1986 Pichon Baron
By Chateau Pichon Baron
1986 Pichon Baron from Château Pichon Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux
In the annals of Bordeaux, the 1986 vintage has marked its territory with the elegance and vigor of a bygone era. Among the luminaries of this illustrious year stands the 1986 Pichon Baron from Château Pichon Baron. This is a wine whose stature has grown incrementally, charming savvy investors and aficionados alike with its robust architecture and aristocratic poise.
Genteel Power, Pauillac Personified
The tapestry of flavors in the 1986 Pichon Baron weaves an intricate array of dark berries, cassis, and hints of truffle—a testament to the might of Pauillac terroir and the tenacity of a cooler growing season that has become synonymous with longevity. With a backbone as firm as one would expect from the region, this Pichon Baron commands respect, reflecting the fine balance between assertive tannins and the sinewy elegance that time has sculpted over decades.
A Vintage Worth Investing In
The clairvoyant investor recognizes that the journey from vine to cellar is only eclipsed by the journey from bottle to palate. As a wine that continually unfolds nuances with age, this vintage presents not just a complex drinking experience but is also a judicious asset for any portfolio. The 1986 Pichon Baron, lauded for its structured finesse and aging mastery, makes for an astute choice for diversification in fine wine investment.
A stellar performer on both the table and the market, it circles back to why vintages like these are pinnacles of oenological craftsmanship and economic wisdom. In my seasoned tenure, few wines have demonstrated such grandeur with unwavering consistency as has this noble embodiment from the storied vineyards of Château Pichon Baron.
In closing, one reflects upon the indomitable spirit encapsulated within each bottle of 1986 Pichon Baron. As it continues to grace our discerning palates today, it reaffirms its stature as one of Pauillac's paragons—acclaimed not only for its present complexity but equally for its promising horizon in the sphere of fine wine investment.
Current market price
$2,870.00
12x75cl
Highest score
88
POP score
216.25
Scores and tasting notes
Forgetting, of course, the 1988, 1989, and 1990 trilogy, the 1986 has turned out to be one of the best wines made from this once perennial underachiever. Deep black/ruby in color, with a fragrant, expansive bouquet of oak and blackcurrants, this brawny, full-bodied, rich wine has plenty of tannin yet, atypically for the vintage, a pleasing suppleness that will permit it to be drunk in the early nineties. Anticipated maturity: Now-2005. Last tasted, 3/92.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #88 Aug 1993
Tasted at Roberson's Pichon Lalande/Pichon Baron vertical. This is much better than the last Pichon Baron '86 that I tasted, although still lightweight compared to today's wines. It has a light, rather simple austere bouquet with earthy/undergrowth aromas that develops that slight ferrous note with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and is rather facile for such a great Pauillac vintage. Yet this example has more vigour and is not as obdurate as previous examples, with less astringency towards the finish. I remain parsimonious with my score however, because it is simply not particularly pleasurable. Tasted September 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Mar 2012