Chateau Le Pin   Le Pin

2000 Le Pin

By Chateau Le Pin

2000 Le Pin from Chateau Le Pin, Pomerol, Bordeaux

The millennium vintage at Bordeaux brought forth a symphony of climatic grace and viticultural acumen, peaking sublimely in the 2000 Le Pin from the iconic Chateau Le Pin. Known for its minuscule production and exalted status among Pomerol estates, this wine remains a keystone for savvy investors and connoisseurs alike. The year 2000 bestowed an ensemble of well-balanced conditions with a perfectly timed Indian summer that allowed fruit maturity to attain near mythical perfection—vital for such an intimate vineyard where focus on detail excels.

 

Pinnacle of Precision: A Vintage Wine Investment

For investors in the fine wine market, consistency and pedigree are king, yet there is always a flirtation with the exceptional—a role the 2000 Le Pin plays with aplomb. The turn-of-the-century was an extraordinary vintage by any metric, and even among the illustrious vintages of Chateau Le Pin, this particular year stands apart for its startling balance of power and elegance.

 

Terroir's Triumph

In a glass of the 2000 Le Pin, one experiences the lavish layers only Pomerol's clay can conjure. Notes of rich blackberry compote, truffles, and crushed violets emerge sumptuously, underpinned by velvety tannins that display structural might without eclipsing finesse. The warmth that marked September in that year deepened intensity without sacrificing complexity—a virtuosic performance from vine to bottle.

Now with two decades under its belt, the freshness of this wine may seem like a sleight of hand given its mature complexities. It is a wine that unequivocally reaches into the realm of transcendence when spoken in terms of both drinking pleasure and cellar investment.

In summary, the 2000 vintage transcends typical renown and offers an experience marked by its celestial composition—a composition that enthralls both palate and portfolio. With these attributes in concert, one can appreciate why the 2000 Le Pin from Chateau Le Pin holds such eminence within the narrative tapestry of Bordeaux; it is truly one for the annals of great vintages, ripe for distinguished collections.

Current market price

$68,560.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

2566.88

Scores and tasting notes

96

This is a slight downgrade for this wine, but I suspect it will bounce back, as it clearly needs more time. It was more reserved than I thought it would be, as Le Pin tends to be one of the more extravagantly rich, flamboyant wines of Pomerol. The one time I tasted the 2000, it had a dense ruby/purple color, aggressive new oak, loads of coconut, vanilla, and spice box, enormous concentration and thickness, but this is an estate where I thought their subsequent year, 2001, was an even better wine. This wine displays some firm tannins in the finish and should be forgotten for another 5-6 years. So much for Le Pin not aging well. This one has at least 25 years left in it.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2010

91

Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index's 2000 tasting in London. This has a rather strange nose to be honest: very ripe, almost excessively so, with scents of raspberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, coca and a malty element. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry, rounded tannins but rather flaccid. Showy but lacking substance, soft and lithe, with a plush rounded finish. I am unsure just how representative this bottle is, hence the question mark against my score. Tasted March 2010.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2010

Vintage performance