CHÂTEAU PICHON BARON & SUDUIRAUT
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
WHY BUY:
A trio of 100-point Pichon Barons, direct-from-cellar provenance, and a pair of standout Suduirauts make this a rare opportunity to secure benchmark wines from two of Bordeaux's most celebrated AXA Millésimes estates. These are back-vintage Pichon Barons, from the beginning of their extraordinary run of greatness this century (2016, 2018, and 2019) and there are very few wines that possess this purity of fruit, this blend of power and precision, this depth and length.
* Line up the four grand vins, and what you first notice is the family resemblance. It’s striking, the way each reflects the other. In each of these wines, we find the expected (and wonderful) cassis and cedar on the nose. In the younger wines, there’s a decided touch of violets. The 2016 shades into tobacco leaf. The attack, as ever with Pichon Baron, is dense but not heavy; developed but not ponderous. What stayed with us, throughout our recent tasting, was the architectural impression these wines left in our minds: the way each, for instance, is so focused and controlled, and the way it holds its line, impressively, all the way to the finish. And the finishes … good God, the finishes. They run long enough that you forget that you had intended to take notes.
* Les Griffons 2019 gives you the estate's signature power and precision, but at a fraction of the price. It bears the marks, not just of its estate, but also of Pauilliac, while also being accessible and ready to go. The Blanc is bright and clean and pure.
* As for the two Suduirats: the 2005 has two decades on it, and you can absolutely taste its time in bottle. This is rich and deep, abundant with quince and honeycomb and toast, and just enough bite at the edges to keep the sweetness in check. The 2023 is all lift and silk, and has a wonderful nervy precision to it.
When Christian Seely arrived as managing director in 2000, Pichon Baron had the address and the history (southern Pauillac, directly facing Latour's vineyard) without the consistency to match. Seely's solution was simple. And ruthless. Only the finest historic parcels would go into the grand vin. Everything else went elsewhere … or it went nowhere. The payoff took time, but by the late 2010s the scores began to ratify the approach: a dazzling trio of perfection (2016, 2018, and 2019), then a place on Wine Spectator's Top 10 for the 2020. "I can't think of a trilogy of vintages for Bordeaux like 2018, 2019 and 2020," Seely said at the time. We couldn’t either. And still can’t. And the wines only continue to get better.
The grand vins call for hearty and hefty. Think: a roasted rack of lamb with rosemary; a dry-aged ribeye; maybe a beef Wellington if you're feeling ambitious. Les Griffons 2019 is the one to reach for when you’re whipping up a roast chicken or a mushroom risotto, and the Blanc is best with, say, a grilled sea bass or a plate of oysters. Save the Suduiraut for the end: when dinner is done and it's down to just a hunk of Roquefort and a tarte Tatin.
Pichon Baron's vineyards look straight across at Latour, one of Bordeaux's five First Growths. Many estates would find that intimidating. But for the past decade, the upstart neighbor is showing that it absolutely belongs.
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, and these wines ship from Pichon Baron's own cellar to ensure that they arrive as they should: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Thursday, October 15th, 2026.