Le Pin 2007

This elegant, fruity, slightly herbal Pomerol reveals a light style as well as mocha-infused, caramelized strawberry and black cherry fruit, medium body, and a soft style. It is best consumed over the next 7-8 years. Drink 2010-2018.

This is another wine with a very Burgundian nose (although Le Pin often adopts a Burgundian persona.) Red cherries, wild strawberries, more earthiness than in previous vintages, perhaps more introspective compared to how the 2006 was showing this time last year. Medium-bodied, a little rough round the edges but that lends the wine a sharpness and in a sense, more of a rustic personality. Bilberry and boysenberry towards the finish, very linear but there is an unerring sense of precision to this year’s Le Pin, though it does not have the length of the previous two vintages. Silky finish. Very promising. Tasted April 2008

Very typical Le Pin, with floral, cassis and light plum character. Full, yet refined, with lovely silky tannins and a long, long sweet fruit finish. Very pretty. Not many 2007s like this. The winemaker says that this has a deluxe caress and it does

Dark crimson with a pale rim. Rich and even a little bit of leather and liquorice. Very different from most years! More obvious richness than the Moueix wines just tasted but much lighter and leaner than most years. Sweet start, a hint of bloodiness, quite fresh but even Le Pin has a dry, rather sudden finish in 2007. The leanest Le Pin I have ever tasted. The Thienponts thought it wasn’t tasting as well as it had done the day before. Alain Vauthier showed another sample of it at Ch Ausone a couple of days later that looked much more powerful, velvety and rich. Drink 2012-17

Bright, deep ruby-red. Captivating aromas of black raspberry, coffee, smoke, minerals and menthol. Juicy, silky and aromatic in the mouth, with a lovely light touch. Very elegantly styled wine if a bit youthfully tight and on the light side for this property. Finishes with hints of herbs and spices and noteworthy subtle length. I did not find the depth and dimension of a great year but I should note that many early tasters were more impressed by this wine than I was.

This small property in the heart of Pomerol has done it again. From the blend that I tasted Le Pin 2007 will be a winner. The nose has lots of perfume, the fresher raspberry and loganberry underpinned by bramble and bilberry. Towards the back there are hints of green pepper spice all adding to the elegance.

Deep colour and abundant fruit, the palate rich, suave and full. Misses an extra dimension, though, and that trademark floral, Burgundian stamp. Could well improve with élevage. Drink 2013-2020. 4 stars.