1993 Le Pin

This micro-estate is easy to criticize given the absurd prices ($8,000-$12,000 per case!) the 500 or so cases fetch in the auction markets. Le Pin is one of the most exotic, concentrated, flashy wines of Bordeaux, but when it is selling at six times the price of wines such as Clinet, La Conseillante, L'Evangile, and La Fleur de Gay, readers are justified in thinking that some wine buyers have lost their sense of reality. The 1993 reveals the evolved dark plum/garnet color of Le Pin, as well as an exotic, kinky, oaky, herb, coffee, jammy, black-cherry-scented nose. The exaggerated aromatics are followed by a not-surprisingly decadent, delicious, low acid, medium-bodied wine crammed with fruit. Those of us who can remember as children gorging ourselves on lavishly rich banana splits, hot fudge sundaes, etc., will no doubt appreciate that in wine terms, this is what Le Pin offers. Anticipated maturity: now-2010.

Holding on very well. a delicious bottle. Soft and plummy, with smoky, light coffee bean aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with velvety texture and a long finish.--Le Pin non-blind vertical. Drink now. James Suckling,Wine Spectator2008

Tasted at Bipin Desai’s Le Pin vertical in Los Angeles. A deeper colour compared to the 1992. There is tangibly more fruit intensity on the nose than the previous two vintages with blackberry and black plum, complemented by subtle hints of smoky bacon and burning embers. Good definition and lift. The medium-bodied palate has superb acidity, very well poised with strawberry and raspberry leaf, but things begin to unravel towards the finish that is rather dry and attenuated, almost rustic even, leaving an unsatisfactory taste in the mouth. I am sure this has seen better days, but now it is reaching the end of its plateau. Drink now. 600 cases produced. Tasted November 2008. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com