France — wine
Pomerol
Smallest major Bordeaux appellation — 800 hectares, no official classification, no château tourism. Blue clay soil produces purely Merlot of extraordinary concentration and complexity. Château Pétrus (Jean-Pierre Moueix) is the icon: harvested in the afternoon to avoid morning dew, unclassified yet worth more per bottle than any First Growth. Le Pin (Thienponts) is the ultimate garage wine.
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83 | Good. Variable. Top châteaux (Pétrus, Lafleur) reliable. Entry level more inconsistent. |
| 2022 | 91 | Excellent. Merlot rich and opulent. Pétrus and Le Pin both outstanding. Classic warm Pomerol richness. |
| 2021 | 84 | Good. Merlot performed better than Cabernet in this cool year. Pomerol handled 2021 best of all Right Bank. |
| 2020 | 91 | Very good. Cooler conditions vs. 2018/2019 but Pomerol's clay retained moisture perfectly. |
| 2019 | 93 | Excellent. Merlot's richness and freshness balanced beautifully. Classic Pomerol velvety texture. |
| 2018 | 96 | Near-perfect Merlot conditions. Pétrus, Lafleur, and Vieux Château Certan at extraordinary level. |
| 2016 | 97 | Century vintage. Pétrus producing one of its greatest ever bottles. Le Pin and L'Église-Clinet exceptional. |