Wine Advisor
Pibran 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Pibran gives up notes of redcurrant jelly, baked plum and blackcurrant cordial with ints of stewed tea, fragrant earth and new leather. Medium-bodied, the palate has great vibrancy, with bags of crunchy fruit and a soft texture, finishing with lovely purity.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
There was just a little frost that affected one parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon at Pibran this year. As a result, this is the highest proportion of Merlot in the blend ever at 68%, blended with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple, the 2017 Pibran gives lovely redcurrants and blackcurrants on the nose with a plummy undercurrent and hints of violets, dark chocolate and wild thyme. The palate is medium-bodied, fine, refreshing and delicately played with plenty of expressive red and black fruits and an herbal lift on the finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Pibran is a juicy, absolutely delicious Pauillac to drink now and over the next decade or so. Sweet tobacco, cedar, licorice, mint and dried cherry add pretty aromatic top notes to round things out. The 2017 is not super complex or structured, but it is a wine of immense pleasure and sensuality. I loved it.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Pibran is plump, juicy and absolutely delicious. Sweet red cherry and raspberry fruit are front and center in this friendly, incredibly appealing Pauillac. In 2017, Pibran has more Merlot in it than Cabernets. Sweet floral and spices open up nicely in the glass, but the 2017 is a wine to enjoy for its exuberant fruit. What a lovely wine this is.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Pibran is aged in 50% new oak and 50% one-year old wood for 18 months. It has a gentle but charming bouquet with more red fruit than I expected given its showing from barrel, more raspberry and wild strawberry. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft rounded opening. Yet, there is ample weight and commendable balance to this Pibran with an almost Burgundy-like purity on the finish. Very fine.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Pibran is aged in 50% new oak for 18 months. It has a crisp, pure blackberry and graphite-scented bouquet that is very precise, one of the most detailed that I have come across with respect to this property. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, chalky tannin. It is not a powerful or deep Pibran, but it is very tensile with an almost flinty finish. Given the reasonable price asked for this Pauillac, this could be one of the buys of 2017. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Pibran is aged in 50% new oak and 50% one-year old wood for 18 months. It has a gentle but charming bouquet with more red fruit than I expected given its showing from barrel, more raspberry and wild strawberry. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft rounded opening. Yet, there is ample weight and commendable balance to this Pibran with an almost Burgundy-like purity on the finish. Very fine.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A fresh red with lots of white pepper and salt. Blackcurrants and blueberries. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Ripe tannins. Nice sweetness at the end. Bright finish.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Aromas of flowers, currants and raspberries follow through to a medium body, tight and creamy tannins and attractive, cool fruit. A little short at the finish. But nicely crafted. Drink in 2021 and onwards.
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.
