The winery is located in the commune of Pomerol in the area of the same name (Bordeaux). The name is derived from a very old pine tree close to the vineyard. On the bottle label, only the name "Le Pin" is mentioned without the château, except in the footer text "Mis en bouteille au château" (bottled in a château). However, the simple buildings would not deserve the name "château" either. It was owned by the Laubie family from 1924 to 1979, when it was acquired by the Belgian Thienpont family, who also own the neighbouring Vieux Château Certan. From the 1981 vintage onwards, the aim was to achieve the highest quality (and price) of Château Pétrus. The winery is one of the large clientele of the well-known oenologist Michel Rolland (*1947).
The vineyards cover only 2.3 hectares of vineyards with clayey gravel soil on ferruginous limestone soil (Crasse de Fer) with Merlot (92%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). There is a strict yield restriction of a maximum of 35 hectolitres per hectare. The dark-coloured, alcohol-rich, fruity red wine is not produced in the Bordeaux style, but in a similar way to top Australian or Californian wines. It ferments in stainless steel and then matures for 18 to 24 months in 100% new barriques. This extremely long-lasting red wine is said to have a shelf life of at least 15 to 40 years.
Le Pin" was one of the first wines to be labelled as so-called garage wines (micro-château) (these are only produced in small quantities). Only around 6,000 to 8,000 bottles of wine are produced each year. It is one of the most expensive wines in the world; a just bottled Le Pin is not (if at all) available for less than 1,500 euros per bottle. Outstanding vintages include 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
