Château Pichon Longueville Baron, 2ème Cru Classé, Pauillac,

This is a vintage that is tasting great right now, and I definitely suggest getting out any bottles that you have and starting to explore them. Plenty of concentrated cassis and blackberry fruits, waves of fresh mint leaf and eucalyptus on the finish, tannins that are beginning to fully melt into the structure but still confidently holding everything in place. This is juicy and enjoyable. 80% new oak. Jean-Rene Matignon technical director.

The 2004 Pichon-Baron has a lilting bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, rose petals and dried herbs, conservative in style but clean and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, and quite sappy in the mouth. This 2004 has plenty of personality and sports an attractive estuarine personality, showing traces of brine and seaweed toward the fresh, bright, vivid finish. It should drink well for many years. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château.