Cult Wine

2000 Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France


Bottle or Case: Single Bottle
Price:
Sale price£399.00

2000 Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Cult Wine

OVERVIEW

An excellent investment and ideal for drinking today, the Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron is classified as a 2nd growth in the 1855 Classification, however it has become known as one of the 'Super Second' wines that would vie to be classed as a First Growth today were the classification redone frequently, like in St Emilion.

The Chateau was bought by AXA Millesimes in1987. AXA built a state of art winery and cave and in 2000 Christian Seely took over as general manager from Jean-Michel Cazes. 

The Chateau has been able to produce stunning wines, vintage after vintage, and the 2000 vintage is no exception. The wines are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon dominated, this produces wines that are powerful and muscular, needing many years of aging before they are deemed suitable to drink. 

CRITIC REVIEWS

The 2000 Château Pichon Baron is just getting better and better and better. Perhaps the magnum format played its part, but nevertheless...just...wow. This is a millennial Left Bank with the keys to the top drawer. It has an incredibly precise, mineral-driven bouquet with intense black fruit infused with cedar and graphite scents. It just reeks of Pauillac in an almost uncompromising, yet compelling manner. The palate is structured, stylish and effortless, extraordinarily pure and unerringly youthful. This is a Pichon Baron saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet." You could broach this now if you wanted, but the clever people will wisely bunker this for another decade and gloat from 2025 onward. Drink: 2025 - 2050. 97 Points. Neal Martin (July 2016)

This remains powerful at 21 years old, a lovely slice of well-aged Pauillac at an excellent moment to begin drinking. Soft curls of tobacco and liqourice, tannins remain muscular but softening into an embrace of the cassis and bilberry fruit. Not the same density as you will find in more recent years of Pichon Baron, but this is extremely well balanced, the finesse of fully aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Perhaps a little more evolved than many top Pauillacs from this vintage, with hints of the heat of the summer in the fig fruit character and the soft russet edging to the plum colour, but succulent and enticing. Last year with Jean-Michel Cazes as director, Jean-Rene Matignon technical director. 80% new oak. 94 Points. Jane Anson (December 2021)

This is one of the great wines of the vintage, and certainly a candidate for one of the finest wines made at this estate under the management of Christian Seeley and proprietor AXA. Showing incredibly well at two tastings of 2000s, the wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of incense, melted asphalt, and creme de cassis as well as hints of new saddle leather and licorice. It is superbly concentrated and very pure, with excellent texture and opulence. The acidity seems low, the tannin high but well-integrated. This is a compelling 2000 that is just closing in on its window of maturity and should stay there for at least 20 or more years. Bravo! Drink 2010-2030. 97 Points. Robert Parker (June 2010)

FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION

Pair this wine with Pepper steak, braised meats or grilled tuna. 

VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING

The 2000 vintage started off poorly with cold, wet and gloomy days. All of that changed at the end of July when the weather changed to dry, warm and sunny -perfect conditions for the grapes to ripen.  August was a very dry month and September continued on in this vein with a small amount of rainfall later in the month. The minimal rain combined with mini heatwaves throughout September allowed the grapes to develop thicker skins and phenolic ripeness. The grapes were picked in near perfect conditions and the 2000 vintage has now gone down as legendary. 

PRODUCER NOTES

These wines are not made to be drunk young. At a minimum they should be around 4-6 years of age and even then will require 3-6 hours of decanting. Pichon Longueville wines are very tannic, powerful and inelegant in their youth. 

NEED ADVICE? ASK A SOMM LIVE

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SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS

The wine should be stored over the longer term at 12c. We recommend this wine be brought up to around 15.5c for service. This temperature more closely resembles cellar conditions and allows the wine to be lifted and have freshness. If the wine is over 20 years old, it should only require light decanting to remove any sediment that has accumulated. 

DELIVERY INFORMATION

Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.

We use a tracked DPD delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.

Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.

2000 Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Card
Wine Producer Pichon-Longueville-Baron
Wine Region Pauillac
Wine Classification AOC Pauillac
Wine Type Red
Grape Variety Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Vintage 2000
Vintage Quality Extraordinary - Parker
Maturity Drinking Now - Will improve
Body Full Bodied
Sweetness Dry
Alcohol % 13%
Bottle Type Bordeaux 75cl
Serving Temperature 17-18°C
Food Pairing Rare Steak, Beef, Game, Mushroom
Awards 94 Points - Jane Anson
97 Points - Robert Parker
97 Points - Neal Martin
18.5 Points - Jancis Robinson

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