Château La Pointe

Château La Pointe is one of the largest wine estates in Pomerol, making a Merlot-dominant wine. It dates back to 1845, and has been controlled by the d'Arfeuille family since 1941. The La Pointe estate consists of 23 hectares (57 acres) of vineyards planted mostly to Merlot with some Cabernet Franc on a mix of gravel, clay-gravel and sandy soils. These sit on a terrace below the main Pomerol plateau, near châteaux Nenin and Trotanoy.

The estate also boasts 2 hectares (5 acres) of formal gardens, and in 1868 was one of the first two estates in the appellation to be allowed to call itself a château. The name La Pointe comes from a sharply angled triangular plot near the entrance to the property. The vineyard is managed plot-by-plot, and individual parcels of fruit are vinified in small vats. Wines are aged in oak barrels, 50-percent of which are new.

The deep, dark purple-red color is not quite opaque but holds its color well to the rim. Initially lifted, delicate red-fruit aromas open to a rich, black-cherry core. The palate has good freshness and harmoniously integrated Pomerol earthiness. Fruit on the mid-palate is quite savory. Oak spices show on the finish as alcohol gives a little warmth and roundness. Cedar-y grip combines seamlessly with ripe tannins to give an earthiness at the end.