Le Pin
Le Pin, is a rich, expansive, 100% Merlot wine that soars from the glass with aromas of raspberry preserve, plums, wild berries, rose petals and licorice, framed by a deftly judged patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, supple and velvety, it's broad and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit that's framed by lively acids and powdery tannins, concluding with a long, aromatic finish. Rich in gravel on the surface, Le Pin's vines are rooted in clay, which no doubt helps to explain how this wine can perform so well in warm, dry vintages. - William Kelley, RobertParker.com
Le Pin is a prestigious wine from Bordeaux, renowned both within the region and globally, despite its lack of classification. Its debut in 1979 marked a significant turning point for the property. Previously owned by the Laubie family since 1924, the grapes were used for producing ordinary Pomerol wines or sold off. However, in 1978, the Thienpont family, led by León Thienpont, acquired the 2-hectare estate for a substantial sum of one million French francs. Despite the poor condition of the winery and cellar at the time of purchase, the Thienponts transformed the estate into Château Le Pin.
Initially, there were plans to integrate Le Pin's vineyards into Vieux Chateau Certan, but that idea was quickly dismissed, and Château Le Pin emerged as its own distinct entity. Its initial vintage was priced at a modest 100 French francs per bottle, lower than Vieux Chateau Certan. However, following Robert Parker's rave reviews of the 1982 vintage, Le Pin's reputation soared, making it one of Bordeaux's most expensive and sought-after wines.
Named after a solitary pine tree near the winery, the estate was relatively modest in appearance compared to the prestige of its wine until recently. However, in 2010, Jacques Theinpont embarked on a project to construct a new winery and Château, which was completed in 2012.
