Learn everything about Chateau Nenin 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 Nenin History, Overview
Chateau Nenin had been the property of the Despujol family starting in 1840. It’s quite possible that the Despujol family actually founded the estate and planted the initial vines for the vineyard. That family’s ownership of the chateau changed in 1997, just before the harvest when they sold it to the Delon family in 1997.
The new owners were experienced in managing a Bordeaux chateau as they already owned Chateau Leoville Las Cases located in the St. Julien appellation and Chateau Potensac situated in the Haut Medoc. It was natural that the Delon family would purchase the property, due to their relationship with the Despujol family, as they were cousins through marriage.
Chateau Nenin has the distinction of having one of the few grand chateaus in the appellation with its large, 19th-century stone design. In fact, the chateau would be equally at home in the Left Bank with its regal splendor.
Chateau Nenin expanded its already sizable holdings in 1999 with the purchase of 4 additional 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 Chateau Nenin in 2004. It took a while until the Delon family began the march to quality for Chateau Nenin.
Starting with the 2015 vintage, everything changed. Yields were reduced, the selection became much more stringent with less wine being placed into the Grand Vin, grapes were allowed to gain better maturity and the wines quickly began to show for the better, as evidenced by my tasting notes for the vintage. Genevieve d’Alton has continued making a more active role in managing Chateau Nenin these days.
Chateau Nenin Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The large 32-hectare vineyard of Chateau Nenin is planted with 78% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a marked change for Chateau Nenin as the estate at one time was planted with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The change to more Merlot in the vineyard has added a lot of depth and softness to the wine. The terroir is a mix of gravel, clay, and sand with some iron in the soil. Their best parcels are the 14 hectares of vines on the plateau, which has more clay that are planted on a nice slope reaching up to 33 meters at its peak. This parcel stretches from the classic chateau almost to the vines of Chateau Trotanoy. Though they have some very good parcels quite close to the chateau.
In total. the vineyard is divided into 40 separate parcels of various sizes and terroirs. The vines are on average close to 30 years of age. However, there are old vines, some of which are more than 50 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density that ranges from 6,300 vines per hectare to 7,100 vines per hectare. The higher levels of vine density are found in the newer plantings.
Winemaking 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 their 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 a large amount of press wine added to the blend. In some vintages, as much as 20% press wine has been added to the blend. That is until the 2015 vintage when the wines began showing marked improvement. Chateau Nenin produces a second wine, Fugue de Nenin.
The best vintages of Chateau Nenin are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2000.The wine of Chateau Nenin clearly ages well. A recently tasted bottle of 1961 Chateau Nenin was quite a treat. It should be noted that starting with the 2015 vintage, the wines here are significantly better with the 2020 being the best vintage ever produced at the estate!
When to Drink Chateau Nenin, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Nenin can be enjoyed on the young side with 1-2 hours 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. The wine is better with 6-10 years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, Chateau Nenin will be at its best between 10-25 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Nenin with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Nenin is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Nenin is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau Nenin is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta and a wide assortment of hard and soft cheeses.
Château Nenin Wine Tasting Notes
27 Vintages 139,854 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
| 2021 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Cherries, flowers, chocolate, and a baby hint of pineapple create the nose. On the palate, the wine is classic in nature with a firm accent to the sweet, crisp, ripe red and black plums. The wine blends 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2042. 91-93 1,556 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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| 2021 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Forward, savory red plums on the nose and on the medium-bodied palate helps create the backdrop for this early drinking charmer. Drink from 2023-2028. 86-88 1,673 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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| 2020 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Deeply colored, you find touches of cedar, flowers, licorice, herbs and dark plums on the nose. Bright, fresh, sweet and crisp, with a zesty, savory, dark red berry mid-palate and long, chewy, spicy finish, this needs some time to soften and develop. Give it 5-7 years in the cellar and enjoy over the next 2 decades. The wine blends 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc. 93-95 Pts 2,536 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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| 2020 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Bright, fresh, juicy, lifted and fruity, the wine focuses on its core of lifted, sweet, ripe red fruits, savory herbs and flowers. Drink this with pleasure while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 89-91 Pts 2,332 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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| 2019 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Richly colored, with a nose of flowers, boysenberry,, chocolate, plums and Asian spice, the wine is lush, soft, polished and medium/full-bodied. The fruit is fresh, vibrant, polished and structured to age, leaving you with layers of cherries, truffle and dark chocolate in the endnote. This should age quite well. The wine was made blending 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2024-2042. 1,967 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Notes of flowers, greenery, dark plums, chocolate, licorice and wet earth on the nose gets thing's going. On the palate the wine is fresh, concentrated, powerful and loaded with lifted, dark pit fruits and plums with a judicious dose of chocolate. With the structure and tannins to age, coupled with the complexity making it worth the wait, this is a fine vintage for Nenin. The wine was made blending 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14.45 alcohol with a pH of 3.59. 92-94 Pts 4,467 Views Tasted Jun 17, 2020 |
