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Pichon Baron 1990

Pauillac, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

Tasted at the London Pichon-Baron off-line. Just a magnificent Pauillac that is of First Growth level. It retains that stunning bouquet of blackberry, cassis, roasted herbs and summer fruit - it just fills the room. The palate is full-bodied, huge structure, enormous depth but eschewing any baked or volatile elements that some ‘90s have developed. It has an irresistible, voluptuous mid-palate, laquers the mouth in black, cedar-infused fruit with a surly, insistent, gamey finish. Magnificent. Drink now-2020+

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2020+ 01 September 2009

A remarkable vintage for Pichon Longueville Baron, 1990 is one of this estate’s two or three finest wines made in the last 40 years. Still inky/blue/purple-tinged to the rim, it reveals an extraordinary bouquet of charcoal, incense, creme de cassis, blue and black fruits, and a hint of licorice as well as an impressively long finish. While drinkable, its evolution is extremely slow, and I would not be surprised to see it last another two decades or more.

Score: 97

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2029 30 June 2009

The 1990 Pichon-Longueville-Baron exhibits more of the roasted overripeness of this vintage, but it manages to keep everything in perspective. The wine is opulent and flamboyant, with lower acidity, and noticeably less tannin than the 1989. It is equally concentrated, with a more evolved nose of cedar, black fruits, earth, minerals, and spices. On the palate, the wine offers sensational quantities of jammy fruit, glycerin, wood, and sweet tannin. It is far more fun to taste and drink (more hedonistic perhaps?) than the more structured, backward, yet exceptional 1989. Ideally, readers should have both vintages in their cellars. The 1990 can be drunk now as well as over the next 25+ years.

Score: 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 1997-2022 28 February 1997

Deep, healthy crimson. Lively, appetising. Lovely round and great supple balance. Very correct with spice and fruit all the way out to the corners of the admirable Pauillac framework. Lovely consistency in this flight. Sappy. Long.

Score: 18 - 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2004-2015 06 October 2005

More tobacco and cedar character on the nose, with hints of ripe fruit. Full-bodied, yet fine and sophisticated, with elegant tannins and a long finish. This is always a top-quality red. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now.

Score: 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 28 February 2005

Full medium ruby. Nose at once subtle and flamboyant, with slightly roasted aromas of currant, cedar, lead pencil and minerals. Large-scaled, sweet and rich, with utterly primary fruit suggesting a long future ahead of it. Tasted next to the '89, this was a much more massive and somewhat softer wine. Very long on the finish, with big but smooth tannins. Of more recent vintages, only the 2000 has a chance to be in the same quality class as the '90 and '89. Drink 2004 to 2025. (93+ points)

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar Maturity: 2004-2025 01 July 2002