Le Pin 2006

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

This micro-cuvee of 500-600 cases of 100% Merlot offers exotic pain grille notes interwoven with lavish quantities of black, blue, and red fruits, an unctuous texture, and beautiful purity as well as length. Full-bodied with velvety tannins as well as extravagant fruit, it should drink well for 20-25 years. Sadly, most consumers can neither afford nor find this stunning Pomerol.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Since conception this has been a riveting Le Pin from Jacques Thienpont that vied with the ’05 for the upper hand. Here it has a bombastic, take no prisoners, almost exotic bouquet that is still showing a lot of puppy fat, though it calms down with aeration. Excellent delineation with aromas of macerated black cherries, fresh prune, fruitcake and cassis. The palate is rich and decadent, very supple tannins, well balanced, generous and voluptuous with a rounded silky texture towards the decadent, yet controlled finish. It is demonstrating less mineralite than previous bottles, but that will reappear once the sands of time have abraded this Le Pin down. Forget the price, just a gorgeous bottle of wine. Tasted January 2010.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Sampled at Le Pin.Whisper it…but Jacques Thienpont has crafted a better Le Pin in 2006 than in 2005. The nose starts quietly but builds into a crescendo on minerals, Morello, blackberry leaf and a touch of orange peel. The palate has a tension that is missing in the 2005, brilliant definition and focus with real minerality at its heart. Very well structured, ethereal focus and precision with a touch of peppermint on the finish. So good, it hurts. It has the precision of a fine Leroy. Tasted April 2007.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A second sample from the same barrel that I tasted in April. This is still a marvellous Pomerol 2006 although it was more introverted at this premature juncture, upset at being extricated from barrel! But still there is incredible focus and minerality present on the nose, whilst the intense, harmonious palate is ebullient and well-defined. Jacques Thienpont remarked a slightly burnt character evident in this particular barrel, although neither Anthony Hanson MW nor I detected any trait of that. A great Pomerol from a difficult vintage – this will come together after assemblage. Tasted September 2007.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Le Pin seems to have evolved quite far on the nose, though it remains very sensual with scents of kirsch, rose petals, liquorice and mint. There is a warmth to these aromatics that leave you feeling a bit giddy. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit, underlying sage and cedar scents surfacing towards the finish. I am not totally convinced this is a long-term Le Pin, but it has wonderful precision and such charm that you almost don't care about the price tag. It's a lovely, almost sexy Pomerol, although I feel that it does not quite match the potential it demonstrated in barrel. Tasted January 2016.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Exotic, as it often can be, with super-ripe mulberry and black cherry fruit to the point of near-kirsch liqueur, with notes of licorice, truffle, and forest floor, this is a full-bodied, concentrated wine with a slight tannic bite to the finish. There is good freshness, depth, and power, and despite the flamboyant aromatics, this wine needs a good 3-5 years of cellaring and should keep for 15 or more years.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at Bipin Desai’s Le Pin vertical in Los Angeles. Just like in barrel, this has a stunning, billowing nose with incredible definition, perhaps even more clarity and purity than the 2005 with blackberries, briary, cassis and a touch of rose petals. With further aeration, there is a faint tang of freshly cut ginger and its mineralite becomes ever more pronounced. The palate is medium-bodied, beautifully focused with Morello, strawberry and cassis, quite Burgundian (Anne Gros’ Richebourg spring to mind!) with a very natural, opulent finish. This is an outstanding Le Pin for the vintage, one that may vie with the 2005 for supremacy. A total of 490 cases produced. Drink 2012-2020+

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: William Kelley

Tasted blind, I mistook the 2006 Le Pin for the 2005, and it is drinking very well today, bursting with aromas of dark berries, incense, sweet spices and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with an ample core of rich, succulent fruit and powdery structuring tannins, it concludes with a long, expansive finish.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(harvested on September 18, just after a weekend of rain; Alexandre Thienpont has already decided to eliminate one lot of fruit due to rot and will ultimately produce the equivalent of just 22 hectoliters per hectare) Dark red-ruby. Sexy aromas of medicinal black cherry, violet, licorice and sweet oak. Intensely flavored and spicy but not overly sweet; comes across as less fat and supple today than the VCC but wonderfully aromatic in the middle palate. Still a bit youthfully tough but finishes with noteworthy grip and aromatic persistence. Very serious Le Pin, in a less easy style than the wine from some riper years. Showed a bit more opulence with aeration without any loss of elegance.