Château Le Pin 1991
Chateau Le Pin, or simply Le Pin, is a Bordeaux wine from the appellation Pomerol. The unusually small estate is located on the Right Bank of France's Gironde estuary in the commune of Pomerol near the hamlet of Catusseau, Chateau Le Pin is frequently one of the world's most expensive red wines.
Madame Laubie, whose family had owned Chateau Le Pin since 1924 sold the one hectare vineyard in 1979 to the Belgian Jacques Thienpont for 1 million francs. The vineyards were developed by Jacques Thienpont whose family own the neighbouring Vieux Chateau Certan, and the wine at Chateau Le Pin was produced in tiny quantities from a farmhouse basement. The property was already called Le Pin from a solitary pine tree that grows near the winery. Today the estate comprises 2,7 hectares in one contiguous vineyard surrounding the winery. In 2011 a new winery, designed by the Belgian architectural practice Robbrecht en Daem architecten, was inaugurated using small microcuves and gravity to move Chateau Le Pin wine.
Chateau Le Pin is considered by some a predecessor of the "garage wines", although this idea is rejected by many, including by the proprietors, on the basis of the merits of the terroir, and the absence of extreme measures to compensate for mediocre grapes.
Chateau Le Pin occasionally the most expensive wine in the world, continually receiving high wine ratings from wine critics and produced in extremely small numbers, Chateau Le Pin bottles are a constant presence on the wine auction market.
The winery is currently managed by Jacques Thienpont, and additional tiny plots of land have been acquired. Chateau Le Pin is among the clients of the oenologist Dany Rolland, wife of Michel Rolland.
Vineyard
Surface area: 5 acres
Grape Varieties: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
Average age of vines: 28 years
Density of plantation: 6,000 vines per hectare
Average yields: 34 hectoliters per hectare
Average cases produced: 600 per year
Plateau of maturity: 8 - 25 years
Château Le Pin 1991 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 88
Tasted at Bipin Desai's Le Pin vertical in Los Angeles. A light hue than the previous wines. The nose is lacking a little vigour, a tangible green streak turning earthier with time in the glass, perhaps lacking a little definition, but attaining a nice lift with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, but stubbornly foursquare and linear. Fine acidity though with a surly cedar and cigar box finish. It is a commendable wine given the vintage, although not one I would shell out a lot of money for. Just 250 cases made. Drink now. Tasted November 2008.
Wine Spectator
Point Score: 79
Barely holding on. Very light and slightly watery, with mineral and berry character. But drying out. Not much there, really.--Le Pin non-blind vertical. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2008