2017 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron 6 Pack

92 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

91–93. Barrel Sample. This is a smoky wine, with juicy acidity and spice. Packed with fruit as well as some firm tannins in the background, this is rich and shows good aging ability. Tannins and juicy black fruits show strongly at the end.

92 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is aged in 60% new oak and 40% one-year old barrel. It has quite a voluminous and intense bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, a hint of sea spray and smoke that is very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, just a touch of coarseness on the entry, firm and masculine towards the second half with a long Cabernet-driven, graphite-inspired finish. Excellent.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon-Baron is a powerful, serious wine endowed with tremendous character and personality. It is especially somber in this vintage, with tannins that need time to soften. The oak is very nicely balanced now after élevage and bottling, and the wine has plenty of textural density and richness to match. Dark fruit, chocolate, spice and wild flowers build into the sumptuous finish.

91 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is aged for 18 months in 60% new oak. This comes across closed on the nose and only reluctantly opens with blackberry, raspberry and cedar aromas, just a hint of liquorice in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, moderate weight with fine acidity. There is a sense of reserve about this Les Griffons and it will need time to subsume the 60% new oak. It does not quite "kick on" towards the finish and prefers to play it safe. Fine...but give me a bit more personality and charm (please).

90 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Features a soft-edged but juicy feel, with a mix of plum and black currant fruit melded to sweet tobacco and warm iron notes. Shows nice viscosity on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 7,500 cases made.

90 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The Cabernet Sauvignon-based expression of Pichon Baron’s second wine contains 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has expressive notes of cassis, crushed black cherries and black raspberries with hints of lavender, underbrush, Provence herbs and tilled soil. The palate is medium-bodied and incredibly elegant with great freshness and very fine tannins, finishing earthy.

90 POINTS

James Suckling

A pretty wine with medium to full body, round and creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows plenty of currant and raspberry character with an attractive, stony mineral note underneath. Try after 2022.

Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com

This is the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant second wine with 52% Cabernet and the rest Merlot. First made in 2012 because AXA's négociant business, the Compagnie Médocaine, had an exclusivity on Les Tourelles and they needed another second wine. Fruit from parcels close to the river with more gravel. More like a baby grand vin, says Christian Seely. 18 months in barrel (60% new). Lovely Cabernet Sauvignon nose: dark and pure with lively dark cassis. Some attractive graphite savour and beautifully fine texture, slips across the palate. Good length, too. Cool and fresh. Score: 16.5/20