Pomerol AOC
A tiny right-bank appellation with no official classification, Pomerol produces some of the world's most coveted and expensive Merlot-based wines.
About Pomerol
Pomerol is one of Bordeaux's smallest and most singular appellations, a modest plateau on the right bank near Libourne with no château hierarchy and no official classification. Its reputation rests entirely on terroir and reputation: a band of iron-rich clay known as the 'crasse de fer' on the central plateau gives the greatest wines their plushness, depth and famous mineral sappiness. Merlot dominates the blend, supported by Cabernet Franc and occasionally a little Cabernet Sauvignon, producing reds of opulent texture, dark-plum and truffle character, and silky yet powerful structure. With no classification to rank them, estates such as Pétrus, Le Pin and Vieux Château Certan have earned global cult status purely on quality, commanding prices that rival or exceed the First Growths. Production is tiny, demand is fierce, and the finest Pomerols age superbly for decades.
Terroir & regulation
Principal producers
- Pétrus
- Le Pin
- Vieux Château Certan
- Château Trotanoy
- Château L'Évangile
Editorial notes
Famously has no official classification; Merlot-led wines from estates like Pétrus and Le Pin rank among the world's most expensive.