Chateau Le Pin - Le Pin Ex Chateau 2025

Weinwisser: 100 % Merlot, pH 3.79, Alkohol 14 vol%, 20 hl/ha, Lese am 5. und 10.9.2025. Dunkles, tiefgründiges Bouquet, frischer Hanf, getrocknete Kamillenblüte, dunkle Mineralität, frischer schwarzer Pfeffer und rote Beeren. Am dicht verwobenen Gaumen mit samtiger Textur, unglaubliche Energie zeigend, tänzerischer Rasse, kakaoartigem Tanningerüst und engmaschigem Körper. Im kaskadenartigen, aromatischen, nicht enden wollenden Finale Wildkirsche, Graphit sowie Kakaobohne im beeindruckenden Rückaroma. Die Höchstnote zücke ich heute noch nicht, aber weit weg ist er davon nicht mehr entfernt.

Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Verführerischer Kirschenduft, zart nach Lakritze, Nelken, frisches Waldbeerkonfit, ungemein verführerisches Bukett. Stoffig, komplex, schwarze Herzkirschen, Brombeeren, reife, tragende Tannine, dunkle Frucht, ein Hauch von Extraktsüße, enorme Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial. Großes Nasen- und Gaumenkino."

James Suckling: The depth and intensity give incredible energy in this Le Pin at this stage. The plum, dried flower, bark and fresh mushroom character is unique and it continues on the midpalate and finish. It’s endless and sophisticated with an ethereal nature. Transcendental in many ways. Can’t wait to try it from bottle. Two thirds the normal production. Pure merlot. Magic."

Vinum: Vom Ausbau geprägt, ein Duft zum Eintauchen, markante Rauchnote, Zartbitterschokolade, über dunkler Kirschfrucht, Pflaume, orientalische Gewürze, auch florale Noten; am Gaumen reichhaltig, fast zwei Mund voll Wein, mächtig, druckvoll, reiffruchtig, dabei schwerelos über die Zunge gleitend, die Tannine sind beeindruckend, in Massen vorhanden; im Abgang mit Backpflaumen, Kräutern und Weihnachtsgewürzen, fast ewig lang. Ein Le Pin, der stilistisch irgendwo zwischen 2022 und 2023 anzusiedeln ist. Hervorragend."

Jeb Dunnuck: A heavenly, wow-inducing wine in the vintage, the 2025 Château Le Pin is 100% Merlot from yields of just 20 hectoliters per hectare, which was harvested on September 4 after the rains to help carry a touch more generosity and charm. Resting in 65% new French oak, it has a Grand Cru Burgundy-like style in its framboise, spicy wood, dried flowers, and graphite-driven aromatics. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a deep, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine, velvety tannins, and flawless balance, all carried through a gorgeous finish. Hitting 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.79, I'd say this is one of the wines of the vintage, and it brings more richness, sexiness, and texture than most. It will be impossible to find given the tiny quantities, but wow, what a wine."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Le Pin (100% Merlot) marches out of the glass with powerful notes of ripe black plums and boysenberries, giving way to a profound core of fertile loam, crushed rocks, iron ore, and anise, soon unfurling to reveal floral notes of roses and lilacs. The medium- to full-bodied palate is coated with dense black fruit flavors, supported by firm, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long with earthy layers. The alcohol is 14% and the pH is 3.79. The yield was a tiny 20 hl/ha."

The Wine Cellar Insider: Vivacious, lifted style of Le Pin with layers of silky, velvety, black cherries, licorice, herbs, spices, and orange rind. There is concentration, opulence, and most importantly, lift, so even with all the weight of the fruit, the wine feels up-beat, and vibrant, with lingering notes of crushed flint, and gravel stones, black plums, cherries, and licorice. The wine offers incredible length and energy wrapping up everything up with a soft, but, firm, silky, refined finish. Produced from 100% Merlot, 14% ABV, 3.79 pH, the harvest took place September 5 and September 10. Yields were only 20 hectoliters per hectare, making production quite small this year. Drink from 2030-2055."

Decanter: Deep colour in the glass. Quite a dark but mineral nose with iron, stony accents, cool blackcurrant, cola, graphite, blood and violet notes. Soft and smooth straight away with a sexy, liquorice and perfumed character, gently chewy texture yet keeping that liquorice, tobacco, iron and squid ink minerality that puts much more stone than sun in the glass. Structure is there but this has freshness and coolness overall. I love the harmony, perfume and silk - dark blue fruit with a soft fleshy aspect, juicy acidity and cool flinty finish. It’s heady in a way many other wines this vintage aren’t, understated yet with the hint of Le Pin confidence, lots of spice on the finish - cigar, tobacco, dark chocolate and cedar - plus such layering of intense flavours. Really impressively constructed with unmistakable delicacy of texture but huge intensity of flavour. Ends with a cool and salty grip. I actually really quite love this. A yield of 20hl/ha. The team only picked the round and juicy grapes after 15-20mm rain at the end of August. Less than 1g berries. 3.79pH."