Wine Advisor
Pibran 2009
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at home, the Pibran ’09 is a great little Pauillac endowed with a crisp blackberry and graphite nose that wears its heart on its sleeve. The palate is medium-bodied with good weight and grainy tannins. It is not as supple as I remember it out of barrel but that is not bad thing. Certainly the Merlot component appears to have receded and Cabernet is in the driving seat. It has impressive structure and a beautifully defined, conservative finish that leaves you wanting another sip. Tasted February 2012.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Chateau 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.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. There is a lot of ripe fleshy Merlot on the nose with wild strawberry and red cherry scents. Composed and refined compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is linear, crisp and harmonious, though not overly complex towards the finish. I was hoping for a little more after its performance last year. Tasted January 2013.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2009 Pibran has a precocious bouquet of sumptuous black cherries, crème de cassis and violet aromas: Pauillac mixed with Margaux. I admire the purity and ostentatious nature of this Pibran. The voluminous palate is medium-bodied with bold tannin, although it lacks a little tension and detail toward the finish and leaves a slight metallic aftertaste that is nagging. Tasted at the Pibran vertical at Château Pichon-Baron.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Lots of blueberries, chocolate and spices on the nose and palate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a fruity, juicy finish. Delicious flavors. Best in 2016.
About the Producer
The birth of Chateau Pibran dates back to the start of the 20th century. The estate was bought in 1941 by Paul Pibran Billa. Paul Pibran Billa renamed the property, using his middle name of Pibran. From that day forward the estate was known as Chateau Pibran.Chateau Pibran was purchased by the AXA group in 1987 from the Billa family. At the time of the purchase, Jean Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages was placed in charge of managing the estate for AXA.In 2001, the AXA group enlarged the estate with the purchase of additional vines in Pauillac when they obtained the neighboring estate, Chateau La Tour Pibran from the Gounel family. The 17-hectare vineyard of Chateau Pibran is planted to 54% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot was removed and replaced by the Cabernet Franc. With that much Merlot planted in their vineyards, Chateau Pibran has perhaps the largest percentage of Merlot in Pauillac.
