The density and freshness of a fine Pomerol red wine
The estate
Owned by Domaines Delon, Château Nénin embodies, according to the Delon family, "the expression of a great Pomerol meant to age". This 19th century estate was acquired by the Delon family in 1997 and underwent a major restructuring, bringing Château Nénin to the top of high-quality Pomerol.
The vineyard
Situated on the plateau of Pomerol, the vineyard of Château Nénin covers an area of 32 hectares, 8 of which are dedicated to the estate’s Grand Vin. The vines are planted on a mosaic of soils composed of clay, silica gravel, quartz, granite, basalt pebbles and iron ore.
The vintage
A sunny vintage, 2011 is the hottest year after the 2003 heatwave. A particularly hot and dry spring favoured an extremely early flowering. The beginning of the summer season was marked by significant water stress, which was gradually offset by rainy spells that salvaged the vineyard. These conditions led to a good phenolic ripeness, optimal juice concentration and a good sugar-acidity balance thanks to the temperate nights. The grape harvest was carried out early from 5 to 15 September 2011.
The blend
Château Nénin 2011 comprises a blend of Merlot (78%) and Cabernet Franc (22%).
Château Nénin 2011: Characteristics and tasting tips
The tasting
Luscious, powerful and fleshy without losing any of its freshness, the Merlot grapes blend perfectly with the elegance, finesse, length and density of the Cabernet Franc variety. The tannins offer a dense and tight structure. Château Nénin 2011 offers an alluring, full and highly fresh expression.
Service
It is recommended to decant the wine 1 hour before tasting.
This is the Right Bank outpost of the Delon family that also owns Leoville Las-Cases. While they have made major improvements to Nenin, I feel it still has a Medoc-like personality in spite of the fact it is about 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The 2011 Nenin displays an attractive, clean, raspberry and black currant-scented nose, good richness, and a Medoc-like firmness. It is a medium-bodied, pleasant 2011 to drink over the next 7-8 years.