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  • Country ranking ?

    10
  • Producer ranking ?

    1
  • Decanting time

    5h
  • When to drink

    from 2020
  • Food Pairing

    Roast Duck Breast with Dried Cherry Sauc

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Jacques Thienpont has been making miniscule quantities of this fabulous Pomerol since 1979. Such is the worldwide demand that it is one of the most expensive wines on planet earth. The 'Romanée Conti of Bordeaux', is elevaged in mainly Seguin Moreau new oak and made from 100% Merlot. However this is no blockbuster "vin de garage", Le Pin is intense yet delicate with exceptional purity.

Jacques Thienpont was in good sp...

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The Story

Château Le Pin, or simply Le Pin, is an unclassed Bordeaux wine from the appellation Pomerol. There has never been an official classification of Pomerol. Even so, Chateau Le Pin commands prices that put it at levels equal to the best wines of Bordeaux. The unusually small estate is located on the Right Bank of France’s Gironde estuary, and its wine is periodically one of the world's most expensive red wines. Le Pin was the first of the "garage...

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Wine Information

Made from 100% Merlot (one percent for each rating point I've assigned), this wine is explosively rich and compelling. Dense plum/purple, it boasts the remarkable delineation and freshness that are hallmarks of this vintage. From a much smaller production than normal because of Merlot's poor flowering, the very hot, dry growing and harvest conditions, this is a super-endowed, very rich Le Pin with ...

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Vintage 2010

Drought and cool temperatures contribute to optimal ripeness

The sum of summer temperatures in 2010 was close to that of summer 2009 (962°C compared to 982°C), but decidedly chillier than those of 2005, which totalled 1052°C. These cool temperatures had a substantial influence on the balance of our wines, preserving a good level of acidity and attractive aromatic freshness. 

Very little rainfall (only 267 mm) from March to August 2010 ge...

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Average Bottle Price

3890 2023 2015 2014
2 020€ -54.2% 4 410€ +52.6% 2 890€ +3.7% 2 788€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Latest Pro-tasting notes

29 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep and Healthy

ending

Long, Round and Flavorful

nose

Youthful, Pure and Opulent

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, High alcohol content, Perfectly balanced, Well-Integrated, Complex, Vigor, Elegant and Vivid

Verdict

Transparent and Masterpiece

Written Notes

The gorgeous 2010 Le Pin offers aromas of blackberries, plums, cassis, with a wide spectrum of subtle flavors, ranging from spices and Chinese herbs to cedar. These flavors are enveloped in cashmere tannins, producing a wine of impressive intensity and subtlety and a very long finish. This is a wine for our grandchildren.

96 points

  • 96p

Blend from different barrels. Very dark crimson and voluptuous. Lovely combination of richness, savour and freshness. A big step up. Fresh minerality on the finish. Jacques Thienpont was worried about the Merlots, and Alexandre Thienpont encouraged picking here so that he could pick at Vieux Château Certan. Most unusual freshness. Sinewy. Really racy but with great density. Had two Oz oenologists on hand in case they needed help in alcohol reduction but in the event didn’t need to use them. Jacques says he would like to have waited a little longer but the results aren’t too bad, are they?

  • 93p

Made from 100% Merlot (one percent for each rating point I've assigned), this wine is explosively rich and compelling. Dense plum/purple, it boasts the remarkable delineation and freshness that are hallmarks of this vintage. From a much smaller production than normal because of Merlot's poor flowering, the very hot, dry growing and harvest conditions, this is a super-endowed, very rich Le Pin with its exotic new oak largely buried behind its extravagant concentration, power and richness. I don't know what its natural alcohol level is, but I suspect it is pushing 15% in 2010. Rich, tannic, but exceptionally well-endowed, this is a sublime example of Merlot at its very finest. Forget it for 5-7 years (which is somewhat unusual for Le Pin) and drink it over the following three decades.

  • 100p

Château Le Pin 2010 reveals an expressive nose that combines the scents of black fruits, violets, licorice and fresh almonds. The wine is silky and offers perfectly integrated tannins in the mouth. It shows power, without dryness or astringency. A beautifully balanced wine with an extremely long finish. To be drank before 2040.

  • 98p

Sublime nose of chocolate mixed with beautiful black cherries, violets, silky palate filled with black cherries, astonishing richness, balance and structure.

  • 99p
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Information

Origin

Pomerol, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Extraordinary

Value For Money

Best buy

Investment potential

Excellent

Fake factory

None

Glass time

3h
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