Les Tourelles de Longueville 2012 - Second Vin du Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The estate's grand vin is produced directly opposite Château Latour, on perfectly drained gravel soils benefiting from the microclimate of the Gironde banks. Pichon possesses the vigor and power of the greatest Médocs, in a very pure style lovingly overseen by Jean-René Matignon, one of Bordeaux's most experienced technical directors. All recent vintages have been remarkable, with the same classicism of character linked to the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon and the mineral and graphite notes of the terroir. The second wine, tourelles, has made great progress, but the novelty is the appearance of another wine, griffons, in 2012, from young vines on the great terroirs, and very successful.

Decanter

About the wine:

Deep red color, smoky nose with aromas of graphite and blackcurrant, a rich Pauillac with good structure.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

The original vineyard was created in the 17th century by Jacques de Pichon, Baron de Longueville. Divided in two in 1850, part of the vineyard reverted to Raoul de Pichon-Longueville (the other part became Pichon Comtesse), who had the present château built. Inspired by Azay-le-Rideau, the building contrasts with the horizontal lines of the winery built after Axa Millésimes bought the estate in 1987. The insurer undertook major renovations under the direction of Jean-Michel Cazes, then Christian Seely, with Jean-René Matignon in charge of technical management. Since 2001, the selection policy has been intensified: only 40 ha of the 73 ha of this exceptional terroir, made up of fine Garonne gravel and immediately adjacent to Latour, are now used for the grand vin.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

In 2012, Les Tourelles de Longueville reveals a ruby/purple color that's slightly denser, richer and more complex than Les Griffons. Honestly, it doesn't look like a second wine. This is a very fine wine, with intense notes of crème de cassis, charcoal and graphite on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and delicate, a superb second wine - certainly one of the best I've tasted from this vintage.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This very fine second growth has produced a series of truly astonishing wines, and has established itself at the top of the Médoc hierarchy. Impossible to miss from the Route des Châteaux, the sumptuous home of "Pichon Baron" has been refurbished from top to bottom in less than two decades, and the team around Christian Seely is doing an exemplary job of bringing Pichon Baron to the top of the Médoc crus. The winemaking facilities and ageing cellar, as well as the vineyard, which has been extensively replanted, have enabled it to achieve historic levels of quality in recent vintages. The second wine is now called Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, Les Tourelles having become a subsidiary brand with its own vineyard.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Tasted en primeur. This wine has great depth of aroma, with marked tannins and ripe fruit. The second wine of Château Pichon Longueville is full of blackcurrant aromas, the hallmark of this vintage.