Over the years, this wine has consistently been performing outside its expected bracket. I simply love this as a go to red Bordeaux that continues to charm. Worth every single cent.
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Big juicy fruit with nice structure and mouthfeel. Was perhaps expecting more given the pedigree but still a good QPR. Reminds me of the Cap de Faugeres which is also cote de castillon and can sometimes be found for well under $20.
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Big massive wine with vanilla, raisin, and nyquil. Rich palate with some bitterness on the finish. Tough to drink but might fare better with some red meat.
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Black plum, creme de cassis, leather and limestone. Good depth of flavor and some cellaring upside. Good QPR for the store I bought it from, but Garagiste offers plenty of wines equally good for around half the price.
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Very Merlot. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, concentrated and sweet. The palate is dominated by the concentration of the fruit still with little tertiary notes as expected at this stage of its life. Sweet tannins, medium to long finish. The mouthfeel is nice and plush. A little heat but not overwhelming. Good quality and will appeal more to those who like modern styles. A few more years in the cellar may bring out more subtle nuance, but it is already drinking reasonably well.
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This wine is nuts - spicy, in-your-face and hot. If I could think of big enough food to have with it, maybe. Hard to like. Way too big and black fruit forward, too-sharp acidity and with an unpleasant bitterness on the finish. Maybe after a day or so open it might calm down but right now it’s standing in the middle of the room screaming “Look at me!!” No. No thank you. Not today. I'll try another bottle in a while because my impression seems to be an outlier in these notes - perhaps I had a bad day.
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Dark in colour and in terms fruit profile on the nose. Blackcurrant, plums, cherries, wood smoke, spices. On the palate really fresh and bright with good ripeness of fruit, nice tannic bite and just a hint of oak in the background. Lovely persistence. Approachable, but this should evolve nicely. Great QPR. 91-93
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Chateau L'Hetre is in the Cotes de Castillon area and is owned by Jacques Thienpont, who also owns Chateau Le Pin in Pomerol and Chateau L'If in St. Emilion. But don't make the mistake of undervaluing this wine due to its location! The 2016 is the first release of this wine from the organically farmed estate perched at 100 m on the end of the St-Philippe d'Aiguilhe limestone plateau, the highest point in Bordeaux.
Dark and opaque in color. The nose sense just picked cassis, licorice, flowers and a savoury dark glow of blackberry. This wine displays an incredible level of density. The mouthfeel is packed with black and blue fruit, flowers, spice, rocks and stones and it has a 60 second impact. The cashmere tannins, freshness on the palate, density, length and purity are remarkable. As the alcohol is perfectly integrated its beautiful to have a sip right now, however, this will only get better in the next 5 years. The wine is made from a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Carbernet Franc, reaching 14.5% alcohol and is aging in 30% new, French oak for 15 months.
Points: 93-95
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This is an excellent young bordeaux that can either work quite nicely right now, or has the stuffing to lay down for a few years. The tannins are definitely there also with some wood/earthy tones, but the fruit is there in spades. Notes are consistent over 3 bottles. Seriously considering going back and buying some more, was able to pick this up in the 20.00 range and for this level of complexity and wine it is an absolute steal at that price point.
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Young and oaky but not over oaked on the nose. Color is a beautiful dark Merlot purple. The wine does not taste integrated at this point but all the parts are there. On the palate the wine is fruity, earthy, and has a finish with enough backbone to make me very excited to see where this goes in 5-10 years.
The wine does not come across as a monster at 14.5% alcohol, but right now it feels bigger than a casual sipper. If you are compelled to open a bottle, I would recommend enjoying with some food.
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A private dinner with friends (Restaurant Zoldering, Amsterdam, NL): A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, organic viticulture, 15 months on oak, one third new. Inaugural vintage. Luxurious and elegant, complete and well defined, rich and refined, perfectly enveloped tannins, remarkable finesse for a wine from the Côtes de Castillon.
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After Le Pin and L'if there is now L'hêtre a new wine from J. Thienpont from a vinyard in Côte de Castillon. 2016 is the début vintage. This needed some time to open up but turned out to be a very pleasant and forward Bordeaux. A pleasant nose of concentrated red forest fruits. The palette is medium bodied, fruity with ripe tannins that became softer and softer as the bottle had time to open up. Good balance, nothing feels wrong. My parents and I loved this wine and wished wine would be bottled in 1 liter bottles :)
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This is just stupidly superb for such a young wine; already there is nothing out of place, there is balance, no heaviness of youth or anything out of place. Cool black fruit, a tiny lick of delicate oak (tiny tiny) and then just amazing purity. Mega fine grained tannins, a long finish. Absolutely brilliant. Even at this very very young age it is approachable and disappears from the bottle with alarming ease.
