Château Nénin 2006

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for Château Nénin 2006

Tasting

Color

With a bright ruby hue and purple highlights, the wine displays a crystalline brilliance that reflects careful winemaking.

Nose

The bouquet opens with generous aromas of kirsch and red fruits, accompanied by notes of mocha and delicate floral touches. With aeration, nuances of cedar, forest floor and dried herbs enrich the aromatic palette, while hints of dark chocolate and violet add an extra dimension.

Palate

The attack is fresh and pure, revealing a muscular structure and generous body. The palate expresses flavors of cherries and chocolate, carried by fine, supple tannins of remarkable quality. The silky, sensuous texture is accompanied by mineral notes evocative of pencil lead and graphite that tint the dark fruits. The finish, long and persistent, stands out for its freshness and graphite-like character.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Château Nénin 2006 is an ideal match for grilled or braised red meats, furred game such as venison or wild boar, as well as duck prepared with a fruit sauce. It also pairs perfectly with herb-roasted lamb, dishes featuring noble mushrooms such as porcini, and aged cheeses such as an old Comté or a Cantal.

Serving and Cellaring

Château Nénin 2006 benefits from being decanted one to two hours before serving to fully reveal its aromatic bouquet. It is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. This vintage can be enjoyed until around 2031.

A structured, harmonious Pomerol by Château Nénin

The Estate

Acquired in 1997 by the Delon family, Château Nénin spans 32 hectares in Pomerol, north of Bordeaux. The 8 hectares of the plateau’s finest clay-gravel terroirs are devoted to the grand vin, with the remainder notably supplying Fugue de Nénin. Under the direction of Jean-Hubert Delon, the estate has benefited from a complete restructuring since its acquisition, modernizing both the vineyard and the cellars. The plantings, dominated by Merlot with an increasing proportion of Cabernet Franc, aim to produce a powerful, elegant, age-worthy Pomerol.

The Vineyard

The Château Nénin vineyard enjoys a privileged location within the Pomerol appellation. The plots selected for the grand vin rest on the plateau’s noblest terroirs, composed of gravel and clay enriched by an iron-rich subsoil known as crasse de fer. These soils provide optimal drainage while ensuring a steady water supply to the vines. The south-west exposure of the best parcels, situated at an altitude reaching up to 33 meters, promotes ideal grape ripening.

The Vintage

The 2006 vintage benefited from favorable climatic conditions in Pomerol. A cool spring delayed the growing cycle, allowing for gradual, well-balanced ripening. The summer was pleasant, with moderate temperatures and well-distributed rainfall. These conditions enabled the grapes to reach optimal maturity while preserving fine freshness and a lively acidity—key characteristics of this structured vintage.

Winemaking and Aging

The 2006 Château Nénin harvest was carried out by hand at full maturity. After complete destemming, fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, with fermentation temperatures ranging between 24 and 28°C. Maceration lasted between 12 and 20 days depending on the parcels. Aging was carried out in French oak barrels for 18 months, with a moderate proportion of 20 to 30% new oak, preserving the fruit’s expression while adding structure and complexity.

Grape Varieties

Merlot (76 %)
Cabernet franc (24 %)