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Château Pichon Baron is a muscular “Super Second” of Pauillac – a Deuxième Cru Classé of 1855 directly opposite Château Latour. On deep gravel, AXA Millésimes under Christian Seely produces a structured, Cabernet-driven Pauillac built for long ageing. Secure the Grand Vin or one of the two stylistically distinct second wines – Pauillac class near the level of the First Growths.
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Château Pichon Baron (fully Pichon Longueville Baron) is a Deuxième Cru Classé of the 1855 Classification and lies in the appellation of Pauillac on the left bank of the Gironde – directly opposite Château Latour. The estate ranks among the most significant “Super Seconds” and produces, across 73 hectares, a structured, muscular, Cabernet-driven Pauillac built for long ageing. It has been owned since 1987 by AXA Millésimes, run by Christian Seely. The Grand Vin is complemented by two stylistically distinct second wines: Les Griffons de Pichon Baron and Les Tourelles de Pichon Longueville.
The estate dates back to 1694, when the vineyard dowry of Thérèse de Rauzan passed to her husband, Baron Jacques Pichon de Longueville. On the death of Baron Joseph Pichon de Longueville in 1850, the originally unified Pichon estate was divided – into Pichon Baron and Pichon Comtesse, which still face each other to this day. After half a century in the ownership of the Bouteiller family, AXA Millésimes acquired the estate in 1987 and initially entrusted its management to Jean-Michel Cazes (Lynch-Bages). A comprehensive renovation, designed with the Centre Pompidou, followed; the 1989 and 1990 vintages marked the estate’s return to the top. Since 2001, Christian Seely has run the estate as Managing Director; Pierre Montégut has been Technical Director since May 2022.
Pichon Baron is a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé of 1855 and ranks among the “Super Seconds” – Second Growths that approach the First Growths in quality. Neal Martin described the estate as “one of the linchpins of Pauillac” and “in many ways the quintessential Pauillac”.
The 73 hectares lie on deep gravel in the south of Pauillac, on the border with St-Estèphe and immediately adjacent to Latour. The gravel stores warmth at night and releases it during the day, drains away excess water, and – together with the proximity to the Gironde – ensures even temperatures and fresh breezes. The heart of the estate is the historic 40-hectare plateau opposite Latour, from which the Grand Vin originates.
The grape mix comprises around 65 to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 to 30% Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The Cabernet proportion of the Grand Vin is higher in more recent vintages (most recently around 85 to 87 per cent), underscoring the wine’s muscular, long-lived character.
The harvest is done by hand; sorting is strict, with optical sorting used since 2010. Vinification takes place plot by plot in stainless steel tanks (64 to 220 hectolitres) with gravity-flow filling. Ageing lasts 18 to 20 months in 70 to 80 per cent new oak. Since 2022, Petit Verdot has partly been aged in amphorae. Sustainable certification has been held since 2003.
Through strict selection, the Grand Vin Château Pichon Baron accounts for around 45 to 52 per cent of production. The two second wines differ markedly: Les Griffons de Pichon Baron (since 2012) is Cabernet-driven and comes from the same terroir as the Grand Vin, while Les Tourelles de Pichon Longueville (since 1986) is Merlot-driven and comes from the more clay-rich Sainte-Anne plot. The same cellar also produces Château Pibran (17 hectares).
Pichon Baron is the more muscular, tannin-driven and powerful of the two Pichon estates – a wine of cassis, black fruit, graphite, cedarwood and tobacco, with a firm, finely woven structure. Its kinship and stylistic closeness to Latour are unmistakable; the wine is built for long ageing.
The resurgence began with 1989 and 1990. Outstanding more recent vintages include 2009, 2010, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
In great vintages, the Grand Vin ages for twenty to thirty years and beyond, and generally needs eight to twelve years to open up. Les Griffons and Les Tourelles reach their peak after six to ten years.
European Wine-Searcher listings for current vintages (retail prices incl. VAT, indicative values):
As a “Super Second”, Pichon Baron offers Pauillac class close to First Growth level at a fraction of the price.
The two second wines offer the entry point – depending on preference, the Cabernet-driven Les Griffons or the softer Les Tourelles. For collectors, the Grand Vin in great vintages is the strategic position – a muscular, long-lived Pauillac in Latour’s neighbourhood.
Who owns Château Pichon Baron? The estate has been owned by AXA Millésimes since 1987. Christian Seely has been Managing Director since 2001; Pierre Montégut has been Technical Director since May 2022.
What classification level does Pichon Baron hold? It is a Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) of the 1855 Classification and ranks among the “Super Seconds”.
What is the Grand Vin’s blend? The grape mix comprises around 65 to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25 to 30% Merlot; the Grand Vin contains around 85 to 87% Cabernet Sauvignon in more recent vintages.
What second wines are there? Two: Les Griffons de Pichon Baron (Cabernet-driven, since 2012) and Les Tourelles de Pichon Longueville (Merlot-driven, since 1986).
How long can Pichon Baron be cellared? In great vintages, the Grand Vin ages for twenty to thirty years and generally needs eight to twelve years to open up.
What does a bottle of Pichon Baron cost? Current vintages of the Grand Vin sit at around 120 to 200 euros on the European market, with sought-after vintages higher. The second wines start at around 40 euros.
Pichon Baron embodies the muscular, Cabernet-driven “Super Second” of Pauillac. Under AXA Millésimes and Christian Seely, the estate – on historic terroir opposite Latour – has consolidated its standing over the decades and ranks among the most reliable Second Growths of the Médoc.
