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.