A punchy red with blackberry and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, yet extremely refined and polished with a long finish. 50% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot.

The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is deep purple in color. Matured in 50% new oak, it has a clean, precise bouquet, a mélange of black and blue berry fruit laced with cedar and mint, quintessentially Pauillac. The wonderful palate is very smooth and silky, delivering quite lush black fruit that disguises the structure behind it. Almost symmetrical in poise, this might well be the first Griffons that is just a mere nose behind the Grand Vin, perhaps in part thanks to the contribution of the 8% Petit Verdot. Not to be overlooked.
- vinous.com

The 2020 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is fabulous. Bright and intensely savory, the 2020 screams with character. The Cabernet seems especially expressive today. Inky red fruit, spice, dried flowers, crushed rocks and blood orange build as this exquisitely perfumed, nuanced Pauillac shows off its considerable pedigree. This is a terrific showing.
Vinous.com

Lots of bright red and blue fruits, violets, graphite, and cedar notes emerge from the 2020 Les Griffons De Pichon, which is normally a more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated second wine from this estate, but in 2020 checks in as 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. The élevage will span 18 months and it sees slightly more new oak than the Les Tourelles, being brought up in 50% new French oak. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has ripe tannins, notable freshness, and a great finish. It's going to need bottle age. The quality of both second wines from Pichon Baron is sky-high.

(50% M, 42% CS, 8% PV; 25% harvest; 14.2% ABV; 50% new)
Plumply fresh ripe fruit to smell; rich and vital, gently tannic; deep, long, and elegant and even in a fine, fleshy, flowing Merlot-dominated way; at this stage, quite oaky, if very much as a condiment, good length to taste, a real sense of density and matter, a nice complexity and excellent persistence. Should be accessible fairly early and be a very satisfying Pauillac. First-rate second wine, and another one likely to be good value. 2026–40+.

This is a Richly textured, round, lush, fruit filled, medium/full-bodied, earthy expression of Pauillac. You find tobacco, cedar chest, forest floor, flowers, blackberry, oak and vanilla along with red and black currants. The wine is sweet, juicy, lifted and forward. It's round in the mouth with ripe, polished tannins and a creamy finish. This will be best with 3-5 years of age. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is produced from a vat selection made before the final blending. 91-93

50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Slightly different blend as it contains the Petit Verdot that is usually in Les Tourelles. Cabernet, though, defines the aromatics with cassis and crushed-rock notes. Serious structure, the tannins present but matted and long. Demands some patience. (JL)

Cask sample. Plush and succulent, but after the impressive fruit there does seem to be a bit of hollowness on the finish. Violet and olive on the palate. Medium persistence, which is fair for a second wine. (RH)

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Invitingly pure dark-fruit aroma with some oak sweetness. Pretty oaky and woody on the palate and could do with more fruit at the core, which may emerge with time. Chewy finish. Going back to retaste this wine, which was highly rated by the group, I felt I had underscored it and missed the lively Cabernet fruit under the dominant oak, especially on the finish. So I upped my score by half a point. (JH)