The Thienpont family of Belgium has a long and illustrious history on Bordeaux’s Right Bank. From a wine merchant business established in 1842, to the owning of Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion and Vieux Château Certan in Pomerol, the most prestigious feather in the Thienpont cap is undoubtedly Château Le Pin in Pomerol. In 2015, Jacques Thienpont fell in love with an estate in Côtes de Castillon and the family produced its first vintage in 2016. Through a negociant in Bordeaux that GD works closely with, we acquired a limited amount of the Château’s first three vintages which we make available today in the form of a mixed case.
Dear Reader,
L’Hêtre (the French for beech tree) was the name given to the acquired estate in Bordeaux’s Côtes de Castillon, which is situated about 19 kilometres East of Pomerol. Jacques Thienpont’s affinity for trees filters through in the names of all of their estates: Le Pin (pine tree) in Pomerol and L’If (yew tree) in Saint-Émilion.
Pictured from left to right: Jacques Thienpont, Fiona Morrison MW and Maxime Thienpont
The estate is currently comprised of ten hectares of vines, planted on the edge of the St-Philippe d’Aiguilhe limestone plateau, which is the highest point in Bordeaux at 100 meters. The organically farmed Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines face south east, planted just on the plateau and spilling over the limestone, clay and chalk slopes. In 2017, the family purchased the adjoining property, Château Montagne with its six hectares of vines. While the solitary wine that is produced from the 2.7-hectare Le Pin remains one of the rarest and most expensive wines on the planet, the rising star that is L’Hêtre is far more accessible.
Jacques’ nephew Maxime Thienpont is in charge at L’Hêtre and these are wines to follow closely. Our maiden offer on the wines takes the form of a mixed six-bottle case, with two bottles of each of the first three vintages: 2016, 2017 and 2018. The wine is around 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is fermented in concrete and oak vats and aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, including one-third new.
”This is a very classy wine, and the tannins tell you everything: fine, definite, building in the mouth but in perfect balance with the fruit and freshness. Blue-blooded Castillon. Catch it while you can.”
Julia Harding MW for Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages
L'Hêtre 6-bottle case
R 2,994
Only 36 cases available – *Price is per 6-bottle mixed case and incl. VAT
L’Hêtre | Côtes de Castillon | 2016 | 2 x bottles
L’Hêtre | Côtes de Castillon | 2017 | 2 x bottles
L’Hêtre | Côtes de Castillon | 2018 | 2 x bottles
The wines of L’Hêtre are not available on our online shop so please order via e-mail below or contact your account manager directly.
