Looking for a polished Bordeaux without the Grand Cru price tag? Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2021 is the second wine of the iconic Château Pichon Baron—and it seriously overdelivers. Packed with juicy currants, floral notes, and a touch of spice, this Cabernet-led blend is fresh, elegant, and built to age (but totally drinkable now). A must-try for fans of Pauillac power with a modern, approachable twist.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 92
Published: Apr 5, 2024

This firm and racy cabernet-based red shows violet and rose-petal aromas and attractive currants. Medium-bodied, it’s juicy at the end. Needs three or four years to open. Best after 2027.

The Wine Advocate | RP 90
Published: Feb 8, 2024
Drink: 2025-2038

The 2021 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron reveals aromas of minty cassis, berries and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless palate built around lively acids and fine, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish.

Decanter | D 90
Published: Apr 1, 2022
Drink: 2024-2034

Gorgeous Cabernet aspects on the nose; green pepper, fragrant violets, herbal aspects and eucalyptus. Appealing sensuality, this is sparky with bite - it’s high-toned, a touch sour but with licks of stone and spice. Lovely freshness and purity and also ripeness of tannins, there’s a chewiness that gives a mouthfilling sensation with sweet raspberry and strawberry fruit accented by clove, vanilla and cola. Lots of nuance and power with abounding freshness. This is made from a 45% Cabernet Sauvignon,44% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot from gravel parcels near the estuary, more suited to Cabernet.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.90%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon 44% Merlot 11% Petit Verdot

Wine Spectator | WS 90
Published: Apr 30, 2024

Sleek and fresh, with red and black currant puree notes, dotted with violet and anise accents and supported by a bright iron edge through the finish. Nicely done for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 3,986 cases made.

Pichonbaron.com

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is one of the second wines of the property. Created since the 2012 vintage, it has a pure and direct character.
The grapes which make up this wine's blend come primarily from gravelly plots of land near the Gironde estuary, a good environment for Cabernet-Sauvignon.
Les Griffons offers a vigorous and fresh tasting experience, full-bodied and clean, overflowing with energy. It can be laid down in the cellar for over 20 years or enjoyed right away.

Vintage conditions
2021 began with a very mild but extremely wet winter, followed by dry weather from mid-February onwards.
An almost summery period in the last week of March hastened bud break, which became widespread from 25th to 26th March, 5 to 6 days earlier than usual. Periods of severe frost then occurred during the first half of April. Flowering then took place in very good weather conditions.
In June, stormy weather caused mildew pressure, requiring great vigilance. July and early August were rainy and cool. Veraison progressed slowly and was completed at the end of August.
From mid-August to mid-September, a 4-week period of dry weather boosted ripening of seeds and polyphenols. This period without rainfall allowed the Cabernets to ripen well.

Harvest
The vintage was harvested at the end of September with low yields. The harvest took place from 27th September to 1st October for the Merlot, on 2nd October for the Petit Verdot and from 30th September to 7th October for the Cabernet-Sauvignon.

Tasting note
Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2021 is a sustained ruby-red colour with glints of purple, still young and with an appealing gleam. Notes of delicate white flowers lead into a classic Cabernet-Sauvignon bouquet with aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and lovely woody notes. The combination is elegant and refined. The attack is ample and fresh, the mouthfeel is taut and thick, wrapped in a pleasing tannic structure. Flavours of blueberry, ripe cherry, cedar and mild spices joyfully enrich this powerful wine. It lingers at the finish, sappy with hints of licorice candy.

Pierre Montégut - Technical Director - October 2023
Bottling date: May 25th 2023

Vinification
Plot-by-plot selection is fully controlled in our wooden and stainless-steel vats, designed to adapt vinification to each parcel. This year, we have placed even more emphasis on the quality of the fruit by extending the cold pre-fermentation period before starting fermentation with our vintage wild yeast from grapes grown in the old Cabernet-Sauvignon plots of the Plateau.
Maceration temperatures ranged from 24 to 29°C. Extractions were preferably performed during mid-fermentation, and the duration of post-fermentation maceration was refined through daily tastings.
We drew off the Merlots from 14th to 24th October and the Cabernets from 26th October to 2nd November. Malolactic fermentation continued apace in vats, allowing regular racking in separate batches. The wine was transferred to barrels in mid-November.

Blend
Cabernet sauvignon 45%, Merlot 44%, Petit verdot 11%

Ageing
40% in new barrels, 60% from barrels of one vintage for 18 months.