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| 2019 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Medium-bodied, early-drinking, Merlot-based charmer with a nice core of soft, textured, round, sweet plums with a tinge of truffle and cocoa to round things out. This is great to drink now while waiting for its big brother to develop. Drink from 2022-2028. 942 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022 |
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| 2018 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Flowers, plum, wet earth, smoke and cocoa open the wine. On the palate the wine has firmed up since it was in barrel. The wine is concentrated, full-bodied, ripe, deep, fresh and energetic, with the structure to age quite well. The finish fills you up with sweet, ripe fruits and chocolate. It will require some aging to fill out and soften, so give it at least 5-7 years in the cellar. The wine is made from 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. 2,766 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Fresh, juicy, bright and pure with lingering tannins and ripe, red pit fruits, licorice, spice and floral notes, this wine is pleasingly polished, refined and erudite. The sweetness in the fruits on the mid-palate really stands out this vintage. The wine is made from 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14.6% alcohol and is aging in 45% new French oak. 92-94 Pts 2,125 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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| 2017 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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With an over-riding floral character, the wine also displays cherry, plum and truffles. Elegant and nuanced, there is a beautiful purity in the fruits and silkiness in the tannins. The finish allows you to savor the sweetness of all the soft, red fruits. 1,740 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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| 2016 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Already showing a bit of truffle, the wine offers ripe plums and licorice in the nose and on the palate. Most of the oak has been completely integrated into the wine. Round, smooth, curvy and full bodied, you experience a delicious blast of juicy red fruits and spice on the palate and finish. The wine was made from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. 2,840 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019This is easily the best vintage of Nenin produced in modern times. The wine is vibrant, soft, fresh and filled with ripe, earthy, sweet, mocha filled plums and black cherries topped with truffles. 3,453 Views Tasted May 19, 2018Earthy, dark cherries, plum and licorice in the nose and on the palate, the wine is smooth and curvy, medium/full bodied with freshness and length. You’ll find juicy black and dark red plums with spice on the back end. The wine was made from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc and reached 14.47%. 4,118 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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| 2016 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Medium bodied, floral, fresh and filled with spicy cherries, this is great to drink now, while waiting for its big brother to develop. 3,373 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019 |
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| 2015 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Cocoa, flowers, plum and cherry notes on the nose, with fresh kirsch and cherry griotte on the palate. The finish gives you even more cherries, crisp cassis and a basket of strawberries. This wine was produced from 67% Merlot and 33% Cabernet Franc and reached 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.72. The Grand Vin is 70% of the production. This is certainly a contender for the best vintage of Nenin ever produced. The owner, Jean-Hubert Delon has definitely committed to making better wine, and it shows! 91-93 Pts 2,880 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2016 |
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| 2014 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Strict in nature, the plummy, cherry nuances are on the nose and palate. There is freshness, with a crispness to the tannins and fruit. The wine will benefit from 6-10 years of age. 2,934 Views Tasted Jul 12, 2017Flowers, cocoa and cherry notes on the nose, with fresh cherries, crisp cassis and sweet strawberries in the finish. This wine was produced from 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc and reached 13.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.53. 89-91 Pts 3,810 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2015 |
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| 2013 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.3% alcohol and will be aged in 20% new French oak. Light ruby in color, the medium-bodied wine has reticent aromas of spicy red berries, herbs and hints of earth that transition into a light, fresh, and peppery finish with cherries and strawberries. 88-90 Pts 2,883 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2014 |
