Chateau Nenin Pomerol Bordeaux Wine

Chateau Nenin

Chateau Nenin Pomerol, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Nenin had been the property of the Despujol family starting in 1840. It’s quite possible that the Despujol founded the estate and planted the initial vines for the Pomerol vineyard. That changed in 1997, just before the harvest. The new owners were experienced in managing a Bordeaux wine chateau as they already owned Chateau Leoville Las Cases located in St. Julien in the Medoc. They were also known by the Despujol family as they were cousins through marriage.

That is how it came to be that in 1997, Jean Hubert Delon and his sister Genevieve D’alton purchased the Right Bank estate of Chateau Nenin. Chateau Nenin is a massive property by Pomerol standards with its 32 hectares of vines. Chateau Nenin has the distinction of having one of the few grand chateau in the appellation with its large, 19th century stone design. Interestingly, the chateau would be equally at home in the Left Bank.

Chateau Nenin expanded their already sizable holdings in 1999 with the purchase of 4 hectares of vines from Chateau Certan Giraud. In that transaction, Christian Moueix purchased the remaining hectares and created Chateau Hosanna and Chateau Certan Marzelle. This was followed by a renovation of the estate in 2004.

The large Pomerol vineyard of Chateau Nenin which covers close to 26.5 hectares is planted to 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. This is a marked change for Chateau Nenin as the estate at one time was planted with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Perhaps that change will help soften the wine in the years to come. The terroir is gravel, clay and sand. The vines are on average close to 30 years of age and planted to a vine density of 6,200 vines per hectare. However, there are some parcels with old vines that are over 50 years of age at Chateau Nenin.

Wine making at Chateau Nenin in Pomerol is traditional. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, temperature controlled vats that range in size from 70 hectoliters up to 160 hectoliters. On average, Chateau Nenin is aged in 30% new oak, or less, for an average of 18 months, depending on the vintage. While Michel Rolland is used as a consultant, I do not see his touch at Chateau Nenin as the wines of Chateau Nenin are masculine and quite structured by nature and do not display the typical, lush, velvety qualities found in most Pomerol wines. Perhaps this has to do with the large amount of press wine added to the blend. In some vintages, as much as 20% press wine has been added to the blend. Chateau Nenin produces a second wine, Fugue de Nenin. The wine clearly ages well. A recently tasted 1961 was much better than expected.