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Commentary from UK Broker "Fine and Rare" in July 2018 when wine offered. Added to provide some info on the wine as there's little out there. - First there was Le Pin, then L’If and now there is L’Hetre. As the new wine from the legendary Jacques Thienpont, owner of the aforementioned Pomerol icon, this red Bordeaux from a recently acquired vineyard in the Cotes de Castillon has simply peerless pedigree. Combine this with a spectacular vintage in 2016 and price-tag of just £180 per 12 bottles in bond and it is just about unmissable.
The Thienponts acquired this vineyard (formally Goubau) in Spring 2016, making this their first ever vintage. There are few that know the Right-Bank better and so the fact that they chose this plot speaks volumes for its potential. Located on the famous limestone plateau that stretches through to neighbouring St Emilion and packed with old vines, this is a gem and an absolute bargain.
We’ve yet to sample it but, given the quality of the 2016 vintage at this very accessible price point, excellent terroir and some of the best winemaking in Bordeaux, it looks an absolutely screaming buy. There isn’t a huge amount made, fewer than 2,000 cases or so, and we expect our allocation to generate serious interest. Full details are below and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you would like any secured.
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12/15/2023 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Drinking well. 91-93
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9/16/2023 - Sperls Likes this wine: 89 Points
Consistent w April 22 notes. Vibrant fruit but perhaps slightly less interesting a year later
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8/3/2023 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Drinking well. 91-93
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7/14/2023 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
Over the years, this wine has consistently been performing outside its expected bracket. I simply love this as a go to red Bordeaux that continues to charm. Worth every single cent.
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4/21/2022 - Sperls Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big juicy fruit with nice structure and mouthfeel. Was perhaps expecting more given the pedigree but still a good QPR. Reminds me of the Cap de Faugeres which is also cote de castillon and can sometimes be found for well under $20.
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3/13/2022 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is simply a pleasure to drink. Vibrant fruits. Good body and length. Excellent
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3/7/2022 - Matteo1 Does not like this wine:
Big massive wine with vanilla, raisin, and nyquil. Rich palate with some bitterness on the finish. Tough to drink but might fare better with some red meat.
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1/30/2022 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Ripe and generous, soft tannins, concentrated fruit, good acidity. A little one-dimensional with medium length. 90-92
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10/3/2021 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Ripe with good structure and acidity. Medium depth and length. 90-92
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2/15/2021 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black plum, creme de cassis, leather and limestone. Good depth of flavor and some cellaring upside. Good QPR for the store I bought it from, but Garagiste offers plenty of wines equally good for around half the price.
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10/22/2020 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Again very good, drinking well, a bit on the young side. 91-92+
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6/26/2020 - ANWW89 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very Merlot. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, concentrated and sweet. The palate is dominated by the concentration of the fruit still with little tertiary notes as expected at this stage of its life. Sweet tannins, medium to long finish. The mouthfeel is nice and plush. A little heat but not overwhelming. Good quality and will appeal more to those who like modern styles. A few more years in the cellar may bring out more subtle nuance, but it is already drinking reasonably well.
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6/4/2020 - ScottHaller Likes this wine: 90 Points
good everyday bordeaux. Could use another year or two
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5/31/2020 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
Give this is a bit of air. This is a bargain! Excellent QPR.
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5/7/2020 - randyjc wrote: 86 Points
This wine is nuts - spicy, in-your-face and hot. If I could think of big enough food to have with it, maybe. Hard to like. Way too big and black fruit forward, too-sharp acidity and with an unpleasant bitterness on the finish. Maybe after a day or so open it might calm down but right now it’s standing in the middle of the room screaming “Look at me!!” No. No thank you. Not today. I'll try another bottle in a while because my impression seems to be an outlier in these notes - perhaps I had a bad day.
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5/7/2020 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Dark in colour and in terms fruit profile on the nose. Blackcurrant, plums, cherries, wood smoke, spices. On the palate really fresh and bright with good ripeness of fruit, nice tannic bite and just a hint of oak in the background. Lovely persistence. Approachable, but this should evolve nicely. Great QPR. 91-93
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3/25/2020 - jonflo wrote:
Unfortunately, nothing of the previous stated I could find... Maybe closed already
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1/24/2020 - Connaître Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chateau L'Hetre is in the Cotes de Castillon area and is owned by Jacques Thienpont, who also owns Chateau Le Pin in Pomerol and Chateau L'If in St. Emilion. But don't make the mistake of undervaluing this wine due to its location! The 2016 is the first release of this wine from the organically farmed estate perched at 100 m on the end of the St-Philippe d'Aiguilhe limestone plateau, the highest point in Bordeaux.
