Chateau Le Pin - Le Pin - Ex Chateau 2017

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"A river of ganache-coated raspberry pâte de fruit flavors courses through this version, flecked liberally with anise notes and underscored by warm earth accents. Shows terrific concentration for the vintage, brimming with energy as the fruit cascades through a sweet, tobacco-accented finish that is ridiculously long. This transcends the general vintage profile, delivering extra depth and drive to the fruit. A tannic spine matches the fresh acidity. Best from 2022 through 2040. — JM"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"Made from 100% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Le Pin opens a little closed and broody, slowly unfurling to offer notes of baked plums, Black Forest cake and raspberry pie with touches of iron ore, crushed rocks, roses and star anise plus a waft of cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers the most jaw-dropping, exquisitely ripe tannins with amazingly seamless freshness and layer upon layer of red and black fruits, finishing with incredible energy and depth. WOW!"

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"This Le Pin is extremely linear and compact with tight, polished tannins that flow down the center of the palate. Full-to medium-bodied, succulent and tangy with orange-peel and hazelnut undertones. Dusty and polished at the same time. Superb length. Drink after 2022."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"100 % Merlot, 32hl/ha, 13,9 % vol. Purpurgranat mit satter Mitte und lila Reflexen. Konzentriertes, würziges und schier schwarzbeeriges Bouquet mit Kräuternoten, Schlehensaft und Darjeelingnoten. Im zweiten Ansatz Holunder und Kreuzkümmel. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidigen Tanninen und feinmehligem Tannin. Im dichten, katapultartigen Finale mit Graphitnoten, Kardamom, Trüffeln und getrockneter Wildkirsche. Grandioser, tiefgründiger Pomerol mit gewaltigem Potenzial, der wieder ganz vorne in der Pomerol Top-Liga mitspielt. Liegt knapp hinter Trotanoy und Pétrus."

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"The usual 100% Merlot from this tiny vineyard that borders Vieux Chateau Certain, brought up all in new oak, the deep purple-hued 2017 Chateau Le Pin offers a sexy, full-bodied, exuberant style that's loaded with personality and is unquestionably up with the top handful of wines in the vintage. A massive nose of creme de cassis, toasted spice, caramel, graphite, and white chocolate emerges from the glass and, as always, this cuvee is extroverted and exotic, with tons of personality. This sexy, exotic Pomerol has beautiful depth of fruit, no hard edges, and a rocking finish. You'd be excused for drinking bottles today, it's that good, yet it will be even better with 7-8 years of bottle age and should cruise for 20-25 years in cool cellars."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"Produced from 100% Merlot, this wine evokes licorice, flowers, truffle, plum, rainforest and cherries in the bouquet. From there you'll discover the exotic, silken feel and perfectly sweet deep red fruits, which lead to the decadent, sensuously textured finish."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, feine Edelholzwürze, zart nach Gewürznelken, schwarze Beerenfrucht, tabakige Würze, frische Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Komplex, straff, reife Kirschenfrucht, feine, tragende Tannine, zarter Schokotouch, mineralisch-salzig, gute Würze, bleibt lange haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"39th vintage, says Jacques Thienpont proudly. ‘We were saved not damaged by the September rains’. Only manual remontage (pumping over). Deep crimson. Super-fragrant, almost floral, with very fine fruit and some toasty oak. So moreish, sweet-fruited and very silky already. Gorgeously silky and long. Almost a touch of burgundy to the sweet red fruit on the finish. (JH)"

DECANTER: DECANTER:"No frost at Le Pin gave a normal yield of 32hl/ha, and the early season meant the harvest came in from 18-21 September. Picking over three days is relatively unusual here, and is something they ascribe to the arrival of Guillaume Thienpont over at Vieux Chateau Certan, as he looks after the viticulture through the year at both estates, along with his father Alexandre. This wine features some extremely bright spice, with touches of exoticism, tasted from a blend taken from 12 different barrels (the final blend happens only at the moment of bottling). It deepens and takes on plush definition with time in the glass, with those layers of featherlight but pulsating Le Pin tannins, but it displays more subtle opulence than in some years. All new oak, with malo in both Taransaud and Seguin Moreau barrels. 3.7pH."