Country of Origin: France
Location: Saint-Martial
People: The Constans Family, Owners
Estate History: Château du Pin belonged to the Dupin family
until 1880 when it was given to Jean Leopold Ballan, great-great
grandfather of Jean-Marie Constans. Jean-Marie and son Guillaume (sixth
generation) are in charge of their 46 ha vineyard. The vineyard is
located on a series of slopes in the commune of Saint-Martial near
Gondrin in the middle of the Entre-Deux-Mers just south of Sauveterre.
Cellar and Winemaking Notes: Prior to 2006, all the production was sold in bulk. Some of it still is,
but as from 2006 a growing proportion is bottled at the château and the
Constans have kept the vines and cellar
up to speed to ensure the highest quality for doing this. Jean-Marie is a true
man of the soil, and, with limited finances has shown what is possible to
ensure quality on a budget (de-leafing, green harvesting on the Merlots, etc),
whilst Claudette has patiently put back every last penny into cellar
equipment, which remains quite basic: large concrete tanks and no
barrels at all; but the cooling equipment is of the highest quality and ensures
perfect vinifications. The finished wines remain
in tank with regular rackings until bottling generally during the winter 15
months later.
These are strongly-made ripe-styled wines with
considerable power, combining a good strength of the Merlot with a touch of
cassis from the Cabernet.
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