Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Identity

Château Pichon Longueville Baron, often simply called Pichon Baron, is an iconic winegrowing estate located in Pauillac, in the Gironde department. It was classified as a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in 1855.

The estate is managed by Christian Seely as Managing Director, and Pierre Montégut holds the position of Technical Director and Cellar Master. The château is located at the following address: Château Pichon Longueville Baron, D2, 33250 Pauillac.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Pichon Longueville Baron originates in 1689 with the acquisition of vineyards by Pierre Desmezures de Rauzan, who founded Enclos Rauzan. The original Pichon Longueville estate was subsequently established in 1694 by Baron Jacques Pichon de Longueville, through marriage.

In 1850, the property was divided among the heirs: Baron Raoul Pichon de Longueville inherited the portion that would form Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, while his three sisters received the part that would become Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The current Renaissance-style château was built by Baron Raoul de Pichon-Longueville in 1851. Four years later, the estate was recognised as a Second Grand Cru Classé at the Universal Exhibition of 1855.

The Pichon de Longueville family sold the property in 1933 to the Bouteiller family, who managed it for over fifty years. In 1987, Château Pichon Longueville Baron was acquired by AXA Millésimes. This acquisition marked the beginning of a vast reconstruction and renovation programme starting in 1988, including the inauguration of an underground cellar in 2008, where the 2007 vintage was the first to be aged. More recently, in 2022, the estate commissioned new technical facilities for the vat house and grape reception.

In a commitment to environmental respect, Château Pichon Longueville Baron is certified High Environmental Value (HVE).

The Appellations

Château Pichon Longueville Baron produces its wines under the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Pauillac. The main vineyard is entirely located within this appellation, in the Médoc region of Bordeaux.

The AXA Millésimes group, owner of Château Pichon Longueville Baron, also produces Château Pibran, whose vineyard is distinct and located to the north-west of Pauillac.

Winemaking and Ageing

The estate boasts modern technical facilities for winemaking. The cellar is equipped with 26 stainless steel vats and 21 wooden vats, enabling precise parcel-by-parcel vinification. Around thirty Tava amphorae are also used for certain winemaking processes.

The Grand Vin, Château Pichon Baron, is traditionally aged in barrels. For the second wine Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, ageing lasts 18 months, with approximately 60% new barrels. The estate inaugurated an underground cellar in 2008 for wine ageing, and new technical infrastructures were commissioned in 2022.

Practical Information

Château Pichon Longueville Baron is located at the following address: Château Pichon Longueville Baron, D2, 33250 Pauillac. You can contact the estate by phone at +33 5 56 73 17 17 or by email at contact@pichonbaron.com.

The estate offers direct sales of its wines at the property. Visits and tastings are possible by appointment, with reception hours generally from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. The château has recently developed its infrastructure for wine tourism.

Find out more

Official website of the estate

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Pichon Longueville Baron covers an area of 92 hectares, of which 91.2 hectares are dedicated to red grape varieties and 0.8 hectare to white grape varieties. It is ideally situated on the left bank of the Gironde, in the heart of the Pauillac appellation, approximately forty kilometres north of Bordeaux.

The terroir is characterised by Quaternary gravels, composed of large pebbles and sands. These gravelly soils are renowned for their high quality, low nutrient content, and excellent drainage, favouring deep root penetration for the vines. The local oceanic climate is tempered by the proximity of the Gironde estuary.

The average age of the vines is approximately 35 years. The grape varieties planted in the vineyard are as follows: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot for the red wines. A small proportion of Sémillon (1%) is dedicated to the production of the white wine. Harvesting is carried out manually, and the estate does not purchase grapes.

The Flagship Cuvees

Château Pichon Longueville Baron produces several cuvees, all originating from the Pauillac vineyard.

• Château Pichon Baron: This is the estate's Grand Vin, a red wine crafted with a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its structure and ageing potential. The blend for the 2019 vintage, for example, comprised 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, and the 2020 vintage comprised 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot.
• Les Tourelles de Pichon Baron: Launched in 1986, this red second wine primarily comes from the historic Sainte-Anne parcel. It is made with a dominance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In 2020, its blend was 64% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Cabernet Franc. It is generally designed to be more approachable in its youth than the Grand Vin.
• Les Griffons de Pichon Baron: This red second wine was introduced with the 2012 vintage. It is characterised by a balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with, for example, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot at its launch, and in 2020, 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot.
• Les Griffons de Pichon Baron Grand Vin Blanc Sec: This dry white wine is a new addition for the estate, with its first vintage produced in 2022. It is made from Sémillon.