Jacques Thienpont

Jacques Thienpont stands among Bordeaux’s most respected vignerons, admired for his precision, discretion, and unwavering commitment to terroir. A member of the Belgian Thienpont wine family, he rose to prominence in 1979 when he acquired a tiny two-hectare parcel in Pomerol and created Le Pin. Le Pin quickly became one of the world’s most sought-after wines.

Planted predominantly to Merlot, the vineyard’s gravelly soils and extremely low yields produce a wine of extraordinary concentration and silk-like texture. Aged in 100% new French oak, Le Pin is celebrated for its opulence, purity of fruit, and remarkable aging potential. With production limited to only a few hundred cases annually, its rarity enhances its global prestige.

Seeking new expressions of Right Bank terroir, Thienpont later expanded into Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux with L’Hêtre. Situated on limestone-rich slopes, L’Hêtre blends Merlot and Cabernet Franc, delivering freshness, structure, and mineral precision. Its companion wine, La Raison d’Hêtre, offers a more approachable style while maintaining depth and balance.

In Saint-Émilion, Thienpont established L’If, a project rooted in exceptional limestone and clay soils. Here, Cabernet Franc plays a prominent role alongside Merlot, producing wines of architectural elegance and refined power.

Across all his estates, Jacques Thienpont’s philosophy remains constant: meticulous vineyard work, restrained winemaking, and a profound respect for terroir. Today he is helped by the next generation of his extended family. The result is a portfolio that ranges from the legendary Le Pin to the rising stars of Castillon and Saint-Émilion - each wine defined by balance, finesse, and authenticity.