schiller-wine: Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron with Chef à Domicile Bernadet Damien - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Pictures: Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron with Chef à Domicile Bernadet Damien - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron in Pauillac is one of the most stunning estates in Bordeaux. It is currently owned by the insurance company AXA Millésimes.

We had a gorgeous wine lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron. This was preceeded by a vineyard and winery tour and a tasting. This posting covers the lunch. I already reported about the first part of the visit: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Nicolas Santier, responsable du développement réceptif et tourisme, was our host. At the beginning of the tour, we were welcomed by Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director.

Pictures: Welcome - Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron (often referred to as Pichon Baron) in Pauillac is one of 15 Deuxièmes Crus in the Classification of 1855. It was once part of a larger estate, owned by Pierre de Rauzan, along with Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 the estate was divided into the two current Pichon estates facing each other as one enters Pauillac along the D2 highway.

Château Pichon-Baron stayed in the de Pichon-Longueville family until 1933 when the last surviving family member sold it to Jean Bouteiller, member of a family well-known in the Bordeaux wine scene. His heirs did not manage to keep the quality of the wines and in 1987 the estate was bought by AXA Millésimes. With the new owner, reconstruction of the fermenting room and cellars, and renovation of the château itself, began in 1988.

Pictures: In the Cellar of Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

Excellent terroir across from the 1st growth Latour property, stretching south bordering the Léoville estates in Saint-Julien gives the wines elegance, balance, and finesse. Château Pichon Baron's 73 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The average age of the vines is 30 years.

Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and then macerated for 20-30 days, and fermented at 28-32 °C in temperature controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes. The wine is transferred into oak barrels for aging after finishing its malolactic fermentation.

The estate also produces a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville.

The property is currently managed by Christian Seely.

The AXA Wine Portfolio

Château Pichon Baron, 2nd Cru Classé Pauillac, France
Château Suduiraut, 1er Cru Classé Sauternes, France
Château Petit-Village, Pomerol, France
Château Pibran, Pauillac, France
Domaine de l’Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Domaine Disznókö, Tokaj, Hongrie
Quinta do Noval, Douro, Portugal
AXA also owns one of the larger Bordeaux wine negociant companies, Compagnie Medocaine.

Tasting

We tasted 5 vintages: 2015 (from barrel) and 2012 - 2009 (from barrel). I have put the wine searcher average prices in US$ in brackets.

Pictures: Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

2015 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron US$127
2012 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron US$106
2011 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron US$112

2010 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron US$222
2009 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron US$183

Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Following the tour and tasting, we walked over to the chateau for lunch.

Picture: Walking over to the Château

Champagne Reception

We started off with a Champagne reception in the private rooms of Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron.

Pictures: Champagne Reception

Lunch

We than proceed for lunch to the dining room. Bernadet Damien was our Chef who prepared for us a wonderful lunch.