Le Pin 26 Rue de la Mairie,18300 Thauvenay, France

Chateau Le Pin was purchased by the Thienpont family in 1979. They have paid one million francs for 1.6 hectares of land. By acquiring adjoining plots, the vineyard is now 2.7 hectare. Le Pin only produces 600 to 700 cases each year, which is less than a quarter of Chateau Petrus’ production. Le Pin’s clay soil is a mixture of gravel and sand with deposits of iron oxide. The vineyard is planted with 100% Merlot with exceptionally low yielding- between 30 to 35 hl/hc. There are some Cabernet Franc vines co-planted, but they are not used in the blending. All grapes are hand harvested, macerated in stainless tanks, and then go through malolactic fermentation in 100% French Oak barrels. Le Pin is one of the first, if not the first, in the Right Bank to carry out malolactic fermentation in the French oak barrels. Le Pin is intensely concentrated with ripe fruit, complex, elegant, and opulent.