Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2023 L'Hêtre is a powerful, driving wine from Jacques Thienpont and Fiona Morrison MW's Côtes de Castillon property. A burst of dark red cherry fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and pomegranate all flesh out in the glass. This heady Côtes de Castillon packs a pretty serious punch. I would give it a year or two in the cellar.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2023 L'Hêtre has a well-defined, quite mineral-driven bouquet with touches of oyster shell that tincture the black, plummy fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. Admirable weight and structure, the limestone terroir comes through nicely on the finish, but it will require 2 or 3 years in bottle.
Asphalt and tar with dark berry character and subdued violets. Medium- to full-bodied and precise, showing chalky tannins and plenty of definition. Firm and chewy but with an attractive crunchy edge. A blend of 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc.
Structured and serious, a slow burn opener that takes its time then shows lovely creamy blue fruits underneath, swirls up into a fragrant mid palate of peony and iris flowers. Just an excellent wine that is one to look out for, well located on the high limestone plateau of St Emilion. Thienpont family owners.
About the producer
Jacques Thienpont – owner of one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated estates, Le Pin – fell in love with the view from L’Hêtre when he first visited the property. He purchased the Côtes de Castillon estate, which offers a brilliant introduction to the Thienpont stable at an affordable pricepoint.