2015 Le Pin

France / Bordeaux / Pomerol Rouge
 
Le Pin in Pomerol is not an actual château, although it is often referred to as such in the wine-naming traditions of Bordeaux (one should be aware that there is also a Château Le Pin in Bordeaux AOC).
 
Soil: Sand, clay, and gravel with iron traces.
Surface: 2 hectares.
Average age of the vineyard: 35 years.
Grape varieties: 100% Merlot.
Making process: Hand-picked grapes. Meticulous vinification in stainless steel vats. Aged for 18 months in new barrels.
Ageing potential: More than 15 years.
 
The Wine Cellar Insider/Jeff Leve tasting notes 99/100 (July 2016): "Good things come to those that wait. Due to the higher than normal sugar levels in the wine, 2015 Le Pin was not able to be tasted during the premiers. This stunner was certainly worth waiting for. Deep ruby in color, with truffle, floral, black and blue fruit and a touch of kirsch in the nose, the wine shows a lush, silky, decadent, mouth feel. The opulent finish does not quit, as the spicy cherry griotte, kirsch, marzipan and clay tinged finish lasts close to 60 seconds! The wine reached 14.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.72, produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels. If you cannot afford a bottle, and not many people can, try and find a rich friend that is lucky enough to buy the wine. It is going to be hard to find as only 500 cases were made this year".
 
"After a series of vintages where nature has challenged us, the 2015 growing season was kind to Bordeaux wine growers and especially those in Pomerol. Everything fell into place in 2015 and the weather was fine and dry during the most important stages of the vine’s development.  
 
A cool and sufficiently wet winter was followed by a magnificent spring which resulted in a quick and homogeneous bud burst. Flowering as also successful, helped by the fine weather at the end of May and the beginning of June.  
 
The amazing summer weather was marked by a risk of drought during the hot July weather; the thick skins and the small berry size that we saw during harvest were a reminder of this stage of growth. However, by the end of August, a few scattered rain showers had given the vines a welcome drink and enabled them reach the final stage of maturation with good balance and freshness.
One important element of the weather was the difference between day and nighttime temperatures at the end of the summer that accounts for the freshness that we find in the wine.  
 
We started picking Le Pin on the 17th of September for the young vines and then waited until the 25th of September to harvest the rest of the vineyard.  
 
The wine is vinified in small stainless vats and then aged in oak (100% new) for 14 months.
The Merlots were vibrant, rich, juicy and bright and from the start gave off lovely dark purple colours and aromas of fresh violets and plums.
 
The 2015 Le Pin (100% Merlot) took a while to finish its fermentation and was not transferred to barrel until the spring of 2016. For this reason, it was not shown “en primeur” in April since it was to young to judge the wine.
Four months later, upon its en primeur release, the wine is fresh and forward in the nose with good aromatic persistence, berry flavours, a silky, pure structure and an elegant, long finish".
 
Ratings vintage 2015:
The Wine Independent: 100/100.
Robert Parker The Wine Advocate: 99/100.
The Wine Cellar Insider/Jeff Leve: 99/100.
Wine Spectator: 97/100.