More variation here in Lalande de Pomerol than in Fronsac in 2012. At the top end I was especially impressive with Domaine des Sabines, La Fleur de Boüard and their succulent ‘Le Plus’ and Chateau Grand Ormeau. In the fresh and vivid style Chateau de Viaud and Chateau Siaurac also looked good.

Quite a few others felt extracted relative to their fruit and one or two felt a little vegetal/green to me. This may have been a case of harvesting too early [fear of the threat of rain] or too late. Whatever the causes extractive winemaking often only served to emphasise these negative characters. I’d have liked to re-tasted those that misfired but sadly I had no further time during the week.

Domaine des Sabines, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated; deep and sumptuous on the nose; layers of fruit; very ripe and easy with plenty of fruit; full and attractive and already wonderfully drinkable. Spices and loaded with briary fruit. Very impressive. [90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc]. 90-92+ Tasted with Jean-Luc Thunevin in St Emilion Friday 12th April 2013

Le Plus, La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated, very dense looking; pretty pent up with lots of layers; creamy and lots of fruit; rich palate but not overdone; nice bite on the finish. 100% Merlot. 90-92. Tasted Weds 10th April at La Fleur de Boüard.

La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep looking, purple edge; earthy, some reductive notes; bit backward reductive on nose; palate cleaner; fresh and supple; not overdone; fresh and pure. I’d give this good marks for elegance and freshness: Very moreish. 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc & 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 88-90+ Tasted Weds 10th April at La Fleur de Boüard.

Chateau Grand Ormeau, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated looking; ripe fruit, plummy, some spices, relatively unadorned but attractive for the purity; nice palate; density, spices, fruit and plums. Moreish. 88-90+ Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau de Viaud, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated; attractive ripe flavours, oak and spice; pretty deep; lots of density here. Extracted and pretty serious; Again good palate; nice guts and not overdone lots of fruit; new oak on the finish but lots of material here. 87-89+ Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep looking; vibrant, perfumed and lively; appetizing fresh cherry; nice entry, ripe fruit, acidity. Good fresh and clean. Appetizing. 87-89+ Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau de Chambrun, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep looking; purple edge; jammy and lifted red fruit nose; open but very worked; thick and ripe palate; modern and pretty universal style. Some tannin and chew on the finish. 86-88 Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau La Sergue, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated looking; solid and fresh on the nose; more briary fruits on aeration; some oak influence on the palate; a little dry; there is fruit here but feels disjointed. Will probably meld. 85-87 Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau Tournefeuille, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated look; looser meniscus; smoky and quite cool nose; chewy and old fashioned wine. Tannic and dusty. 84-86 Tasted at La Fleur de Boüard Weds 10th April 2013

Chateau Saint-Jean de Lavaud, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and saturated; dark and deep looking; earthy, slightly vegetal whiff; may clean up? Softish palate, but very earthy and vegetal. Not me at all. 82-84? Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau Perron La Fleur, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep and dense; dark core, purple at edge; full, quite ripe, thick, little lacking in dimensions; slightly nutty note at the edge. Oak dominated palate and feels disjointed; Dry tannins. Not well handled. Clumsy. 82-84? Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau La Gravière, Lalande de Pomerol

Deep but little tired looking at edge; quite evolved nose; round and forward; also light; some boiled sweets. Quite lightweight overall. 82-84 Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Chateau Jean de Gué, Lalande de Pomerol

Mid depth, bit lighter at edge; modest if attractive nose; some depth; little savoury note, some plum and spice notes too; little compact. Density from extractive winemaking methods. Vegetal hints. Will meld but don’t rush out to buy this one. 82-84 Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013

Ambroisie du Chateau La Croix des Moines, Lalande de Pomerol

Very dense and saturated; feels alcoholic and dense; but also magnifying the elements; perfume from the oak; faintest whiff of green; rather astringent palate. Leaves it feeling chewy and a bit green. 82-84 Tasted blind at Le Cercle Rive Droite Sunday 7th April 2013