Description
Gabriel
| Drinking maturity | (2022 – 2040) |
|---|---|
| Valuation | 19/20 |
| 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc. 35 Hl/ha. Deep garnet colour with purple and violet hues. Spicy, profound bouquet, gently dry on the palate, with lots of black berries, precious woods, herbs and cedar. Herbs and cedar. Firm palate, very concentrated and fleshy, rich astringency with well-supporting tannins that require at least 10 years of ageing, but are tannic at the moment and give the wine a certain hardness. Overall very concentrated to show more souplesse, it almost lacks a little juice, which will perhaps be balanced out later with the fat that will come from the barriques. The mammoth potential is certainly enough for one more point in its maturity. But it is still very difficult to say when this will be. 07: Shortly before bottling at the winery. Dramatic Pauillac terroir bouquet, truffles, dark leather, currants, extremely deep, noble and very spicy. An orgy of blue and black berries on the palate, powerful body, the aromas are reminiscent of a great Latour in the style of the 1995 vintage, energetic finish with incredible pressure. One of the very best vintages from this estate and only half a point away from the maximum rating. 08: A re-incarnation of the 1989 Pichon-Baron! 11: Bright garnet colour, ruby rim. The bouquet is discreet, a hint of blotting paper, candied fruit, a hint of lemon balm, mineral, almost no nasal communication possible. Juicy palate, here too the flavours are discreet and still appear subtle at the moment, well-supporting acidity with a capsule-like tongue. Didn't feel like being tasted at all! (19/20). 15: Extremely dark, still showing a lot of violet in the garnet colour. Starts with an almost dramatic concentration in the nose, this with pepper and very ripe berries, one senses a nuance of ripe bananas (a good sign). On the palate, the wine has very little desire to be savoured and is still bulky. A fact that I had already noted in exactly the same way four years ago. So only waiting will help here. The potential is enormous. (19/20). 15: Brilliant bouquet, showing so much fine, sweet Pauillac terroir. This sweetness comes back on the palate and combines with the melting extract. Somehow it has already reached its first maturity. A marvellously beautiful and particularly fine Pichon-Baron. And that is not always the case with this winery in the really great vintages. | |
