L'Hetre 2017 - Great Value Bordeaux From The Le Pin Stable

A recent vineyard purchase by the owners of Le Pin, the 2017 L'Hetre was only the second vintage to be released since Jacques Thienponts and her sister, Anne De Raeymaeker, acquired this vineyard in the Côtes de Castillon in 2015. The estate was converted to organic farming by the previous proprietors, and the same practice has been maintained since for a vineyard with a mixture of clay, limestone, and chalk soil. The wines are fermented in concrete and oak vats, and aged in a mixture of one-third new oak, one-third one year and one-third second year barrels. The 2017 contained 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

On a recent tasting, the wine has a refined, somewhat savoury, bouquet of sweet red berry bramble fruit and a whiff of oak that blows off with aeration. The palate was smooth, with dark red fruit, a touch of earth, a savoury mid palate, and a well balanced finish. The structure here should see the wine develop nicely over time.

With Le Pin out of reach for most, and prices for L’If rising quickly since Jacques Thienpoint’s acquisition in 2010, L’Hetre represents a good value proposition with prices that may not remain at these levels for long.

Offer subject to final confirmation and remaining unsold. E. & O. E.

L’Hetre 2017

HKD 200 per 75cl