Winegrowers’ work

Standing alongside Great Growths renowned worldwide, Pomerol’s identity is quite unique. With first class craftsmanship and work carried out precisely according to requirements, this ideal setting for wine production combines ancestral skill and the latest winemaking techniques. There are numerous small-scale wine producers here growing their vines lovingly on small plots of land, which sometimes cover less than one hectare.

During the period when the vine grows and flourishes, each task in the vineyard follows from one to another as if a set to a certain cadence.

These tasks follow the yearly cycle: pruning, wood fall, bending and tying the canes, ploughing and then nourishing the soil, removing unwanted vine shoots, raising the moveable wires to keep the vines upright as they grow, trimming the canopy of leaves, selectively thinning leaves around the grape clusters, green harvesting.


As of the end of the month of August, the winegrower takes great interest in tasting his grapes which will continue to slowly ripen. The moment of glory for the crop comes when the grapes reach a perfect stage of ripeness.

Every year Pomerol “sets the ball rolling” by being the first to begin harvesting red grapes in the Bordeaux wine region. This is thanks to Merlot and because early-ripening terroirs here require this.


The harvests

The grape harvests are generally gathered from mid-September until the end of the October, for the very finest vintages.

Each vine and plot of vines is given careful attention and a process of meticulous sorting is carried out as the grape clusters are picked from the vine and once the crop arrives at the vat house. For the large majority of the Pomerol Appellation, harvests are gathered manually.

Winemaking methods are adapted to the various terroirs and to each winegrower’s skills.


Maturation

Wines are matured in oak barrels and depending on the vintage the maturation period will last between 12 and 18 months.

After this stage, bottling is done. The wine will then be enclosed in bottles for many years before being tasted…for the pleasure of the palate.