A major sleeper of the vintage from the owners of Pichon Longueville Baron, this blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon displays plenty of coffee bean, creme de cassis and sweet cherry notes in a very intense, full-bodied, opulent style There is some serious power underlying the extravagant fruit. The 2009 Pibran is a wine to search out, as it is very fairly priced.

Tasted at Château Pichon-Baron. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this Pibran has a deep garnet core. It has a very pure but very tight nose, a little reticent early in the morning. Blackberry, a touch of black plum and boysenberry. Very smooth and sensuous on the entry, supple tannins, touches of graphite interlacing the black fruit, good acidity, quite linear towards the finish but the Merlot lends it an agreeable corpulence. Tasted March 2010.

(a 60/40 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon; 13.6% alcohol; pH 3.78; 81 IPT; 50% new oak) Inky black. Perfumed, classic Pauillac scents of blackcurrant, cedar and black pepper, with hints of minerals and sour red cherry. A bit rigid on entry, with mid-palate flavors of coffee and dark plum leading to a spicy, chocolatey, merlot-dominated finish. Fairly full-bodied and nicely balanced wine with very smooth tannins and a trace of finishing heat. This is an extremely good Pibran-not surprising perhaps, given the estate's location on the same geological outcropping as Pontet-Canet and d'Armailhac. Technical director Jean-Rene Matignon told me that the '09 Pibran is particularly loaded with merlot grown on limestone soil, which accounts for its greater-than-usual power and structure. Though it lacks the voluptuous flesh and complexity of a top first or second growth, I can't even begin to think of a similarly outstanding Pibran at the same stage of its development.

Moderately saturated medium red-ruby. Expressive aromas of currant, spices, licorice, coffee and tobacco leaf. Sweet and lush for this bottling, with very ripe cherry and dark berry fruit flavors complicated by roasted herbs. Not hugely deep, but harmonious acidity intensifies and enlivens the middle palate. This nicely high-pitched Pibran should give early pleasure and evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 12 years.

[60CS/40M] Freshly ripe, intense blackcurrant nose, subtle gravel behind; very nicely balanced, crisply rich, vital middleweight with a very restrained tannin; a nice middle palate conmplexity and excellent cassis fruit length. Fresh, complete Pibran. 2014-20+