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| 2012 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Earth, truffle, smoke, caramel and candied cherries, this is solid vintage for Nenin, filled with fresh, spicy cherries and soft, sweet black raspberries in the finish. 4,114 Views Tasted Jul 2, 2015Blending 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc, the reached 14.62% alcohol and a pH of 3.42. The wine will be aged in 25% new French oak. Fresh flowers, cherries, vanilla bean, cocoa powder and truffle notes lead to a sweet and round black cherry-dominated wine with supple textures and freshness. 90-92 Pts 5,198 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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| 2012 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Chocolate, cocoa and black raspberry jam notes with just a hint of oak open to a light plummy wine in an open style. 84-86 Pts 3,704 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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| 2011 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Ready to go, the wine is medium-bodied, developed, you find a lot of Cabernet Franc character, displaying its flowers, mint, red, earthy plum, and cocoa, the wine is soft, bright, fresh, and filled with red plums in the finish. 2,585 Views Tasted Sep 8, 2021Solid, and a little bit tough in its classic, bright, red plum and cherry personality. 2,672 Views Tasted May 21, 2014With 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc at 13.7% alcohol, the wine will be aged in 25% new oak. Truffle, floral and black raspberry perfume notes with a masculine fresh, ripe black cherry and cocoa finish. This Pomerol requires time for the tannins to soften. 89-91 Pts 2,692 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2012 |
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| 2010 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Spicy, forest and kirsch notes open to a firm, licorice and dark cherry filled wine with a hint of dryness in the tannic, plummy finish. 6,613 Views Tasted May 8, 20132010 Nenin - From a blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.9% alcohol. Ruby colored with floral, chocolate and plum scents, for a Pomerol this has a stern personality. Boysenberry, coca and plum are found in the finish. 89-91 Pts 5,917 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2011 |
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| 2009 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Delivering tobacco, forest floor, leaf, cigar box and red plum notes, the wine has softened and lost most of its youthful austerity, The sweet cherry and plum notes, with a hint of cocoa come through nicely. The soft textured finish ends with bright red fruits, herb and a forest leaf note. 3,486 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019With truffle, mineral and dark cherry in the nose, this powerful, tannic, dark wine ends with plum and black cherry. Give it a decade to soften. 4,153 Views Tasted May 4, 20122009 Nenin, with spicy blackberry and chocolate flavors, is a powerful, structured style of Pomerol. The dark berry, kirsch, and cocoa finish displays a lot of brawn for Pomerol. 88-91 Pts 3,740 Views Tasted Jul 27, 2010 |
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| 2008 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Showing its age in the color and with its secondary nuances of truffle, forest, herb, tobacco leaf and plums, the medium bodied wine has softened and added more sweetness to the red fruits. There is a bit of masculinity on the palate, but with a bit more aging, that should soften as well. 3,216 Views Tasted Sep 17, 201808 Château Nenin is deep ruby. The 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc give your nose a big blast of chocolate covered plums at the first sniff. This tannic, dense, full bodied wine is going to please people seeking a traditional style of Pomerol. 88-90 Pts 6,889 Views Tasted Jul 30, 2009 |
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| 2007 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Medium bodied, with a melange of peppery, cherries and herbs on the palate, this is fully mature. The wine was made blending 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc. 4,051 Views Tasted Jul 12, 2017 |
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| 2005 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Wet earth and plums in the nose, paired with fresh, tannic, red plums and herbs in the finish. This structured style of Pomerol needs another 5 more years to develop and soften. 3,334 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2015Black cherries, earth and strawberry scents lead to a masculine, rustic, style of Pomerol. The wine ends with red and black plums. Still young, this should soften and perhaps become less brawny in style with more time. 7,472 Views Tasted Aug 12, 2011 |
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| 2005 | Fugue de Nénin (Pomerol) | |
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Fully mature, with a strawberry filled midpalate and tangy, red berry and tapenade finish. 3,601 Views Tasted Jul 2, 2015 |
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| 2004 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Truffle, dark plum, fennel and cherry notes in the nose open to a masculine, structured style of Pomerol that is ready to drink. 3,168 Views Tasted Nov 30, 2014 |
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| 2000 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Firm structured style of Pomerol that is presently more exciting on the truffle, cherry, thyme and floral nose, than on the still, tannic, fresh, and slightly stoic palate. 4,887 Views Tasted Oct 26, 2016 |
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| 1966 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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It's always fun tasting older Pomerol, even when it's on the austere side. Still, there was enough plum, tobacco and forest floor to make this old school expression interesting. However, it's not a wine to age any further. 2,279 Views Tasted Apr 16, 2016 |
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| 1961 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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In great shape for a wine that is approaching 55 years of age, with a nose of earth, tobacco, smoky cherries and cigar box aromas, the wine is not on the elegant side, but it offers a lot of sweet and tart, old school charm and tasted 20 years younger than its true age. 2,872 Views Tasted Jul 19, 2015Brick in color, the wine shows its age with its tobacco, smoke, earth, cherry and truffle nose. Slightly rustic on the palate, the wine ends with with spicy cherries, smoke and earthy sensations. 3,060 Views Tasted Feb 5, 2014 |
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| 1949 | Château Nenin (Pomerol) | |
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Fading far too quickly in the glass, the wine is holding on to life by the skin of its teeth. Other, older vintages of Nenin have been much stronger. 1,756 Views Tasted Oct 22, 2018 |
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