Chateau Plince Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Plince Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Plince History, Overview

Chateau Plince has one of the few, truly grand chateau in Pomerol. This is noticeable because generally speaking Pomerol is the simplest of all the important Bordeaux appellations. Thus most of the chateaux are humble in nature.

But not here. In fact, it is safe to say that Chateau Plince sports perhaps the finest, impressive-looking chateau in the appellation! The grand chateau was originally constructed in the 19th century.

Chateau Plince is owned by the Moreau family who purchased the Right Bank estate from the well-known, Rouchut family. The Moreau family have owned other vineyards in Pomerol, including Clos LEglise, which they sold in 1977.

Chateau Plince Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 8.6-hectare vineyard of Chateau Plince is planted to 72% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is mostly sand with some iron in the soil. On average the vines are close to 23 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density that remains close to 6,000 vines per hectare. The property is located close to Chateau Nenin and not too far from the RN89 highway. The Right Bank vineyard is 8.66 hectares.

In an effort to produce better wine today, Chateau Plince now practices green harvesting and crop thinning to reduce yields as part of its vineyard management program. However, Chateau Plince remains one of the few vineyards with potential that is still harvested by machine.

To produce the wine of Chateau Plince, vinification takes place in eight, traditional, temperature-controlled, cement vats that range in size from 62 hectoliters up to 132 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine of Chateau Plince is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for between 12 and 18 months, depending on the quality, character, and style of the vintage.

Chateau Plince produces close to 4,000 cases of Pomerol wine per vintage. There is a second wine, Pavillon Plince. While Chateau Plince is owned and managed by the Moreau family, the sales and marketing of their wine are handled by Ets. Moueix.

The best vintages of Chateau Plince are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2000.

When to Drink Chateau Plince, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Plince can be enjoyed on the young side with an hour or two of decanting. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. However, I find the wine is usually better with 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, Chateau Plince is usually at its best between 5 and 14 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Plince with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Plince is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Plince is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Plince is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Chateau Plince is a lighter, early-drinking style of Pomerol wine.

www.chateauplince.fr

Château Plince Wine Tasting Notes

15 Vintages 57,200 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
90
Flowers cherries, plums, and licorice show in the nose and on the palate in this medium-bodied, forward, soft, open wine. The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2034. 89-91 Pts.

Flowers cherries, plums, and licorice show in the nose and on the palate in this medium-bodied, forward, soft, open wine. The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2034. 89-91 Pts.

2,355 Views   Tasted
2021
91
Wet earth, herbs, red berries, and a touch of citrus shine in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, bright, savory, and crisp with an earthy, cocoa edge to the fruits in the finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 90-92

Wet earth, herbs, red berries, and a touch of citrus shine in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, bright, savory, and crisp with an earthy, cocoa edge to the fruits in the finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 90-92

1,661 Views   Tasted
2020
91
Licorice, flowers, wet earth and ripe red fruits show a vibrancy and freshness. The soft, silky tannins give the ripe berries texture, length and definition. The savory finish combines sweet red berries with touches of olives and herbs. 90-92 Pts

Licorice, flowers, wet earth and ripe red fruits show a vibrancy and freshness. The soft, silky tannins give the ripe berries texture, length and definition. The savory finish combines sweet red berries with touches of olives and herbs. 90-92 Pts

2,023 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Discrete notes of flowers, red pit fruits and earth create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with a gentle touch of oak that rides along with the sweet, ripe, red cherries in the finish. This is much better in bottle than it showed in barrel.

Discrete notes of flowers, red pit fruits and earth create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with a gentle touch of oak that rides along with the sweet, ripe, red cherries in the finish. This is much better in bottle than it showed in barrel.

2,681 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied and round with a solid blast of bright, juicy plum, earth, thyme and cocoa. There is length but not a lot of finesse. Still, it is quite charming. 88-90 Pts

Medium bodied and round with a solid blast of bright, juicy plum, earth, thyme and cocoa. There is length but not a lot of finesse. Still, it is quite charming. 88-90 Pts

3,306 Views   Tasted
2017
90
The whisper of chocolate preceding the plums works well here. Medium bodied, forward and soft, you can enjoy this elegant Pomerol with just a few years of age.

The whisper of chocolate preceding the plums works well here. Medium bodied, forward and soft, you can enjoy this elegant Pomerol with just a few years of age.

2,922 Views   Tasted
2016
90
Medium bodied, silky, soft and polished, this is a respectable wine with lots of ripe plums, earth and freshness.

Medium bodied, silky, soft and polished, this is a respectable wine with lots of ripe plums, earth and freshness.

4,203 Views   Tasted
2015
88
Soft in texture with a light whisper of fresh plum and cherry, this wine is elegant in style and will be best in its youth. 87 - 89 Pts

Soft in texture with a light whisper of fresh plum and cherry, this wine is elegant in style and will be best in its youth. 87 - 89 Pts

2,889 Views   Tasted
2014
85
With an odd nose of salty, red berries, dusty tannins and bright, red fruits, this is best in its youth. 84-86 Pts

With an odd nose of salty, red berries, dusty tannins and bright, red fruits, this is best in its youth. 84-86 Pts

3,911 Views   Tasted
2013
87
Discreet notes of earth and red plums come alive with coaxing in this light, forward wine showcasing red plum and cherry. 86-88 Pts

Discreet notes of earth and red plums come alive with coaxing in this light, forward wine showcasing red plum and cherry. 86-88 Pts

3,549 Views   Tasted
2012
86
Medium-bodied with a dusty texture to the tannins, this wine finishes with light red berries and cocoa powder. 85-87 Pts

Medium-bodied with a dusty texture to the tannins, this wine finishes with light red berries and cocoa powder. 85-87 Pts

5,992 Views   Tasted
2011
88
Light ruby in color, medium bodied with a soft, spicy cherry-dominated personality. 87-89 Pts

Light ruby in color, medium bodied with a soft, spicy cherry-dominated personality. 87-89 Pts

4,906 Views   Tasted
2010
87
Medium bodied, soft and light textured, the offers spicy red plums and feminine textures. 86-88 Pts

Medium bodied, soft and light textured, the offers spicy red plums and feminine textures. 86-88 Pts

3,830 Views   Tasted
2009
87
Medium bodied and sightly rustic, with black cherry, plum and espresso bean notes throughout.

Medium bodied and sightly rustic, with black cherry, plum and espresso bean notes throughout.

5,189 Views   Tasted
2008
86
08 Château Plince is light ruby in color and light in body. A nice, simple, entry level Pomerol. 85-88 Pts

08 Château Plince is light ruby in color and light in body. A nice, simple, entry level Pomerol. 85-88 Pts

4,345 Views   Tasted
2005
89
Medium bodied, soft textured, open and ready for business, with a wealth of sweet, juicy plum, freshness, and black licorice.

Medium bodied, soft textured, open and ready for business, with a wealth of sweet, juicy plum, freshness, and black licorice.

3,438 Views   Tasted