Les Tourelles de Longueville is the refined second wine of Château Pichon Baron, one of Pauillac’s most prestigious estates. Crafted primarily from Merlot grown on selected plots surrounding the château, this cuvée offers a softer, more accessible expression of the estate’s grandeur while maintaining its signature depth and structure. The 2017 vintage, shaped by a challenging growing season with episodes of frost, has produced a wine of elegance and precision, favouring freshness, definition, and classical balance over opulence.

On the nose, lifted aromas of blackcurrant, red cherry, and plum are complemented by notes of cedar, graphite, and subtle spice. The palate is poised and refined, with fine-grained tannins and a vibrant line of acidity bringing clarity and energy. There is a restraint here that speaks to the vintage, resulting in a more linear, terroir-driven style of Pauillac. Approachable in its youth, it will reward mid-term cellaring over the next 6–10 years, gaining further nuance and complexity.

The winemaking at Château Pichon Baron, including Les Tourelles de Longueville, is overseen by the talented Christian Seely, Managing Director of AXA Millésimes, alongside Technical Director Nicolas Santier. Together, they have elevated Pichon Baron to the top tier of Pauillac through meticulous vineyard management and a deep respect for terroir. Their philosophy is rooted in precision and purity — allowing each parcel to express its character while maintaining the estate’s signature power and elegance.

Vineyards are farmed sustainably, with careful canopy management and manual harvesting to ensure only the finest fruit reaches the cellar. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with ageing in French oak barrels (around 30–50% new) for about 18 months. For Les Tourelles de Longueville, the focus is on accessibility and charm, using a higher proportion of Merlot to bring plushness and approachability, while still reflecting the gravitas of Pichon Baron’s Pauillac terroir.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s great red wine varieties, prized for its structure, longevity and unmistakable sense of authority. Naturally high in tannin and acidity, it produces wines with depth and backbone, often built around dark fruit flavours such as blackcurrant, blackberry and plum, alongside classic notes of cedar, tobacco and graphite. These qualities make Cabernet particularly well suited to ageing, where time in bottle softens its frame and allows greater complexity to emerge. While famously associated with Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon expresses itself differently across regions and climates. In warmer areas it shows generosity and ripeness, with plush fruit and a warming richness; in cooler climates, it leans towards restraint, freshness and aromatic lift. What unites all great examples is their ability to reward patience — whether through decanting to allow the wine to open fully, or through years in the cellar. Cabernet is a wine for slower enjoyment, unfolding gradually and offering more with every glass.

Merlot

Bordeaux - located in southwest France, is one of the world’s most renowned and influential wine regions, celebrated for its historic châteaux, age-worthy wines, and unparalleled blending tradition. Divided by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, Bordeaux is home to two stylistic pillars: the Left Bank, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Right Bank, where Merlot takes the lead. The region’s moderate maritime climate, gravelly and clay-limestone soils, and long growing season provide ideal conditions for producing structured reds, elegant dry whites, and some of the world’s most famous sweet wines, notably from Sauternes. Bordeaux’s appellations—such as Pauillac, Saint-Émilion, Margaux, and Pessac-Léognan—are benchmarks for quality and expression. With centuries of winemaking tradition, strict classification systems, and a global reputation for excellence, Bordeaux continues to set the standard for fine wine around the world.