Pomerol
Maritime
A tiny, plush, Merlot-dominated appellation with no official classification — and home to Pétrus.
Overview
About Pomerol
Pomerol is a small plateau east of the city of Libourne, and the smallest of the great Bordeaux appellations. It has never been classified, which is part of its character: its estates are small, and reputation and price do the ranking.
Merlot dominates, often with a little Cabernet Franc, giving wines that are plush, velvety and opulent, with plum and truffle notes. The blue-grey clay at the centre of the plateau is credited for the depth of Pétrus, which is made almost entirely from Merlot.
Pomerol is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Gironde. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Maritime
Slightly warmer and drier than the Médoc, and a little further from the ocean. Merlot ripens well here in most years.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Clay, over gravel and sand. A 'button' of blue clay, rich in iron, at the centre of the plateau is known for producing the finest Merlot.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Pomerol has no official classification, and estates are ranked by reputation and price.
AOC Pomerol
Red wine only, mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, from a single small plateau.
No classification
Estates such as Pétrus are as prestigious as any classified château without an official list to say so.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.