Château Pichon Baron
A Pauillac Second Growth with a landmark fairy-tale château, restored to top form since AXA Millésimes acquired it in 1987.
About Château
Château Pichon Baron, sometimes styled Pichon-Longueville Baron, is the masculine, Cabernet-driven counterpart to neighboring Pichon Comtesse, the two estates having shared a common origin before splitting in 1850. The lineage dates to 1694, when vines came to Baron Jacques Pichon de Longueville as part of his daughter's dowry. The instantly recognizable turreted château was commissioned in the 1850s, and the wine was classified a Second Growth in 1855. After a mid-20th-century decline under the Bouteiller family, the estate was acquired in 1987 by AXA Millésimes, the wine arm of the insurer AXA, which undertook a comprehensive renovation of cellars and château from 1988. Under AXA the wine has returned to the front rank of Pauillac, prized for its depth, structure and graphite-tinged Cabernet Sauvignon character. The second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville, offers a more approachable expression.
Flagship wines
- Château Pichon Baron (Grand Vin)
- Les Griffons de Pichon Baron
- Les Tourelles de Longueville
Editorial notes
A classic, structured Pauillac built for the long haul; reliably excellent since the AXA Millésimes era and a frequent value relative to the First Growths.