Bordeaux 2014 Primeurs: Pomerol Tasting Notes
It is interesting to note that while on the left bank the majority of reports suggested flowering went well (Château Pichon-Baron is one exception that springs to mind), and in St Emilion the story was rather more mixed, here in Pomerol the story was a touch more downbeat in parts. Indeed, the most notable example of a difficult flowering in St Emilion was reported by Pierre-Olivier Clouet at Château Cheval Blanc, which is Pomerol in all but name anyway. Here in Pomerol-proper the flowering of the Merlots was slow and stuttering at Petrus, Lafleur, Le Pin and one or two others. The main outliers were Vieux Château Certan and L’Évangile, who were happy with the flowering.
The harvest tended to be earlier in Pomerol too, which is always the case. Direct comparisons between the two appellations are flawed, as there are few people who own or tend vineyards in both appellations, but someone who does is Christian Moueix; he started picking in Pomerol on September 16th, while in St Emilion his fruit was not being harvested until September 27th, more than a week and a half later. Add in the fact, as I have already mentioned, that fewer châteaux in Pomerol can lean on their Cabernet Franc than is the case in St Emilion, and we perhaps begin to understand just why this appellation might be vulnerable in this vintage.
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