Ballade de la Pointe, Pomerol

Production : 18,000 bottles

Merlot 84 % - Cabernet Franc 16 % 

Area : Right Bank.

Vineyard and soil type : 23 hectares on small gravel and pebble soils of the Isle river terrace, clayey-gravel and sandy soils over clay or gravel sub-soils.

Vinification and ageing : traditional Bordeaux methods.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

A year of contrasting weather that gave birth to a great vintage : The winter and spring were particularly wet, more rain falling over the first six months than they usually record in a whole year. A fortuitous window of fine weather allowed the flowering to take place in good conditions but the wet period made it generally difficult to access the plots for the vine care tasks : it was a real nightmare for the vine workers. Luckily, a bubble of high pressure settled in the Bordeaux area from mid-July, with anticyclones remaining right through to the end of harvest-time. Only a few welcome showers refreshed the vineyards. The high summer temperatures were not as extreme as during the heat wave of 2003, and were tempered by the generous water reserves in the subsoils and by the sufficiently cool nights. The vines adapted to the situation with no visible signs of suffering, thanks to their deep root system and the appropriate work on the soils. These dry weather conditions augured well for the quality of the crop but meant that they had to expect low yields. The Merlots were picked between 17th September and 2nd October. With the exception of a plot of young vines harvested on 24th September, the Cabernet Franc was picked on 4th and 5th October. The harvest atmosphere was calm as we picked in optimum conditions. The grapes from different plot types all showed remarkable quality with even maturity levels. The colour was intense and the thick skins offered generous, fleshy, ripe tannins. The alcohol level was slightly above the average of recent vintages and was beautifully balanced out by the freshness brought by the natural acidity. The dark brown colour observed in the pips reflected the excellent ripeness that had been developing in them from July onwards. They contributed stable, polymerised, very silky tannins. All the ingredients were there for a wonderful vintage.

TASTING COMMENT

"Beautiful dark colour, bright with purply tints. Red and black fruit aromas mingle on the nose such as redcurrant, blackcurrant, wild berries. The palate is soft and full with a well-balanced velvety tannic framework. The finish is well structured, juicy and long. Pleasure guaranteed!”