La Raison d'Hetre 2016

There are few families that are in the top echelon of every wine category they own.  When it comes to Bordeaux's Right Bank, the Thienpont family is one to reckon with!  Since their marriage in 1997, Jacques & Fiona (MW in 1994) have been dividing their time among their three estates: Château Le Pin (Pomerol) , Château l'IF (St Emilion) and now Château l'Hêtre (formerly named Château Goubau) (Castillon).  The iconic Le Pin retails for thousands of dollars a bottle every vintage.  Fortunately, the winemakers offer the market a delight with Château l'Hêtre.  Given the Thienpont family's passion for naming their wine after trees, pine (Le Pin), yew (l'If), starting with 2016, beech (l'Hêtre).  Treat yourself and friends to a blind tasting of this wine, you won't be able to tell its amazingly advantageous price point. This is a fantastic wine we won't hesitate to recommend to every level of wine drinkers.

La Raison d'Hêtre ("The Reason To Be") is the second wine of L'Hêtre, a symbol of the owner's ambitious vision for the property now under their ownership. La Raison d’Hêtre is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc as well but from the young vines and from the parcels of clay-limestone on the lower slopes. It has a pretty dark violet colour, is round and fresh with red fruit aromas. Its taste is lively and spicy with attractive fruit/tannin balan

"Deep crimson, still with a touch of purple. A light and attractive dusty note overlaying restrained and pure black fruit. Blind I would have thought this had less Merlot and more of the either Cabernet. There's a hint of wood spice and cigar box but it is mostly the fine dark fruit that entices. Dry, finely chewy tannins, very direct in its dark fruit, with a hint of pencil and just a little bit of heat on the finish even though the body is moderate, not at all heavy. And manages to be fresh even with the slight heat of the alcohol. (JH)" - Julia Harding, Jancisrobinson.com, Rating: 16, Drink: 2019-2026