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Tasting Notes
"Deep, rich ruby red with violet tinges, 2022 l'Hetre is made of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Intensely fresh on the nose, it offers vibrant notes of mint and freshly picked blueberries mingling with the darker, more brooding scents of damson and blackcurrant. On the palate, the wine reveals a remarkable structure, with mouth-coating tannins that lend a sense of both power and elegance with the delicate use of 30% new French oak. The dark fruit profile continues to evolve, with layers of blackberry, sloe, and an array of other wild hedgerow fruits, offering both richness and brightness. A generous hit of coffee and clove closes out the deeply savoury finish. This 2022 is a superb rendition of l'Hetre, still a baby but reaching another milestone in precision and quality, it will easily compete with the 2020 for the "Best ever" rank!"
Critic Scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2002 L'Hetre is expressive, bald and punchy, all of which give it tons of charm. Crushed flowers, mint, blood orange, sage and white pepper lend notable aromatic brilliance to play aff the wine's richness. More than anything else, I am impressed by the wine's energy and vibrancy, Clean mineral notes shape the tout, salivating finish.
The 2022 L'Hetre is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that's from more limestone soils, with the élevage in 30% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. Gorgeous black raspberries, black truffle, tobacco, and damp earth are just some of the nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, ripe, chalky tannins, and a great finish.
The 2022 L'Hétre comes from 28-hectares of vines with some Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon currently being planted. This has a lovely bouquet with subtle violet and estuarine scents permeating the dark berry fruit tones. It's quite mineral-driven with a hint of ceps. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip. There's fine structure bert with a judicious sprinkling of white pepper on the finish. This is very fine.
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.