Pomerol
Far from the grand chateaux and bustling activity around the ports of Bordeaux city, the appellation of Pomerol has a laid back, countrified air. There is no urban hub amongst the densely configured vineyards, and the crisscrossing straight roads can make it difficult to get your bearings. Amongst this mild confusion lie some of Bordeaux's smallest and most acclaimed estates, producing wines that can demand higher prices than even the celebrated first growths of the Medoc and Graves.
Lying to the north-east of the large town of Libourne, Pomerol was not considered much more than a producer of fairly good everyday wine until as late as 50 years ago. Since then producers such as Petrus, Lafleur, Le Pin, Gazin and l'Eglise-Clinet have raised the reputation of the region, and the Merlot-dominant wines are famed for their richness and purity of fruit. Cabernet Franc is used to add spice and structure and the wines can be very long-lived. Boutique in nature and often scarce with demand growing, Pomerol is well worth seeking out.
