2014 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 2nd Grand Cru Classe

The 2014 Pichon Baron has a lovely bouquet with blackberry, pencil shavings and touches of warm gravel, very well defined and focused, classic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fresh and vibrant, with a dash of white pepper and allspice leading to that slightly flinty finish. Maybe it becomes a little creamier than expected, but it's still just a lovely Pauillac drinking perfectly now and will continue to age for many years. N.B. The bottle poured blind at the Southwold tasting exhibited a metallic element on the finish, and I marked it down. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting.

Tasted blind. Dark core. Refined, restrained aroma of black fruit. Just a touch charry. Firm, thick, chewy tannins. Wholesome and balanced rather than elegant at the moment. Likely to become more elegant with time. (JH)

Stunning, this is just beginning to deliver the most deliciously taut and balanced Pauillac character, with crayon and bilberry, black truffle and black pepper, muscular and concentrated mint leaf and cigar box on the finish. Very impressive, at the beginning of its drinking window. 80% new oak.