Château LE PIN 2023

Description

Neal Martin 97-99 www.vinous.com
The 2023 Le Pin was picked between September 11 and 23 at 39hL/ha—four pickings according to age of vine and plot. It matured in 65% new oak (this figure has gradually reduced since the 2020 vintage). They had no mildew, due to the free-draining gravel soils, though the Thienponts saw more at L’If. I love this nose. This is so pure and refined, it seems to embrace and gently hug the senses, like your favorite aunt or uncle. It blossoms in the glass to reveal subtle crushed stone and graphite notes. The palate has unerring symmetry, finely chiseled tannins and a linear, penetrating finish that goes on and on. This is one of the best vintages of Le Pin I have tasted from barrel, more serious and more floral than some recent vintages.

Yves Beck 97-98 points www.yvesbeck.wine
La notion de précision n’est plus à démontrer depuis belle lurette à Le Pin. Sur ce millésime, le vin profite du climat tempéré, très bordelais, avec des hauts et des bas, du froid et du chaud, de la pluie et des pics de chaleurs à 37°C. La symbiose entre des notes mûres et la fraîcheur est parfaite. Il affiche également de la minéralité, que l’on retrouve régulièrement à Le Pin, une minéralité qu’il doit à des graves rouges ferrugineuses. Légèrement suave en attaque, le vin affiche une texture soyeuse, élégante, portée par des tannins veloutés qui dévoilent leur puissance avec parcimonie tout en étant de pair avec le caractère vif de l’acidité. Cette dernière assure l’énergie nécessaire pour créer la symbiose nécessaire et le résultat est exceptionnel. Un Le Pin tout en finesse qui se déroule subtilement, qui affiche de la puissance et du tempérament, puis, surtout, de la finesse… encore et toujours !  2029-2048  

Jean-Marc Quarin 97 points www.quarin.com
Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité et tellement subtil. Notes délicates de fleurs et de truffe à l’agitation du verre. Une délicatesse qu’il conserve en bouche où il se montre suave, ascendant dans son déroulé, profond et presque aérien. Ensemble à l’hédonisme fort, sans rien céder à l’esthétique. De la race. 100 % merlot. Degré d’alcool : 14° – pH : 3,75. Rendement : 39 hl/ha.

Antonio Galloni 96-99 www.vinous.com
The 2023 Le Pin is all sensuality. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2023 possesses notable depth. It is an especially exuberant, dense Le Pin. Dark-toned fruit, iron, leather, scorched earth and incense gradually unfurl in the glass. The long, sustained finish is suggestive of what is certain to be a very bright future. I tasted the 2023 from the en primeur blend and then directly from barrels crafted by Seguin-Moreau, the historical cooper of choice here, and Taransaud, a more recent addition. I found young wines of tremendous freshness and verve. This is a magnificent showing from Jacques Thienpont, Fiona Morrison MW and Guillaume Thienpont.

William Kelley 94-96 points www.erobertparker.com
The 2023 Le Pin is another strong effort for this small Pomerol winery, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, exotic spices and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, polished and suave, it’s velvety and refined, with attractive purity of fruit, lively acids and a long, gently vanillin-inflected finish. It’s the result of multiple harvests, starting with young vines, between September 11 and 23.

Georgina Hindle 97 points  www.decanter.com
A floral and opulent nose; irises, and strongly-scented dark fruits – plums, blackcurrants and black cherries. Really very expressive aromatics, opulent and forward. Smooth and silky, really caressing and gentle, smooth and delicate, the power is there underneath but subtly while the ripe dark black and cool blue fruit makes most of its mark. The florality and clear iron (really accentuated in a cool vintage) is fully apparent, minerality is also very present with black sticky, spicy liquorice and graphite. It’s a more serious Le Pin, certainly than the 2022, this has muscle but slightly hidden, it’s firm and nicely structured but has edges of spice, tobacco and dark chocolate as well as bite and tang but all with an elevated elegance. Serious but sophisticated and confident. Ageing 65% new, 35% once used barrels. Instead of 100%. Extracted one third less this vintage. 3.75pH.