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Pichon-Baron launches new second wine
Bordeaux classed growth Château Pichon Baron has launched a new second wine called Les Griffons de Pichon Baron.
Les Griffons will retail for around €50
The name stems from the property’s crest (pictured, bottom), which features two griffins, and the new wine will complement Pichon Baron’s former second label, Les Tourelles de Longueville, which is made from a single Merlot dominant plot at the property, called Sainte-Anne.
36,000 bottles of the new wine have been produced in its inaugural vintage – 2012 – and it will be priced at around €50 including tax.
Pichon Baron is a Pauillac-based second growth owned by French insurance firm AXA, which also owns Suduiraut in Sauternes, and Les Griffons is reminiscent of a second wine from the Sauternes property, called Les Lions de Suduiraut, which was launched in 2011 as a less expensive sibling to Château Suduiraut.
Christian Seely, managing director of AXA Millésimes, owner of Château Pichon Baron since 1987, said of Les Griffons: “Crafting a great wine – one of the world’s finest – requires an uncompromisingly high standard of work on the harvested grapes. Creating another second wine was a natural step for us in pursuing our policy of strict selection to define Pichon Baron’s special terroir. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, a wine which clearly resembles its elders yet with its own distinct character, is the result of this forward-thinking practice.”
Les Griffons is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that has been aged in 60% new oak barrels and 40% one-year-old barrels for 18 months.
Pichon Baron said that Les Griffons can be cellared for 20 years or more, but is ready to enjoy after 3 to 5 years.
The crest of Château Pichon Baron
What is the atual retail price? You mention €50 in the text and €25 in the image tag.
Well spotted. I have now updated the price on the image. We were told by Pichon Baron that the wine would be released at €25, but since the story was posted the chateau has issued a correction, stating that the price is actually €50 a bottle.
Patrick, you referred to Les Tourelles de Longueville as Pichon Baron’s former second label. If it will no longer be Pichon Baron’s second label, what will it be?