Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2022

The richness and complexity of a Pauillac Second Wine

The estate

2nd Grand Cru Classé in 1855, Château Pichon Baron belongs to the elite of Pauillac Grand Crus, on Bordeaux’s Left Bank.

The vineyard

A veritable mosaic of terroirs, superbly situated close to the Gironde estuary, the Château Pichon Baron vineyard extends across 73 hectares of vines planted on perfectly drained Médoc gravel soils. The oldest vines on the estate are used to make this emblematic Pauillac wine.

The wine

Produced since the 2012 vintage, Les Griffons de Pichon is Château Pichon Baron’s Second Wine.

The vintage

A cold, dry winter followed by a warm spring advanced relatively early budburst. In April, there was an episode of frost with limited consequences. Flowering and fruit set took place in May under optimum conditions. A sunny, scorching summer punctuated by spells of rain in mid-June and mid-August helped to restore the vineyards.

Winemaking and ageing

Plot selection and gravity-fed vatting carried out in new facilities. Vinification in wooden and stainless steel vats. Long cold pre-fermentation maceration to preserve the quality of the fruit. Addition of indigenous vintage yeast during alcoholic fermentation. Maceration between 25 and 27°C. Extraction during fermentation. Run-off with malolactic fermentation in grape marc, accompanied by regular treading. Aged for 18 months in barrels (40% new, 60% of one wine).

Blend

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2022 is a blend of Merlot (50%) Cabernet Sauvignon (46%) and Petit Verdot (4%).