Les Tourelles de Longueville Pauillac
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Les Tourelles de Longueville is the second wine of Château Pichon Longueville Baron, a prestigious Bordeaux estate located in the Pauillac appellation.
- Named after the château’s decorative turrets, it is a predominantly Merlot-based red wine known for its charming, accessible style.
- It offers a glimpse into the elegance of its parent estate and can be enjoyed young or aged, making it a popular introduction to the world of Pichon Baron wines.
Varietal Composition: 66% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
Elaboration: Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted for quality. Vinification occurs in a modern vat house, starting with a cold soak to enhance fruit aromas. Controlled fermentation occurs at 25°C to 29°C, followed by 18 to 23 days of maceration. The wine ages in French oak barrels for 12 to 15 months, using 30% to 50% new oak for subtle spice and vanilla notes without overpowering the Merlot.
Tasting Notes: A medium to full-bodied wine with notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum. It has a spicy, earthy, and tobacco-leaf profile, with a long, smooth finish.
PRESS
2018 – 94 James Suckling | 93 Wine Enthusiast | 92 Vinous | 93 Jeb Dunnuck | 91 Falstaff | 90 Wine Advocate | 90 Wine Spectator
2019 – 94 James Suckling | 91-93 Wine Advocate | 93 Vinous | 92 Jeb Dunnuck | 92 Decanter | 91 Wine Spectator | 91 Falstaff
2022 – 93 Vinous | 92-93 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Château Pichon Longueville Baron, or Pichon Baron, is a premier Pauillac estate in Bordeaux, France, known for its powerful, long-lived wines that showcase exceptional depth and elegance. Classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru) in the 1855 classification, the estate produces its prestigious Grand Vin primarily from old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon, with a significant portion of Merlot blended in, and is aged in a high percentage of new French oak barrels. Owned by the French insurance company AXA since 1987, the estate has been significantly upgraded, emphasizing quality over quantity to produce complex, concentrated wines from its gravelly terroir situated near the Gironde estuary.