Close
Search
Filters
Critics scores
100 By Robert Parker
99 By James Suckling
99 By Wine Spectator
19 By Rene Gabriel
Exceptional purity and a blockbuster nose of mocha, black cherry liqueur, mulberries and plums are followed by an extravagantly rich wine that seems to have a nearly endless finish. Truly haute couture of Merlot, so to speak, this wine has a finish that goes well past a minute, with wonderfully sweet tannins and a provocative, concentrated, broad mouthfeel that is remarkably luxurious. This is amazing stuff! It should drink well for 20-25 years. This is undeniably the greatest Le Pin I have tasted at such an infantile age. There are about 500 cases of this wine, which is made by the Thienpont family, the owners of Vieux Chateau Certan. One hundred percent Merlot, it continues to possess the exoticism of previous vintages, but the oak at present is far better crafted and integrated than in the debut vintage of 1979.
Producer
Château Le Pin
Undoubtedly the most petite property in Pomerol, if not in all of Bordeaux, Château Le Pin consistently produces the world’s most outstanding Merlots. What started as a hobby just two decades ago for owner Jacques Thienpont, bottles of Le Pin are now an auction favorite, due to their exclusive rarity. Ripe, opulent and approachable cannot even begin to describe the decadent lavishly oaked wines that hide inside a bottle of Le Pin. With a rather recent history, the first vintage of Le Pin Grand Vin was in 1979, the same year that the Thienpont purchased the mere 1.6-hectare estate. Today, the property extends over 5-hectares. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in stainless-steel tanks before being matured in new oak barriques for 14 to 18 months. Fully equipped with a new château and winemaking facility, Jacques works alongside consulting vintner, Dany Rolland, the wife of famous cult-vigneron Michel, while Alexandre Thienpont manages the vineyards. One of the more exotic wines coming from Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Le Pin is a five-star wine and its super limited production adds even more to its worldly appeal.