1999 Château Le Pin
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Le Pin is a vintage that I have only tasted on one occasion. Fiona Morrison commented that she liked how this is aging, and that is borne out on the surprisingly earthy but fresh and lively nose of blackberry and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This has good density, freshness and balance and gentle grip. It has dispensed with the exoticism that it displayed a decade ago and become more serious and introverted in some ways, yet it has a sense of brightness too. The silky finish is trademark Le Pin and is clearly à point . Tasted from an ex- château bottle at the estate.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
This is an example of a wine that has gained considerable weight since I tasted it in 2000 and 2001. It is exotic and sexy, with a cunning display of super-ripe mocha and toast-infused, jammy black cherry fruit, low acidity, and a savory personality. It appears ready to drink, but will undoubtedly take on more delineation and structure as its ages in the bottle. It is a luxuriously rich, decadent 100% Merlot that will be at its finest between 2004-2015.
Epitomises elegance, grace and limpidity, with fine violet perfumes infusing the wine and the very silkiest of tannins. Decanter.com
About the producer
Owned by Jacques Thienpont, Le Pin is, without doubt, one of the most famous names in wine. One of the three great names of Pomerol, alongside Pétrus and Ch. Lafleur, it is one of the rarest, most expensive and finest wines in Bordeaux – if not the world.