Dark and opaque in color. The nose sense just picked cassis, licorice, flowers and a savoury dark glow of blackberry. This wine displays an incredible level of density. The mouthfeel is packed with black and blue fruit, flowers, spice, rocks and stones and it has a 60 second impact. The cashmere tannins, freshness on the palate, density, length and purity are remarkable. As the alcohol is perfectly integrated its beautiful to have a sip right now, however, this will only get better in the next 5 years. The wine is made from a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Carbernet Franc, reaching 14.5% alcohol and is aging in 30% new, French oak for 15 months.
Points: 93-95
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12/8/2019 - WaWineFan in TX Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is an excellent young bordeaux that can either work quite nicely right now, or has the stuffing to lay down for a few years. The tannins are definitely there also with some wood/earthy tones, but the fruit is there in spades. Notes are consistent over 3 bottles. Seriously considering going back and buying some more, was able to pick this up in the 20.00 range and for this level of complexity and wine it is an absolute steal at that price point.
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11/16/2019 - JBLevinson wrote: 94 Points
Young and oaky but not over oaked on the nose. Color is a beautiful dark Merlot purple. The wine does not taste integrated at this point but all the parts are there. On the palate the wine is fruity, earthy, and has a finish with enough backbone to make me very excited to see where this goes in 5-10 years.
The wine does not come across as a monster at 14.5% alcohol, but right now it feels bigger than a casual sipper. If you are compelled to open a bottle, I would recommend enjoying with some food.
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10/19/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private dinner with friends (Restaurant Zoldering, Amsterdam, NL): A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, organic viticulture, 15 months on oak, one third new. Inaugural vintage. Luxurious and elegant, complete and well defined, rich and refined, perfectly enveloped tannins, remarkable finesse for a wine from the Côtes de Castillon.
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7/15/2019 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
After Le Pin and L'if there is now L'hêtre a new wine from J. Thienpont from a vinyard in Côte de Castillon. 2016 is the début vintage. This needed some time to open up but turned out to be a very pleasant and forward Bordeaux. A pleasant nose of concentrated red forest fruits. The palette is medium bodied, fruity with ripe tannins that became softer and softer as the bottle had time to open up. Good balance, nothing feels wrong. My parents and I loved this wine and wished wine would be bottled in 1 liter bottles :)
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3/31/2019 - pjaines Likes this wine:
This is just stupidly superb for such a young wine; already there is nothing out of place, there is balance, no heaviness of youth or anything out of place. Cool black fruit, a tiny lick of delicate oak (tiny tiny) and then just amazing purity. Mega fine grained tannins, a long finish. Absolutely brilliant. Even at this very very young age it is approachable and disappears from the bottle with alarming ease.
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3/17/2019 - jpstough Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well right now. Dry and earthy Bordeaux. Some blueberry notes in the middle. Earthy finish. Great with a beef dish. Good value.
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1/25/2019 - pecete wrote:
95% Merlot, 5% Cab. Franc
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9/22/2018 - JonathanG wrote:
Commentary from UK Broker "Fine and Rare" in July 2018 when wine offered. Added to provide some info on the wine as there's little out there.
-
First there was Le Pin, then L’If and now there is L’Hetre. As the new wine from the legendary Jacques Thienpont, owner of the aforementioned Pomerol icon, this red Bordeaux from a recently acquired vineyard in the Cotes de Castillon has simply peerless pedigree. Combine this with a spectacular vintage in 2016 and price-tag of just £180 per 12 bottles in bond and it is just about unmissable.
The Thienponts acquired this vineyard (formally Goubau) in Spring 2016, making this their first ever vintage. There are few that know the Right-Bank better and so the fact that they chose this plot speaks volumes for its potential. Located on the famous limestone plateau that stretches through to neighbouring St Emilion and packed with old vines, this is a gem and an absolute bargain.
We’ve yet to sample it but, given the quality of the 2016 vintage at this very accessible price point, excellent terroir and some of the best winemaking in Bordeaux, it looks an absolutely screaming buy. There isn’t a huge amount made, fewer than 2,000 cases or so, and we expect our allocation to generate serious interest. Full details are below and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you would like any secured.
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