POMEROL MIXED CASE 

by Dixon Brooke

I just visited Claire Laval and her husband, Dominque Tescher, in Pomerol a few weeks ago. While I didn’t need any reminder of Claire’s skills as a vigneronne or of her qualities as a human being, it was nice to be reminded once again. Claire offers a refreshing vision and philosophy in this land of grand châteaux. She is thoroughly knowledgeable about everything that happens at her property, hands on in all aspects of farming and winemaking, confident and capable yet respectful and aware of the mystère du vin.
   This recent visit was a welcome opportunity to taste through a vertical of vintages of Claire’s flagship Pomerol, Gombaude-Guillot. We started with the just-born 2012 in cuve, and worked our way back toward 1996, stopping often along the way. Many things struck me during this vinous journey, not least of which was the incredible consistency of this property—not only with their distinct terroir and stylistic stamp from year to year, rare these days in Bordeaux, but also with the simple fact that every wine was great, having something unique and interesting to say. The 2010 is a beautiful monster, as Claire aptly described it. Vintage 2009 is more approachable, emphasizing silkier tannins and a softer, gentler personality. The 2008 is classic claret, fresh and tightly wound, while 2007 gives us a great wine for wild game with its pleasant rusticity. Vintage 2006 is the most grand and complete of all, possessing everything one could wish for in a Pomerol. I can’t wait to get our small shipment of 2004, with its aromas of truffle and its sensuous palate, long, fine, and complex. It was delicious proof of what this wine turns into after proper cellaring. We have a small and precious stock of older magnums right now, including the 1996 that is not quite ready and the 1994 that is perfectly ready. Please inquire.

I decided to put together the following mixed case as encouragement for you to experience the beautiful wonders of Claire’s Pomerol. It contains three bottles each of four vintages: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. I’m not a betting man, but I’ll bet you will never regret making this purchase. On the contrary.