Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2016 (750ML)

95+ Points, Christopher Deas, Zachys Buying Team: "Jeff and I experienced this wine at the Chateau with Christian Seely and remains etched in our minds. It is hands down the insider wine of the vintage. It is the best Pauillac tip we can provide as it is a wine that the entire trade spoke in awe about while we tasted along the Bordeaux trail during the 2016 En Primeur campaign. At under $55 - it is the value Bordeaux of the vintage, let alone the greatest value in Pauillac. In our opinion, it is another one of those overachieving wines that the critics lavish about, yet their score does not reflect their words. Here, a respected critic has called the wine, One of the highlights of this tasting, the 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron opens with exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics.considerable pleasure here.compellingly delicious wine. Don't miss it." We agree with these words, as the wine has the terroir of Pichon Baron, and does everything it should do and more. Expect to find layers of lush black cherry, black currant and with licorice, spice and graphite. Silky, chewy tannins, and a whole lot of substance. Simply put, this is an amazing bottle that drinks better than many classified growths, yet available at an incredibly approachable price!"

93-95 Points, Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot matured in 60% new oak. The harvest was between 26 September and 18 October, and it represents 30% of the total yield. It has a very pure and detailed bouquet with blackberry, briary, cold stone and graphite aromas. This seems to meliorate in glass. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, a Griffons that is nimble and agile, the finish very precise with an almost clinical graphite-tinged finish. This is superb."

91 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is quite powerful and dense. Aging, and specifically, the barrel regime of 18 months in oak (60% new) has left the 2016 with a heavy toast/torrefaction quality that at present overpowers the dark fruit and Cabernet aromatics the wine showed from barrel. Frankly, I liked the 2016 more en primeur. " 1/19

90-92 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "One of the highlights of this tasting, the 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron opens with exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics. Deep and flavorful, but also light on its feet and translucent, the Griffons hits all the right notes. Readers looking to sample the 2016 vintage before dipping into the very best wines of the year will find considerable pleasure here. The 2016 is a superb Griffons, perhaps the best since the wine was introduced in 2012. Shades of lavender, rose petal, grilled herbs and succulent black cherry add the closing nuances. The 2016 is a compellingly delicious wine. Don't miss it."

93 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "Attractive, modern style with assorted, ripe summer berries, layered with upbeat, toasty oak. The palate is fresh and gently muscular tannins serve this wine well. Try from 2022. " 2/19

91 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator: "This is fleshy and caressing in feel, letting warm plum sauce and cassis notes roll along, lined with pretty violet and anise accents. There's a light tug of earth through the gently toasty finish, but this is pretty much all fruit and is ready to go. Drink now through 2030. " 3/19

91 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "This is closer to the signature of the grand vin than that of the Tourelles de Longueville as it comes from soil with a higher gravel content. It represents 30% of production. Beautiful, rich dark purple in colour from a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, a more classic interpretation of a Médoc second wine than Les Tourelles. This is gorgeous, with a sense of restraint behind the deep, plump fruit. 18 months in 60% new oak reinforces the silky tannins. I like this very much." 4/17

93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com: "There are two second wines from this estate. The 2016 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon-based and sees 60% new French oak. It's also deeply colored, offers classic Pauillac aromatics, and possesses a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, backward vibe that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age." 2/19