Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2021 (750ML)

For the second vintage running, Petit Verdot has a place in Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, making up 11% of the 2021 alongside 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot. The fruit comes from gravel parcels close to the estuary, sites that favor Cabernet, and Cabernet sets the aromatic tone: violet, pencil shavings and dark berries, with a green edge of bell pepper, eucalyptus and fresh herbs. 2021 lacked the breadth of the great years, and this Pauillac shows it in a medium-bodied, compact frame that stays taut and fresh rather than expansive. Blue and black fruit fill the middle, touched with clove and a flicker of raspberry, while ripe tannins give real grip through a firm, focused finish. Critics expect it to drink well from the mid-2020s into the 2030s. Serve it with rosemary-roasted lamb, grilled lamb chops or a lentil and mushroom ragout.