Château Pichon Baron - Pauillac (Grand Cru Classé) 2006 (750ml)

MT

95 points Decanter

A rather solar expression suffuses the complex nose mingling notes of prunes, spices, and forest floor. This is not the most structured wine of this tasting but it remains a textbook Pichon Baron, as it has the telltale upright style, tension, and freshness, as well as an airborne finish. Superb wine whose complexity and depth sneak up on you. (YC) (12/2021)

95 points Jane Anson

One of the rare estates where the 2006 is a step above the 2005 - one of those wines that makes doing a vertical so rewarding, as you discover the hidden successes, and this is one I highly recommend. Waves of sweet blackberry and juicy raspberry fruits, toned and muscular tannins, sinewy with bounce, extremely inviting overall. Tobacco leaf and slate, signature Pauillac pencil lead and grilled cedar all combine to give a drawn-out finish. The underground cellar opened in this year, so they were able to extend the length of ageing because had more space for the barrels, and it has paid off. 80% new oak. Jean-René Matignon technical director. (12/2021)

94 points James Suckling

This shows lovely richness and balance for a 2006, with medium, round tannins that envelop the palate and plenty of currant, chocolate and cedar undertones. It’s long and pretty. Developing nicely. (6/2021)

93 points Wine Enthusiast

Beautifully ripe Cabernet dominates this dense, complex wine. It is balanced so finely, as if on the point of a pin, with black currant juice freshness set against dark tannins and powerful structure. A wine to age, and one of the successes of 2006. *Cellar Selection* (RV) (3/2009)

92 points Int'l Wine Cellar

Full ruby-red. Pungent, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, minerals, bitter chocolate and mocha. Suave, fine-grained and densely packed, with lovely violet lift to its concentrated dark fruit and mineral flavors. Juicy acidity and serious building tannins give this very young wine terrific backbone for aging. Really spreads out to saturate the palate. (ST, in Vinous) 92+ (6/2007)

92 points Wine Spectator

There's an excellent dark color to this, with blowsy, rich aromas of crushed blackberry and currant. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. The center palate will fill in with time. This has lovely balance. (JS) (3/2009)

91 points Wine Advocate

The 2006 Château Pichon Baron has more red than black fruit on the nose, quite showy with hints of crème de cassis and then later it calms down to reveal classic pencil lead aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth. This is quite assertive and grippy, although later vintages have evinced more precision and mineralité on the finish. Still, this is a fine if rather burly Pichon Baron. (NM) (5/2016)

90 points Vinous

The 2006 Pichon-Baron has the same showy crème de cassis–tinged bouquet that I have remarked upon in previous bottles, pure but missing the complexity of the 2004 and 2005. The medium-bodied palate is bold and assertive, with thick, chewy tannin.... I am intrigued to see how it will age. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château. (NM) (1/2019)