Pomeaux
Chateau Pomeaux is located on the southeastern slope of the Pomerol plateau, near the border of the communes of Pomerol and St. Emilion. Some of the world’s finest wine properties are neighbors of Chateau Pomeaux, whose vineyards are located approximately two kilometers from Chateau Petrus, one kilometer from Chateau Le Pin and Vieux Chateau Certan, and one-half kilometer from Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac.
Our wines are available exclusively direct from the property. We are proud to be the only Pomerol family estate that releases its wines after a minimum of six years of ageing, ensuring maturity and optimal drinking expression.
Story
The vineyards of Chateau Pomeaux were historically part of Chateau Taillefer. Chateau Taillefer is one of the oldest properties in the Pomerol appellation, dating back to at least 1785. Its chateau was built in the early 19th Century, and its vineyards were once the most extensive in Pomerol.
Chateau Pomeaux was purchased by its current owner in 1998 from a member of the famous Moueix family, owners of Chateau Taillefer, Chateau Petrus, Chateau Trotanoy, Chateau Lafleur-Petrus, Chateau Hosanna, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau La Tour a Pomerol, and other important wine estates in Bordeaux and California.
Chateau Taillefer was the first Pomerol property purchased by the Moueix family. Since its acquisition by its current owner, Chateau Pomeaux has been a small independent producer, with a focus on maximum quality over quantity.
Terroir
Chateau Pomeaux consists of 2.2+ hectares of prime vineyards, a beautiful and charming chateau, and a world-class winery located in a magnificent situation in Pomerol. Chateau Pomeaux’s vines, which are 100% Merlot Noir, average 45 years of age. Chateau Pomeaux’s soil is a combination of gravel, clay, and ferruginous sand with iron-pan and clay in the subsoil. Chateau Pomeaux’s vineyards are maintained in a meticulous manner, its grapes are grown and harvested using an optimum combination of traditional and modern techniques, and its wines are vinified and aged to achieve the highest quality possible.
Chateau Pomeaux benefits from an exceptional location on the southern slope of the Pomerol plateau, nestled on a south-facing slope of gravel with a clay and iron subsoil. Other famous Pomerol producers that share this superb location include Chateau Petrus, Chateau Le Pin, and Vieux Chateau Certain. Other prestigious neighbors include Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac.
The most important factor in producing great wine is terroir. This French term encompasses all the factors in the growing environment that determine how well a vine performs. Components of terroir include climate, soil, aspect, slope, and grape variety. Chateau Pomeaux benefits from outstanding terroir. Bordeaux in general and Pomerol in particular possess the ideal climate for red wine grape cultivation. Abundant sunshine, adequate but moderate rainfall, and the proximity of Bordeaux to the Atlantic Ocean provide a perfect Maritime climate for growing red wine grapes. The south-facing vineyards of Chateau Pomeaux sit on a rich gravel slope, with clay and iron subsoil. These elements are highly favorable to the cultivation of Merlot Noir grapes and help the grapes to achieve optimum ripeness and concentration. Chateau Pomeaux’s vines have been cultivated organically and biodynamically since 2001.
The other important factor in producing great wine is the influence of man. Since Chateau Pomeaux was founded, its owners have been committed to using the best viniculture and winemaking techniques to produce the highest quality wine, consistently sacrificing quantity for higher quality. This results in more mature and expressive grapes, with complex and elegant flavors that can be appreciated in Chateau Pomeaux’s wines,
Vineyard
Merlot is the only grape variety planted at Chateau Pomeaux. The average age of Chateau Pomeaux’s vines is 45 years, meaning they can produce intense and complex grapes and wines. Chateau Pomeaux’s vines are planted at 6,600 per hectare and spaced 1.5 metres apart. Grapes are hand-picked and meticulously selected to ensure only the best fruit is used.
Chateau Pomeaux employs rigorous double guyot pruning, green harvests, late picking to ensure optimum maturity, meticulous hand picking, and careful selection. The grapes that survive this intensive selection process are subjected to temperature-controlled maceration and fermentation in large oak tanks, lengthy periods of malolactic fermentation in small new oak barrels, scrupulous vinification, and extended aging in new oak barrels.
Since 2001, Chateau Pomeaux’s 2.2+-hectares of vines have been organically and biodynamically cultivated and harvested, using only non-chemical fertilizers and pest control.
This emphasis on quality means that Chateau Pomeaux produces an average of only 8,500 bottles of ultra-high quality wine annually, making its wine truly exclusive.
Winemaking
Chateau Pomeaux’s dedication to ultimate quality begins in its vineyards. Only the best varieties of Merlot Noir grapes are planted at Chateau Pomeaux. Chateau Pomeaux employs rigorous single guyot pruning, green harvests, late picking to ensure optimum maturity, meticulous hand picking, and careful selection.The combination of magnificent terroir and the decision of Chateau Pomeaux’s owner to sacrifice quantity for exceptional quality results in wines of supreme character and elegance.
The harvest does not commence at Chateau Pomeaux until the grapes achieve maximum overall maturity. Chateau Pomeaux’s grapes are not picked solely because they have achieved physiological maturity. Instead, Chateau Pomeaux harvests its grapes as late as possible and performs lengthy macerations to enhance color, richness, intensity, and aging ability.
When the optimal harvest date is decided, grapes are picked early in the morning when it is cooler, helping them to remain fresh and retain their flavor. Both hand selection and the latest technology are used to select the best grapes. After the hand selection of grapes from the vines, they are sorted by laser and only those with the desired ripeness are used. Those grapes are then placed on a densimetric sorting table that selects only grapes with the optimal density of water versus sugar.
The grapes are then crushed, placed in tanks, and cold soaked with their skins for five days. This enables color and flavor to be extracted before fermentation has begun. A natural yeast is then added to initiate the fermentation process. This takes place in giant round oak tanks for between 3 – 6 weeks. During this time, the grapes’ skins float to the surface and need to be constantly over-pumped and pushed back down into the mixture. After pressing, the wine is then aged in 70% new oak barrels for between 18 months and 2 years, depending on the vintage. The wine is then bottled and aged in bottle to further develop. The end result is a rare Bordeaux wine that is extraordinarily rich and robust with elegant balance and a delicate and marvelous bouquet.
Chateau Pomeaux produces extraordinarily rich and robust wines with elegant balance and a delicate and marvellous bouquet.Chateau Pomeaux’s wines are powerful and rich, bursting with black cherry and plum flavours. They develop truffle, chocolate, and cedar notes over time. They can be enjoyably consumed when they are young and will benefit further from extended aging. Chateau Pomeaux’s wines have received highly favorable commentary and ratings from leading wine journalists and publications, including Decanter magazine, Wine Spectator, and James Suckling.
Contact us
Address
Chateau Pomeaux Lieu-dit Toulifaut 33500 Pomerol
Telephone
+33 5 5751 9888
