Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Pichon Baron 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé en 1855. BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A commanding and traditionally styled Pauillac delivering power, precision, and aristocratic structure, driven by a 66% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Semillon support. Dark fruit density, mineral authority, and refined oak integration create a wine that feels impactful today while clearly engineered for long-term evolution and layered complexity.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry, graphite, pencil shavings, cedar, cigar box, crushed gravel, subtle dark cocoa and savory spice.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm yet polished tannins, excellent mid-palate density, vibrant structural tension, tightly knit acidity, and a long, authoritative finish that builds rather than fades.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, lamb rack, beef Wellington, venison, mushroom-forward dishes, aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A textbook expression of elite Pauillac: powerful, elegant, disciplined, and deeply age-worthy. The wine delivers immediate presence while clearly signaling even greater complexity and harmony with time in bottle.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is serious wine, fierce yet controlled, deeply impressive without arrogance, and loaded with finesse under the horsepower. A bottle that earns respect with every sip and promises an extraordinary future in the cellar. — 5 months ago

Brett Pinkin

9.2

Gotta give it respect. — 4 years ago

Patrick O Driscoll

9.7

A wine that is complex with nose and aroma a must try for all. It is produced with respect and attention to detail. A recommendation from someone with distinction and an enjoyment for the finer things in life thank you. This will be in the wine cabinet for sure. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This one needs about 2 years in bottle the most. Notes of raspberry and milk chocolate. Entry shows a medium bodied wine that is acidic but quite delicate on the fruit balance. Raspberry liqueur and a hint of chocolate / cocoa dustiness. This wine seems to finish with a lot of restraint and stiff tannin. I think this one is just very young and needs some time to settle. I believe this one was held back a bit as well as the 15 and I can respect that. Still, it was the perfect acoutrement to turkey burgers and complemented well. — 7 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

Blind!!!! Yiiiihaaaaaaa!!! Noooooo!!!! Whaaaaat? Ringer??? 2nd wine? Wooooow! Respect!!! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose; boysenberries, black plums, plums, dark cherries, black raspberries, blue fruit hues, vanilla, fig, light spice, dark moist soil, cinnamon and fresh dark florals. The body is rich, full & elegant. The tannins are round and soft with a ways to go. The structure, length and balance have just arrived to that next stop, “A Good Place.” The concentration is good but loses a little as it settles in on the palate. Fruits are; blackberries, boysenberries, black plums, plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries with blue fruit hues. Vanilla, cinnamon, mocha, light caramel, fig, mid intensity of spice, anise, a touch of fresh herbs on the long set, dark rich earth, touch of crushed volcanic rocks, soft leather, cedar, violets, fresh red florals, excellent round acidity and well balanced, long, elegant finish. So good tonight for a wine I paid right around or just under $35 upon release at Costco. Photos of; a long-shot of the estate, founders Joe & Alice Heitz...members of the early Napa Pioneers and winery building. One of the last Napa wineries you can taste four or five wines for free at their tasting room on Hwy 29 in Saint Helena. Quite often with the Martha’s Vineyard as the last wine. #RESPECT — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.6

I showed this wine some respect today. First I carefully decanted it, as I rarely do. The nose displayed spice box with cardamon, cloves and a hint of cedar. The palate was powerful and dense. Loads of mature blueberries and black fruits. Tannins are bolt upright. Acidity is perfectly poised. Finishes sweet and with texture. For a second wine, it’s a crime. Has another 5-10 years of runway ahead of it. This is a serious wine. — 2 years ago

with Anne-marie

Aravind A

9.2

100% PN. Based on 2011, Disg. 01/2014, 9.5 g/l dosage. Don't know why I thought this showed so sweet last time. On the nose: sweet apple, honey, apple pie, soft marzipan. On the palate: very good acidity, more sweet apple, marzipan, meyer lemon and good density. Much better showing than the last bottle. Apparently this just needed a few years of bottle age to settle. Lovely now. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Family-owned winery, founded by the Williams Family in 1981, devoted to sustainable principles and producing wines with respect for terroir. Interesting Napa Chard, No Oak!! Pale light gold with medium+ aromas of floral, stone and citrus fruits. On the palate this full-bodied wine shows flavors of peach, ripe apple and lemon peel flavors. Long finish with generous acidity ending with an earthy wet stone character. Nice! — 6 years ago

Fredybeans

9.5

Jaune vieil or
Nez chlorophylle mente fraiche raisins rôtis, cédrat confit herbe
Bouche ample suave manquant d un soupçon d acidité mais quelle onctuosité ce que côté solaire et classe la fois finale fraîche avec des note de chlorophylle écrasant les notes habituel du cépage riesling
33 ans d âge respect et chapeau bas au domaine — 7 years ago

with picolator and El

Victor Hsu

9.0

Inviting nose, sweet round single-malt flavors, interesting finish. Just a very pleasurable tipple. The only reason this is not a perfect whiskey is the very faintest note of varnish in the nose and finish. Reminded me a bit of Kavalan Sherry Cask in that respect. I had this in Japan with my lovely wife Dreama, at The Long Bar in Sapporo, Hokkaido. — 8 years ago

Meeter B

9.0

This is very light. I’m blinded in a Manfred Mann kinda way. Subdued. This could become a true love affair based on respect, admiration and tasty tannins. — 9 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.2

Explosive Howell Mountain juice. Make no mistake this wine is big and warrants respect. Dark chocolate and cherries on the nose. Even the smallest sip fils the mouth. Incredible structure and big tannins. Inky, dark and mysterious at times....as it sits and opens up this gets bigger and richer. Just brilliant. — 9 years ago

with Brad, Kelly and 3 others

Rich Bluth

9.0

love this wine! Santa Clara Co gets no respect! but should! GO — 2 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.5

Bressan. Nine generations of winemakers. Respect.

Very good pinot noir, wait, pinot nero. Herbs or green tea, spicy finish (pepper), some sweet fruity hints. — 4 years ago

Samir Muranjan

9.0

Smooth, delicious. New respect for Merlot. Had at sister's house. — 5 years ago

Marc vanholst

10

Probably to date my best ever Burgundy red. What a wine ! It is clear that 2015 is very approachable now but this bottle is mindblowing. Incredible nose, phantastic complexity and length. This wine keeps going. I now understand why Emmanuel Rouget’s wines are so sought after. Big respect !!! — 7 years ago

Patrice Conxicoeur

9.0

A good illustration of how truly great Chateaux can not only make good wines in average vintages, but also wine that ages well. Respect. — 8 years ago

John Craik

9.0

Nice aroma of strawberry, slight honey hints, not to dry on the palette. An easy drinking wine works great with a cheese platter. I will buy again — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.7

I have no idea what the “pro” rating of 9.3 is talking about - due respect to those folks - but this is awesome. The best cab I’ve ever had is the 1994 Harlan Estate (with Jeff Long and Dave MacMillan at NOLA), but this wine is easily in my Top 10 of cabernets I’ve ever had. Decanted about 1.5 hours in advance, this wine is just awesome. Evolving a bit faster than I thought, the aromatics are incredible. An amazing wine. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa