Chateau Le Pin Le Pin, or simply Le Pin, is a Bordeaux wine renowned for its habitually high wine ratings from wine critics, occasionally making it the most expensive wine in the world. A constant presence on the wine auction market and a highly recommended brand to invest in, Chateau Le Pin is a wine producer you need to know about.
Age isn’t everything with Le Pin
As well as being one of the world’s most exclusive blue-chip wines, Le Pin is something of an anomaly in Bordeaux, where many of the region’s finest offerings boast a pedigree stretching back several centuries.
The first vintage of Le Pin actually came out as recently as 1979, having been blended in the basement of the Thienpont families newly purchased Pomerol vineyard.Perfecting production
After doubling the size of the vineyard in the early 1980s the Thienpont family embarked on extensive replanting work, to great reward.
The Chateaux Le Pin estate is now producing an exotic, concentrated wine which is fermented in stainless steel and then matured in 100% new oak barrels for 14-18 months.A quick rise to the top
Such small production levels, coupled with an incredibly high-quality product have been the catalyst for the quick rise of Le Pin over the past three decades.
When the first vintages of Le Pin became available on the market in the early 1980s, they carried price tags of around £7 per bottle; the acclaimed 1982 vintage was available at around £14.
Now, the cheapest recent physical vintage of the wine (2014) commands a market price of £19,200 per 12×75cl – over £1,600 per bottle.
Quality not quantity
With a relatively small five acre vineyard in their ownership, covered in sandy gravel topsoil on a bedrock of limestone, with a grape variety of 100% Merlot, the vines tend to average 38 years of age.
Le pin produces 600 – 700 cases per year, a minuscule amount compared to other well-renowned vineyards.
Young or old
As Chateaux Le Pin wines are so concentrated and decadent in their flavour, with lavishly oaked tones throughout, it is completely normal to drink them young.
However, they are certainly best after 7 -10 years of bottle ageing, making them the perfect candidate for long term investment.
