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Pomerol is a much-respected red wine appellation in the Bordeaux region of south-western France. Both historically and physically, it stands apart from other Bordeaux appellations. It does not conform to the accepted image of a Bordeaux wine district as being a wealthy, long-established, chateau-laden area, with an all-important (if slightly outdated) classification system. Pomerol is none of these things, yet has managed to earn itself a place among the region's most-respected names (and to be included in the most prestigious of wine collections.)
Pomerol has no formal system of classification for its wines (each of the other key appellations has a multi-tiered quality system, exemplified by the complex Medoc classification). Despite this, Pomerol and its particular wine style have acquired a very high profile in a short space of time. While the appellation was barely acknowledged in the middle of the last century, wines like Chateau Petrus now command higher prices than those of the long-established Medoc.
Pomerol is located in the east of the Bordeaux region, near Saint-Emilion, in the area known as the Libournais. This name is taken from the town of Libourne, which sits just to the south of Pomerol. The landscape here is remarkable for being entirely unremarkable. While most appellations are named after a village or town within their boundaries, Pomerol has no such epicenter. It is an unchanging 2000-acre (800-ha) gravel bank, which rises and falls by only 65ft (20m).
The south and west of the appellation have sandier soils compared to the slightly heavier soils in the east, which include a certain proportion of clay. It is in this eastern section, on the marginally higher land where Pomerol meets Saint-Emilion, that the best wines are produced. Three of the most highly regarded Pomerol producers – Chateaux Petrus, Lafleur and Le Pin – are located here.
Merlot is the dominant grape in Pomerol and plays a large part in making the wines rich, smooth and approachable at an early age. Cabernet Franc is also often present, adding an element of savory spice and increased backbone. There is a very high demand for this style of wine on the international market and Pomerol wines are much sought after – particularly because they are also relatively long-lived.
The prevalence of Merlot has its risks for Pomerol, as it does for neighboring Saint-Emilion. Merlot is an early flowering variety and is susceptible to spring frosts. In the season of 1991, for example, spring frost damaged a large proportion of Pomerol's vines. Perversely, this only served to increase the market value, where demand already far outweighed supply.
Pomerol's place in the international wine world is secure for some time to come, given the continuing increase in demand for prestigious wines and the limited production of this small, quality-focused appellation.
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