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On the eighth day of Christmas
Our pick for New Year’s Day (the eighth day of Christmas) comprises a rare official special release mixed case from an iconic Pauillac super-second, writes db’s Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay.
The wine: Chateau Pichon Baron
Format: A rare official special release mixed case (a ‘mini-cave’ as they call it) from this iconic Pauillac super-second, containing a bottle each of the four vintages 1955 (yes, really!), 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Unique selling point: An incredible collection case that is not only pleasing to the eye, but which contains four vinous jewels that all Bordeaux lovers would aspire to have in their collection. The highlights of the last 70 years from one of Pauillac’s most legendary estates.
Yours for: Well, OK, this one’s not cheap, but it contains a bottle of 1955 Pichon Baron that has never before left the property, as well as three of the most iconic of vintages from this most iconic of estates. Look away now if you (or your true love) are of a nervous disposition … yours for €2750 duty and tax paid, only directly from the property.
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Tasting note: Sadly, they didn’t send me a sample pack. And since it’s not yet Christmas, I don’t know what might be waiting for me under our (hypothetical) tree. So I have only one recent tasting note to offer you, that for the (brilliant) 2020.
Pichon Baron 2020 (Pauillac; 76% Cabernet Sauvignon; 24% Merlot; aged in oak barrels, 70% of which were new, for 18 months; representing 48% of the total production of 73 hectares and with a yield of 30 hl/ha; 13.7% alcohol). A glorious shimmering purple in the glass; impressively translucent and shockingly rose pink at the rim. A wonderful and essentially Pauillac nose – very earthy, with crushed rocks too, loads of graphite and the cedar of the Pichons wrapped around and intermingling with the lovely plump dark berry fruit. The oak is beautifully disguised and this is a very stylish, subtle and refined expression of Pichon Baron – which has been a little chunkier in recent vintages. 96.
*The 8th day of Christmas actually falls on New Year’s Day, but as the db offices are shut between Christmas and New Year, we thought we’d publish the full list in advance so you have time to get organised and stock up before festivities begin!
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