Château Le Pin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Château Le Pin, or simply Le Pin, is an unclassed Bordeaux wine from the appellation Pomerol. The unusually small estate is located on the Right Bank of France’s Gironde estuary in the commune of Pomerol near the hamlet of Catusseau, and its wine is periodically one of the world's most expensive red wines.

[edit] History

Madame Laubie, whose family had owned the plot since 1924 sold the vineyard in 1979 to the Belgian Thienpont family for 1 million francs.[1] Developed by Marcel and Gérard Thienpont (of Vieux Château Certan) on less than 2 hectares,[2] wine was produced by microcuvée from a farmhouse basement.[3] The property was given the name Le Pin by the Thienponts from a solitary pine tree that grows near the winery.[4]

Considered by some a predecessor of the "garage wine", this idea has wide opposition, including by the proprietors, on the basis of the merits of the terroir, and the absence of extreme measures to compensate for mediocre grapes.[5]

Occasionally the most expensive wine in the world,[1] continually receiving high ratings from wine critics and produced in extremely small numbers, Le Pin bottles are a constant presence on the wine auction market.[6]

Currently managed by Jacques Thienpont, additional tiny plots of land have been acquired. The winery is among the clients of the oenologist Dany Rolland, wife of Michel Rolland.[1]

[edit] Production

The vineyards extend 5 acres (2.0 ha) of clay soil, with a grape variety of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the vines averaging 32 years of age. Typically 600 to 700 cases are produced per year,[1] although some years no wine is produced.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Berry Bros. & Rudd. Château Le Pin.
  2. ^ Peppercorn, David (2003). Bordeaux. London: Mitchell Beazley, p.523. ISBN 1-84000-927-6. 
  3. ^ Rand, Margaret, The Drinks Business (December 2007). Small but perfectly formed.
  4. ^ a b Cellarnotes.net. Château Le Pin.
  5. ^ Apstein, Michael, Wine Review Online (August 30, 2005). A Conversation with Christian Moueix.
  6. ^ Siudut, John , Wine Spectator (March 29, 2007). Spotlight on: Château Le Pin 1998.
Languages