2005 Chateau Pichon Baron 2eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 12x75cl

Antonio Galloni 95

The 2005 Pichon Baron is in a gorgeous spot right now. Aromatically expressive and open, the 2005 is so expressive. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers, mocha and sweet red cherry fruit all meld together in a creamy, wonderfully expressive Pauillac. A long, persistent finish with terrific saline energy rounds things out in style. The 2005 is a super classic Pichon Baron that delivers so much pleasure. [Antonio Galloni, 15/04/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2021-2045

Neal Martin 95

The 2005 Pichon-Baron is showing impressively after 13 years. It boasts intense black cherry, raspberry coulis, graphite and mineral scents that gain intensity in the glass. There is nuance and detail here, perhaps more than any previous release of this Second Growth. The masculine palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin and an insistent grip in the mouth, indicative of its long-term intentions. The mineralite surfaces in a second half that demonstrates great tension and energy. There is considerably more length than previous vintages, and superior precision. An outstanding 2005 that deserves several more years in bottle. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the chateau. [Neal Martin, 30/01/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2020-2055

JancisRobinson.com 17+

A second bottle kindly supplied by Christian Seely of AXA Millesimes who did not recognise my description of this wine when I tasted it in this extensive blind tasting of 2005s at 12 years old . Deep dark garnet. Dense, concentrated and briary. It does have relatively elevated acidity and still very marked tannins so I would not choose to drink it for quite a while, but it is certainly dense and impressive persistence. (Okay, Christian, not a all ‘scrawny’. Was the wrong wine poured into my glass? At the beginning of each flight we tasters circled the table with numbered bottles trying to get them in the right glasses, but this was the sixth flight of the day, after we had tasted 60 wines.) [20/03/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040

Wine Advocate 93

DUPLICATE IN DB —— The 2005 Pichon Baron has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet creme de cassis fruit, lots of cedar wood and forest floor, medium to full body, ripe tannin, and a long finish of a good 30+ seconds. This is a beauty and one of the most successful Pauillacs of this vintage. Drink it now through 2035. [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 22/06/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035

Vinous 94+

Dark red-ruby. Multidimensional nose offers deep aromas of currant, cedar, coffee, tobacco and minerals. The palate offers a rare combination of sweetness, energy and depth, with superb grip and a layered texture to the flavors of plum, cedar, tobacco and minerals. The finish features sweet, noble tannins and outstanding length. I find this more complete and ultimately more exciting than the 2003, but this will need at least a decade of cellaring. (The 2006 was in the middle of a racking and difficult to taste, but this wine conveyed the same impression of ripeness, energy and structure that my sample did last spring.) [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2008]