2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Invitingly pure dark-fruit aroma with some oak sweetness. Pretty oaky and woody on the palate and could do with more fruit at the core, which may emerge with time. Chewy finish. Going back to retaste this wine, which was highly rated by the group, I felt I had underscored it and missed the lively Cabernet fruit under the dominant oak, especially on the finish. So I upped my score by half a point. (JH)

The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has an open-knit and expressive nose, a mixture of red and black fruit, quite elegant and developing appealing floral scents. The palate is medium-bodied, cohesive and persistent, with fleshy, ripe black fruit ad hints of white pepper. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of sweet cassis, berries, loamy soil and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, it's pure and more serious than the Tourelles, with a more Cabernet-driven personality (along with all the estate's Petit Verdot this year).