2009 Le Pin, Pomerol

One of the few great success stories on the Right Bank in 2009, Le Pin is a beautiful, intense but supremely elegant wine. Richly concentrated, the power is evident underneath but the very fine backbone and beautiful, silky tannins just carry the long finish on and on. Jacques Thienpont picked his tiny, one hectare property early to achieve one of the lowest alcohol levels on this side of the river (13.5%); an amazing achievement which has resulted in an astonishingly harmonious wine. Absolutely delicious.

Very seductive and gourmand. Ripe, red fruit and spice. Burgundian in character. Rich and concentrated but with lift and freshness. Plenty of charm. As good, if not better than the excellent 2001.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - April 2010)

Picked 22 and 25 Sep just after the rain (deluge 19 and 20 Sep) so ’more water in the wine’. Nice fragrance. Deckchair vintage. Lively and fresh and not obviously rich Merlot. Rain revived the vines. Very suave and lush. Very refreshing, rather feminine. Plush and flattering and really quite delicate. Polished and not at all heavy. This could be a standout Le Pin, I think.
(Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - April 2010)

Exceptional purity and a blockbuster nose of mocha, black cherry liqueur, mulberries and plums are followed by an extravagantly rich wine that seems to have a nearly endless finish. Truly haute couture of Merlot, so to speak, this wine has a finish that goes well past a minute, with wonderfully sweet tannins and a provocative, concentrated, broad mouthfeel that is remarkably luxurious. This is amazing stuff! It should drink well for 20-25 years.

This is undeniably the greatest Le Pin I have tasted at such an infantile age. There are about 500 cases of this wine, which is made by the Thienpont family, the owners of Vieux Chateau Certan. One hundred percent Merlot, it continues to possess the exoticism of previous vintages, but the oak at present is far better crafted and integrated than in the debut vintage of 1979.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - February 2012)

This is classic Merlot from Pomerol on the nose, with black licorice, black olive and rich fruit. Yet it's subtle and pretty. Full-bodied, and chewy, with loads of power. Tannic and muscular. Chocolate, coffee and vanilla bean.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr 2010)