Bordeaux 2012 at Four Years: Pomerol
The vineyards of Pomerol are known for their gravelly constitution but are also blessed with moisture-retaining clay, on the best parts of the plateau, anyway (there are certainly sandy vineyards at the foot of the plateau, and if appellations were really about terroir I can’t help thinking these should be excluded from the Pomerol appellation). Thus this apellation, like St Emilion, was set up for potential success in the 2012 vintage, the soils absorbing the heavy rainfall during the wetter weather, retaining and releasing the water to the vines during the dry summer months. There are indeed some good wines here, although this tasting was only a very limited selection, as is often the case with this appellation. Nevertheless, it seems clear that Pomerol, along with St Estèphe, St Emilion and Pessac-Léognan, is one of the success stories of this vintage.
Tasting the Wines
Fans of the estate will not be surprised to see that I liked the 2012 Château Trotanoy (pictured), one of the best wines among this small group, although as previously noted the selection was limited, so this is not a tasting that featured the likes of Petrus or Le Pin, Château L’Église-Clinet or Château Lafleur. With its roasted black cherry fruit, as well as a touch of mint which on occasion seems to mark the wine of this estate, it was certainly one of the stronger 2012s on show here.
