Lalande-de-Pomerol is an appellation of the Bordeaux wine region in south-western France. It covers red wines that are produced just to the north of the more-prestigious Pomerol title, in the area east of Bordeaux known as the Libournais.
The wines of Lalande-de-Pomerol are made predominantly from Merlot, but may also contain Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. As with most of the right-bank appellations, it is the approachability of Merlot that makes these wines so popular in the modern marketplace.
The two main villages of the appellation are Lalande-de-Pomerol and Néac. The vineyards around Néac are planted on soils that have a clay element as well as the gravelly component that is distinctive in Pomerol. Merlot grows more successfully on this type of soil, so it is here that the better Lalande-de-Pomerol wines are produced. The soils around Lalande are sandier and more alluvial in nature (being closer to the Isle and Dordogne rivers), leading to a greater concentration of Cabernet grapes, which prefer free-draining soils.
The same Barbanne stream that divides Saint-Emilion to the south-east from its less-prestigious satellite appellations, here separates Pomerol from the less-important Lalande-de-Pomerol. Rivers are of great significance in this part of Bordeaux – defining appellation boundaries, moderating the climate and dictating the make-up of the region's soils.
The stellar success of Pomerol has stimulated viticultural activity and new investment in Lalande-de-Pomerol. It remains to be seen whether the title will enjoy the success of its famous neighbor to the south.
