Lalande-de-Pomerol

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone is bounded to the south by the river Barbanne, which separates the appellation from Pomerol on the opposite bank, and to the east it borders Montagne-Saint-Émilion.
• The territory of the commune of Néac rests largely on the upper Günz terrace, composed of sands, gravels, and rubefied pebbles lying on clay formations at varying depths.
• The territory of the commune of Lalande-de-Pomerol is situated mainly on the middle Riss terraces, formed of sands, gravels, and pebbles in a sandy-clay matrix with gravelly brown soils.
• The relief results from the near-total destruction of the Tertiary carbonate formations by the river Isle, followed by the deposition of Quaternary alluvial sheets forming terraces oriented north–south, parallel to the Isle.
• The climate is temperate oceanic with moderate temperature ranges, but the position in the north-east of the Gironde introduces continental nuances, with higher temperatures in summer and autumn that favour grape ripening.

• A commandery of the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem was established in the twelfth century, and its white eight-pointed cross became the emblem of the wines of Lalande-de-Pomerol.
• After the phylloxera crisis, replanting transformed the vineyard under the influence of A. Macquin, a specialist in grafting onto American rootstocks; it was during this period that Merlot became predominant, as grafting regularised its production and it proved particularly well suited to the soils of the Libournais.
• A syndical association for the fight against phylloxera was founded on 18 February 1884 in Lalande-de-Pomerol, laying the foundations of one of the first viticultural syndicates in the Gironde.

• The Merlot variety gives the wines deep colours with ruby or garnet hues, and aromas of small red and black fruits, sometimes with notes of violet.
• These wines are fleshy and full on the palate, without harshness, and are characterised by harmony, balance, and elegance, with charm in their youth and then power and complexity as they develop over the years.
• The varieties Cabernet franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon, and Cot (or Malbec) are often present, contributing structure and enriching the aromatic range of the wines.

• Merlot best expresses the characteristics of the appellation on gravelly soils with a clay matrix, while Cabernet franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon find their finest expression on the gravelliest soils.
• The presence of clay in the subsoil regulates the water supply to the vine, and the surface gravels — draining freely and reflecting light up into the canopy — together with the iron oxides in the subsoil providing specific mineral elements, combined with the benefit of a highly favourable climate, give the wines their distinctive character.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 24 octobre 2011, JORF 26 octobre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVB