Château Le Pin 2015

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Le Pin 2015

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a deep garnet to garnet-purple hue, enhanced by a beautiful brilliance and great visual intensity.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the nose opens with intense aromas of very ripe black and red fruit, such as plum jam, blueberry and raspberry coulis. With aeration, it reveals notes of exotic spices, cinnamon and cardamom, harmoniously intertwined with delicate floral hints of violet and rose, along with subtle woody and mineral nuances.

Palate
Full and muscular, the palate offers a dense texture supported by abundant, ripe and velvety tannins. A fine acidity lends freshness and agility to the whole, leading to a finish of exceptional length, marked by spicy and mineral notes and light saline touches.

Food and wine pairings
This red wine pairs perfectly with fine roasted or grilled meats, such as beef fillet or rack of lamb. It is also a wonderful match for tender game served with a black fruit sauce, or for lightly aged hard cheeses such as a mature Comté.

Serving and cellaring
To enjoy this 2015 vintage at its best, serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, ideally in large Bordeaux-style glasses. Decanting for one to two hours is recommended in its youth. This age-worthy wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop favourably until around 2045.

The concentration and elegance of a red wine from Pomerol

The estate
Established as an independent estate in 1979 following Jacques Thienpont's acquisition of a plot, Château Le Pin has become a leading name in the Bordeaux region of France. Located in the Pomerol appellation, this micro-estate of around 2.7 hectares is now run by the Thienpont family. Jacques Thienpont oversees the winemaking, while Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont tend the vines. Although it holds no official classification, the estate stands out for its tiny production and state-of-the-art gravity-flow facilities, giving rise to a highly sought-after wine.

The vineyard
Situated on the central plateau of Pomerol, around the hamlet of Catusseau, the vineyard forms a single block surrounding the winery. The vines, with an average age of 32 to 38 years, thrive on an early-ripening, warm terroir of sandy gravel and clay over a limestone base. This soil is particularly rich in "crasse de fer", a local feature that promotes ripeness and aromatic complexity. The vineyard is managed with the utmost rigour, with strictly limited yields and meticulous sorting at harvest.

The vintage
The 2015 vintage benefited from ideal weather conditions, beginning with a mild spring followed by a hot summer. The dry, sunny late season allowed the berries to reach even and optimal ripeness. Cool nights in the run-up to the harvest played a key role in preserving fine acidity in the grapes, ensuring perfect balance.

Winemaking and ageing
In a modern winery operating entirely by gravity, vinification is carried out plot by plot in seven small stainless steel vats. Transfers are made without any pumping in order to preserve texture and aromas. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new barrels, a signature practice of the estate. The wine is then aged for around 18 months in French oak barrels, nearly 75% of which are new.

Grape variety
100% Merlot