensity to the wine, and it demands—and seizes—your attention on the palate. With wave after wave of dark fruit, spice, toast, vanilla, and cacao all wrapped in super-fine firm tannins, it rewards as much attention as you can give it, revealing endless layers of complexity, more of which will continue to emerge with time.

Made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, the 2018 is the only Pichon Baron to have been aged in 100% new French oak—a testament to the unique power and intensity of the year. Wine Enthusiast, in addition to bestowing the 100-point score, honored the ‘18 as one of their Top Cellar Selections of the year—a fitting recognition for a wine that deserves a starring role in any collection. We encourage you to buy all you can store and drink it as often as you like. Just make sure you have enough to last a quarter-century or more.