2009 Le Pin, Pomerol, Bordeaux

Very rich and lush but also extremely refined, this has a lightness of touch that some top Pomerols of the vintage lack. That has much to do with the stunningly fine tannins gliding through the long super-fine finish. Better than ever. Drink or holdjames_suckling, jamessuckling_com (October 2019)

The 2009 Le Pin has an attractive bouquet with scents of black cherries, truffle, orange rind and hints of pain d’épices developing. I appreciate the definition here, the sense of control, the terroir coming through as much as the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin, a fine bead of acidity, spicier than the last time I encountered this vintage. Gentle grip and fine tension towards the bay leaf and white peppery finish. This finishes in some style, and it should age with grace. Excellent.Drink 2020 - 2050Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (February 2019)

Medium garnet colored, the 2009 Le Pin comes charging out of the glass with exuberant notions of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and warm plums with touches of star anise, cigar box and lavender plus wafts of menthol and fragrant soil. Full-bodied and boldly fruited, it has tons of vibrant red and black fruit layers with wonderful mineral and floral sparks throughout the long, plushly textured finish.Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 14/03/2019

Exceptional purity and a blockbuster nose of mocha, black cherry liqueur, mulberries and plums are followed by an extravagantly rich wine that seems to have a nearly endless finish. Truly haute couture of Merlot, so to speak, this wine has a finish that goes well past a minute, with wonderfully sweet tannins and a provocative, concentrated, broad mouthfeel that is remarkably luxurious. This is amazing stuff! It should drink well for 20-25 years. This is undeniably the greatest Le Pin I have tasted at such an infantile age. There are about 500 cases of this wine, which is made by the Thienpont family, the owners of Vieux Chateau Certan. One hundred percent Merlot, it continues to possess the exoticism of previous vintages, but the oak at present is far better crafted and integrated than in the debut vintage of 1979. robert_parker - Wine Advocate - February 2012

Vibrant green notes! A bit cool and simple at the moment. Sweet icing-sugar notes. jancis_robinson_mw MW - JancisRobinson.com - January 2013 Picked 22 and 25 Sep just after the rain (deluge 19 and 20 Sep) so ’more water in the wine’. Nice fragrance. Deckchair vintage. Lively and fresh and not obviously rich Merlot. Rain revived the vines. Very suave and lush. Very refreshing, rather feminine. Plush and flattering and really quite delicate. Polished and not at all heavy. This could be a standout Le Pin, I think. jancis_robinson_mw MW - JancisRobinson.com - April 2010

Very seductive and gourmand. Ripe, red fruit and spice. Burgundian in character. Rich and concentrated but with lift and freshness. Plenty of charm. As good, if not better than the excellent 2001.

This is classic Merlot from Pomerol on the nose, with black licorice, black olive and rich fruit. Yet it's subtle and pretty. Full-bodied, and chewy, with loads of power. Tannic and muscular. Chocolate, coffee and vanilla bean. james_suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr 2010

Tasted blind. Looks quite evolved. Meaty nose. Some freshness and real concentration. It tastes more like a left than a right-bank wine though it’s amazingly long and confident. Only just ready to drink. Very rich and velvet-textured.Drink 2019 - 2044jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com (March 2019)

Voluptuous and silky, this is deceptively soft and open, yet with singing acidity flowing through it, giving it grip. It's extremely ripe and generous in fruit, with notes of ground coffee, cappuccino, and great persistency. It combines hedonistic appeal with thought-provoking moments, demanding that you slow down rather than gulp the whole glass. It manages to seduce without overpowering but is certainly signature Le Pin.Drink 2019 - 2046jane_anson_mw, Decanter.com (February 2019)