Château Pichon-Longueville, 2ème Cru Classé, Pauillac 1983

Bottle Size: 75cl

Region: France: Bordeaux Left Bank

Colour: Red

Style: Still

Grape Variety: Bordaeux Blend Red

To my great surprise, I have never encountered the 1983 Pichon-Logueville Baron before. The estates from this pre-Jean-Michel Cazes era are not renowned, however, this was a decent, pleasurable Pauillac. It has a surprisingly lush, almost Côte Rôtie-like bouquet, gamey and animally, yet with sufficient fruit to carry that off. It certainly has more pleasure to give than a 1986 Pichon Baron that I tasted a few weeks earlier. The palate is sweet on the entry with a soft texture, notes of mulberry and red plum, leather and game. It is missing a little backbone and freshness towards the finish where it begins to run out of ideas, a little fatigued by age, but overall this is a respectable showing for a 33-year-old wine. Drink it now because it will not improve further. Tasted September 2016. 87 Points Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate