A more challenging vintage than the 1986, with a lack of sunshine, and this is soft in colour, rose pink and tawny. Aromatics of tobacco, soy and earth, definitely reaching the end of its plateau, although charming and still with structure, aniseed spices and smoked cedar, builds slowly over the palate, and there is pleasure to be had, but needs to be drunk within the next decade. 65hl/h yeld, first year with AXA Millésimes as owners, and Jean-Michel Cazes as director.

The 1987 Pichon-Longueville-Baron is an excellent wine for the vintage. Rich, long, supple, and fat, this tasty, generously endowed Pauillac should drink well for another 5-7 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-1996. Last tasted, 4/92.

The 1987 Pichon-Baron, a vintage that I have not tasted for many years, has acute greenness on the nose. The palate is bitter and green, clearly overcropped and underripe. Don’t touch it with a barge pole. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château.