In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, plum, violet, mocha, vanilla, cedar, cassis
Palate: ripe plum, dark chocolate, leather, spice, graphite, fleshy texture
Micro-estate garagiste Pomerol with supremely hedonistic Merlot character: mocha-laced plum and violet aromatics, a voluptuous, fleshy palate, and remarkable concentration from just 400-600 cases per year.
What it pairs with
-
Roast lamb with rosemary and garlic
The plush Merlot fruit and vanilla oak frame the sweet lamb fat beautifully; herbal rosemary echoes cedar notes. -
Duck breast with fig sauce
Sweet dried fruit and dark cherry in the wine are a natural counterpart to rich poultry and fruity accompaniments. -
Truffle pasta with aged butter
The earthy luxury of truffle and richness of butter are matched by the wine's mocha depth and full body. -
Aged hard cow's-milk cheese (Beaufort, Gruyere)
Nutty crystalline cheese amplifies the wine's cedar and spice while the tannins stay integrated.
History
Le Pin was purchased from bankruptcy in 1979 by Jacques Thienpont (cousin of the Thienpont family at Vieux Chateau Certan) for a modest sum. Robert Parker's enthusiastic praise of the 1982 vintage transformed it into one of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world. The 2003 entire vintage was declassified by the estate. Jacques's son Axel Thienpont manages the property today.
- 1979 — First vintage produced by Jacques Thienpont
- 1982 — Parker acclaim launches Le Pin's cult status
- 2003 — Entire vintage declassified due to extreme heat
Facts
- Producer
- Le Pin
- Grapes
- Merlot (100%)
- Classification
- Pomerol AOC
- Oak
- 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels; malolactic fermentation in barrel
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Production
- 6,000 bottles
- Price
- €3500-6000 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1979
Scores
- Wine Advocate 100 (2000 vintage, reviewed 2003)
- Decanter 100 (1982 vintage, reviewed 2019)
- Wine Advocate 99 (2022 vintage, reviewed 2025)