2017 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron

The 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon-Baron is a powerful, serious wine endowed with tremendous character and personality. It is especially somber in this vintage, with tannins that need time to soften. The oak is very nicely balanced now after élevage and bottling, and the wine has plenty of textural density and richness to match. Dark fruit, chocolate, spice and wild flowers build into the sumptuous finish.

The 2017 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is aged for 18 months in 60% new oak. This comes across closed on the nose and only reluctantly opens with blackberry, raspberry and cedar aromas, just a hint of liquorice in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, moderate weight with fine acidity. There is a sense of reserve about this Les Griffons and it will need time to subsume the 60% new oak. It does not quite "kick on" towards the finish and prefers to play it safe. Fine...but give me a bit more personality and charm (please).

Another second wine from this estate that's more in the style of the grand vin, the 2017 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot brought up in 50% new French oak. This inky hued effort offers a serious, ageworthy style that's going to benefit from age. Lots of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, shavings, chocolate, and a touch of minerality all define the bouquet. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it's a rocking second wine that will have two decades or more of life.