Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this is one of a pair of second wines from this estate. With its classic Pauillac black-currant flavors and dense tannins, the wine is a slow developer. By 2025, it should show great fruits and a balanced texture.

The 2018 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is normally a more Cabernet Sauvignon dominated cuvée, but Merlot excelled in 2018 and the blend is closer to an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a much more focused, tight, backward wine compared to the Les Tourelles and has a terrific nose of spiced blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and lead pencil. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied wine with ripe yet firm tannins, impressive overall balance, and outstanding length. It's certainly a more classic, focused Pauillac and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink nicely for a decade.

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is matured in 60% new oak, and I must comment that I still feel the wood component is just a little vociferous now that the wine is in bottle. The palate is dense and structured, delivering intense black fruit laced with graphite and cracked black pepper, and tightening up toward the classically styled finish. Those tannins are still a little abrasive, so I maintain my view that this deserves 3-4 years in bottle. Good potential, but be patient.

The 2018 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot, to be aged 12 months in barriques, 30% new and 70% one year old. Production represents 20% of the harvest this year. Very deep purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with frisky cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and boysenberries scents followed up by notions of dried Provence herbs, moss-covered bark, charcuterie and tapenade. Full, rich and opulent in the mouth, it has bold black fruit and savory expressions, with firm, grainy tannins and a long, meaty finish.

Direct, with fresh and pure cherry, damson plum and raspberry flavors laced with subtle cedar and savory notes through the slightly taut finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2028. 7,650 cases made.