The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a Bordeaux blend from the esteemed Pauillac region in France, crafted by Pichon-Longueville Baron. This vintage has garnered significant praise from top wine critics, underscoring its exceptional quality and potential for aging.
James Suckling awarded the wine a near-perfect score of 99, highlighting its "fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, crushed stone, graphite and lead pencil," and describing the tannins as "like the finest velvet in texture." He even suggested it could rival the renowned 1990 vintage, recommending cellaring until after 2028.
Jeb Dunnuck echoed these sentiments, rating it 98+ and calling it "pure gold." He noted its "mammoth-sized bouquet of cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, and cedar pencil," and praised its ripe tannins and seamless mouthfeel, suggesting a longevity of 40-50 years.
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss also gave it a 98, emphasizing the wine's "dark tannins" and "massive black fruits," which make it apt for long-term aging. Decanter described the wine as "gentle and delicately aromatic but rich too," with a "velvet texture and chalky minerality," awarding it a 98 as well.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it 97, appreciating its "sweet berries and cassis mingled with pipe tobacco, loamy soil, pencil shavings and licorice." William Kelley noted the wine's "velvety attack" and "long, vibrant finish," and anticipated it would age gracefully.
With a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, the 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a dense, structured wine with flavors of cassis, blackberry, and licorice. The Wine Spectator praised its "pure and focused" fruit flavors, while The Wine Independent highlighted its "elegant and fresh" profile. This vintage is a testament to the winery's legacy, promising enjoyment for decades to come.