2023 Le Pin - Pomerol AC

Decanter.com – 97 pts – GH: *A floral and opulent nose; irises, and strongly-scented dark fruits - plums, blackcurrants and black cherries. Really very expressive aromatics, opulent and forward. Smooth and silky, really caressing and gentle, smooth and delicate, the power is there underneath but subtly while the ripe dark black and cool blue fruit makes most of its mark. The florality and clear iron (really accentuated in a cool vintage) is fully apparent, minerality is also very present with black sticky, spicy liquorice and graphite. It’s a more serious Le Pin, certainly than the 2022, this has muscle but slightly hidden, it’s firm and nicely structured but has edges of spice, tobacco and dark chocolate as well as bite and tang but all with an elevated elegance. Serious but sophisticated and confident. Ageing 65% new, 35% once used barrels. Instead of 100%. Extracted one third less this vintage. 3.75pH.* - 04/2024

Falstaff Magazin – 100 pts – PM: *Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte frische rote Kirschen, zart nach Lakritze, ein Hauch von Gewürznelken, etwas Ribisel, Mandarinenzesten sind unterlegt, sehr delikates Bukett. Saftig, elegant, komplex, cremige Tannine, feine dunkle Kirschfrucht, anhaltende Extraktsüße, Brombeeren im Abgang, zeigt eine seidige Textur, bleibt minutenlang haften, dunkelbeeriger Nachhall, feiner Schokoladetouch, bleibt minutenlang haften, eine Art Musigny aus Bordeaux, große Klasse.* - 05/2024

WeinWisser – 20/20 pts – GL, TW: *100 % Merlot, 39 hl/ha, 14 Vol.-%. Sehr komplexes erhabenes Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Graphitnote und edle Cassiswürze. Im zweiten Ansatz verführerisches Veilchenparfüm, roter Johannisbeernektar und edler Eisenton. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und engmaschigem Tanningerüst, feingliedrig femininer Le Pin, unglaublich dicht und lang haftend bleibend. Im katapultartigen, nicht enden wollenden Finale rote Beeren, Waldhimbeeren, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und wiederum schwarze Johannisbeeren. Ganz großer eleganter Le Pin, der mich völlig in seinen Bann gezogen hat. Der beste Wein des rechten Ufers.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JL: *100% Merlot. 39 hl/ha. Cask sample. Subtle red-berry fragrance. A refined and more discreet Le Pin this year. Sweet and smooth but light of touch and linear as well. No excess. Tannins well integrated.* - 14/2024

Vinous.com – (96-99) pts – AG: *The 2023 Le Pin is all sensuality. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2023 possesses notable depth. It is an especially exuberant, dense Le Pin. Dark-toned fruit, iron, leather, scorched earth and incense gradually unfurl in the glass. The long, sustained finish is suggestive of what is certain to be a very bright future. I tasted the 2023 from the en primeur blend and then directly from barrels crafted by Seguin-Moreau, the historical cooper of choice here, and Taransaud, a more recent addition. I found young wines of tremendous freshness and verve. This is a magnificent showing from Jacques Thienpont, Fiona Morrison MW and Guillaume Thienpont.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (97-99) pts – NM: *The 2023 Le Pin was picked between September 11 and 23 at 39hL/ha—four pickings according to age of vine and plot. It matured in 65% new oak (this figure has gradually reduced since the 2020 vintage). They had no mildew, due to the free-draining gravel soils, though the Thienponts saw more at L'If. I love this nose. This is so pure and refined, it seems to embrace and gently hug the senses, like your favorite aunt or uncle. It blossoms in the glass to reveal subtle crushed stone and graphite notes. The palate has unerring symmetry, finely chiseled tannins and a linear, penetrating finish that goes on and on. This is one of the best vintages of Le Pin I have tasted from barrel, more serious and more floral than some recent vintages.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (98-100) pts – JL: *Quite floral in nature, it is the vivacious nature, sensuality, and freshness in the fruits that stand out. Picture, velvety-textured, black plums with dark chocolate, saffron, orange peel, cumin, and black raspberries that caress and paint your palate with layers of fruit. There is a sublime sense of purity, paired with elegance and vivacity that sticks with you in the precise finish for close to 60 seconds. Produced from 100% Merlot, 14.4% ABV, 3.77 pH, the harvest took place September 6 - September 17. Yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2055.* - 05/2024