Pomerols are smooth, rich wines with an intense plummy fruitiness. These wines are a blend of grapes that include a large percentage of Merlot, producing a lush rub color and intensity. The vineyards in this region are smaller but the wine production is exuberant. Pomerol is in the Bordeaux region, just north of Libourne. The wine standard here is exceptional. Some big guns in the wine world, namely Petrus and Le Pin, hail from here but some of their lesser known neighbors come very close in quality without the huge price tags. Read on...
Chateau L'Eglise
The wines from Chateau L'Eglise are often a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes imbuing this intensely fruity wine is vibrant with significant depth. Traditional aging in oak barrels is for 14 months to produce an excellent wine. Try vintages from 1999, 2000 and 2001 for rich fruity varieties.
Chateau Vieux Certan
Hand harvesting of grapes assures that this wine is of the best possible quality. Chateau Vieux Certan boasts a traditional style wine with an elegant taste and bouquet. With 60% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, the superb blend of grapes produces an excellent fruity flavor with complex layers. Particularly good vintage years include 1990, 1989 and 1988.
Chateau Certan de May
A small, family owned and operated vineyard, Chateau Certan de May produces only 2,000 cases per year. Mme, Bareau-Bader and her son have been the owners since 1974, and they are completely entrenched in the operations of the estate and wine production. This gives the wine a very personal feel. With 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine is of excellent quality. It tends to be concentrated with a very forward grape flavor in the younger years, but with age, this wine develops and amazing complexity. Vintages from 1998, 1986 and 1989 are highly recommended, although many varieties are worthwhile and satisfying.
Chateau Bon Pasteur
Excellent vintages of this Bordeaux blend include 1998, 1995 and 1996. Chateau Bon Pasteur is a fine example of a medium bodied, dry red from the Bordeaux region. This wine has an excellent fruity flavor that lingers pleasantly. An excellent blend of grapes the Chateau Bon Pasteur is a rich, lush red with good texture The bouquet has components of ripe berry that is very pleasant.
Chateau Clinet
Try the vintages from 1996, 1997, and 2001 for a truly excellent Bordeaux blend. The Chateau Clinet vineyard is a very small property in Pomerol that has really come into its own in the world of wine in the last fifteen years. It now produces one of the most sought after wines from the region. The Chateau Clinet is a well balanced, dry red with a finish that lasts. The blend of 80% Merlot, and 10% Carbernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc produces a richly red color and layers of complexity.
Chateau Lafleur
With a wide range of prices, there is much to consider from the Chateau Lafleur vineyard. Favorite vintages include 1996, 2000 and 2003. This tiny vineyard produces amazingly complex medium to full bodied Bordeaux blends. With impressive aromas of kirsch, raspberries, toasty oak, cinnamon and cedar notes, the velvety texture is pleasant and rich.
Chateau L'Evangile
This amazing little vineyard was owned and operated by the Chaperon family for a long time, however the Domaines baron de Rothschild were brought in as partners and the Rothschild group finally purchased a controlling interest in the Chateau L'Evangile in 1990. With such famous ownership, it is no wonder that the Bordeaux blends produced at the Chateau L'Evangile are highly considered. Typically a deeply colored wine with a bouquet of violets and raspberries, the tone of this wine is rich and lush. Is low acidity and sweet tannin are deep and concentrated. Consider the vintages 1998, 2003, and 1993 for excellent representations of this wine.