Chateau Le Pin 2010

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (100)

Made from 100% Merlot (one percent for each rating point I’ve assigned), this wine is explosively rich and compelling. Dense plum/purple, it boasts the remarkable delineation and freshness that are hallmarks of this vintage. From a much smaller production than normal because of Merlot’s poor flowering, the very hot, dry growing and harvest conditions, this is a super-endowed, very rich Le Pin with its exotic new oak largely buried behind its extravagant concentration, power and richness. I don’t know what its natural alcohol level is, but I suspect it is pushing 15% in 2010. Rich, tannic, but exceptionally well-endowed, this is a sublime example of Merlot at its very finest. Forget it for 5-7 years (which is somewhat unusual for Le Pin) and drink it over the following three decades.

Winespectator (98)

Delivers the distilled essence of raspberry and kirsch fruit, from the captivating aromas to the racy, palate-coating feel, echoing nearly endlessly through the finish. There's also notes of briar, lightly pebbly tannins and a lingering hint of allspice to give this a shimmering background effect. In the end, this is primarily about the stunning purity of fruit on display.

Rene Gabriel (20)

Rene Gabriel rates this wine 20/20 points.