Château Nénin 2011

Well-built, juicy, dense, with perfectly ripe, firm tannins; an excellent wine, as digestible as it is well made.

This is the Right Bank outpost of the Delon family that also owns Leoville Las-Cases. While they have made major improvements to Nenin, I feel it still has a Medoc-like personality in spite of the fact it is about 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The 2011 Nenin displays an attractive, clean, raspberry and black currant-scented nose, good richness, and a Medoc-like firmness. It is a medium-bodied, pleasant 2011 to drink over the next 7-8 years.

Direct and lightly firm, with a cherry pit note guiding the core of raspberry and cherry coulis flavors. Light spice and sandalwood shadings course through the lightly taut finish. Best from 2015 through 2020. 4,165 cases made.

Fresh and tangy with citrus, berry and currant character. Full to medium body with firm tannins and a mineral finish. Better in 2017.

Biscuity sweetness on the nose. A bit toasty. Much lighter textured than most in this flight. Juicy but slightly bitter on the finish. (JH)

Ready to go, the wine is medium-bodied, developed, showing plenty of Cabernet Franc character, with its flowers, mint, earthy red plum, and cocoa; the palate is soft, bright, fresh, and the finish is filled with red plums.

Restrained start with tobacco leaf, subtle violet scent and morello cherries, followed by dried rosemary. On the firm palate with a finely austere texture, ripe extract and medium body. Focused finish with delicately crumbly astringency—definitely decant!

Bright garnet with medium density, fine rim. The bouquet is quite reductive, making it hard to classify on the nose. Juicy palate, the berry notes are refreshing, lots of red currants and red cherries, juicy palate with well-supported, almost peppery acidity, slightly firm finish. In summary:

(78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 44 hl/ha) Restrained, herbal bouquet, red and blue berries, mint, cherries. Silky, medium-bodied palate with delicate fruit, good medium tannins, spicy aromatics, light, dry finish. 17/20 2017 - 2032

This is balanced, graceful, with white pepper spice, complex and concentrated, with pencil lead and grilled oak. Plenty of raspberry leaf and violet flowers, showing precision and grace — less Pomerol signature than in the warmer vintages, but it is a delicious wine with plenty of life ahead. 35% new oak.

The tannins are refined and silky with energy. The wine has filled out nicely since our first tastings and has gained in refinement.

A dense, tannic, tightly knit version built for long aging, with elegance.

Nénin 2011 shows a youthful, inviting character. It is not a typical Pomerol in the way it expresses itself. Pleasant notes of blackcurrant and spices. On the palate, the wine is compact, supported by tight, fresh tannins and a crisp acidic structure. It is sapid and can already be enjoyed.

Dark color of normal intensity. Fruity, creamy nose. Soft on entry, rounded and flavorful in the mid-palate, this wine caresses the palate. Normal body. Lovely, fine flavor of ripe fruit on the finish. Normal length.

This firm wine has a delicious perfumed character that comes from the high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend. Already delicious, it will become more so as the tannins soften. Drink from 2017.