Le Pin 2015

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2015 Le Pin, which comes in at a modest 13.8% alcohol, has a very perfumed and precise bouquet with raspberry coulis, crème de cassis, rose petals and cold stone aromas. This is adorned with very pure fruit, perhaps more confit-like than other vintages that I have tasted out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy texture on the entry and an extremely fine line of acidity. This is a decidedly more structured Le Pin from Jacques Thienpont, maybe a more masculine wine with fine backbone and lovely salinity towards the finish. There is enormous persistence that lingers long in the mouth, developing a marine-like nuance as it aerates. I like the seriousness here that neatly offsets the exuberance and precocity of the vintage, a wonderful Le Pin that will age with style and verve. Jacques suggested that it might be like the 1986 Le Pin. If so, judging by a half-bottle he then opened, a lucky few are going to be in for a treat.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2015 Le Pin, which was bottled in May 2017, has a lot of flair on the nose with sumptuous red berry fruit, cranberry and raspberry laced with rose petal and light confit-like aromas that I remarked upon from barrel. (Incidentally, a second bottle was a little spicier on the nose.) The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannin, fleshy and charming with a silky smooth texture. It is not as cerebral as the Vieux Château Certan and yet it offers greater opulence and volume, the last third with wonderful veins of white pepper and pain d’épice. There is a lot of Pomerol here to enjoy.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Le Pin hits the dance floor with a completely gregarious nose of plum preserves, blackberry tart and wild blueberries, boldly accented by suggestions of Chinese five spice, cigar boxes, menthol and violets plus an earthy waft of underbrush. Full-bodied, concentrated, muscular and earthy with a firm backbone of exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, it has an incredibly long finish featuring exotic spice and mineral layers.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

This 2015 Le Pin came from a half-bottle supplied by the Thienponts after a vexing showing at the Southwold tasting, where it lacked typicité. This bottle is undoubtedly better and hopefully more representative. Cranberry and raspberry on the nose display much more purity than before, and this is certainly more Pomerol in style, though not terribly complex. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, silky-smooth texture and a dash of spice toward the finish. Thoroughly enjoyable, but not up to the standard of, say, Petrus or Lafleur. After four or five showings, I do find some bottle variation with the 2015, and I aver that Jacques Thienpont has crafted better Le Pins. Tasted from a half-bottle sent directly from the château.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2015 Le Pin has such a rich, gamy nose that I was not the only person to compare it to a Rioja; hints of leather and animal fur develop in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red fruit, soft and a little smudged, and an alcoholic, heady finish. It is actually a delicious wine, but it feels a little simple compared to its peers. Strange. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.