Lalande-de-Pomerol: the 2018 vintage

Contents

Location and terroir

AOC Lalande-de-Pomerol, separated from Pomerol by a river, the Barbanne, is located in the Libournais region, on the right bank of the Bordeaux vineyards. More precisely, this 1,200-hectare appellation covers the villages of Lalande, where the soil is composed more of gravel and clay, and Néac, where the vines are planted on higher plateaus, with warmer, draining soil composed of gravel and sand.

As in most right bank appellations, Merlot is dominant here. It ripens very well in the cooler, clay soils of the right bank. The other classic Bordeaux grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, are also used in blends with Merlot.

Wines

Most of the appellation’s wines are very pleasant when young, with an expressive nose of red fruits such as redcurrant and strawberry. On the palate, these wines are powerful, but also velvety and charmingly round.

The diversity of the appellation’s terroirs also enables us to produce wines similar to those of its prestigious neighbor. These wines, designed for ageing, have a more robust appearance. With age, they will develop notes of prune, leather, game and even cocoa.

These wines are ideal for certain dishes, such as small game, especially duck, and fine cuts of red meat!

Vintage 2018

This vintage was a tough one for the winegrowers, with extreme weather conditions: long periods of rain between November and July, causing mildew contamination in places, followed by an almost scorching summer, with very high temperatures and superb sunshine, right up to harvest time!

As a result of this meteorological turnaround, the grapes reached very good ripeness and could be harvested without precipitation, around mid-September for the Merlot.

Vineyards with cool, absorbent soils, such as those on the right bank, do well. In fact, the soil soaked up water during the rainy periods and redistributed it during the almost suffocating summer!

The wines are therefore silky, with a rare complexity and aromatic intensity – a real treat!

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