2007 Pomerol Wines & Tasting Notes

The Berrys' Fine Wine team are in Bordeaux sending back regular, comprehensive reviews on the 2007 vintage. The tasting notes below highlight some of the stand-out wines from Pomerol.

Berrys' Points
Wines are scored out of 20. Berrys' points are given regardless of price, value and reputation, and are in absolute terms rather than relative to the vintage.

Drink Dates
By definition these are estimated drink dates only based on our experience of how the wines age. As some of the wines mature these drink dates may not turn out to be different from those originally stated.

Another excellent value Pomerol from `Decanter Man of the Year' and the `God of Libourne', Christian Moueix. Lafleur Gazin provides compelling evidence of the success of Pomerol in 2007 combining flesh and minerality with finely textured, ripe tannins. Well-situated between the two châteaux that make up its name, Lafleur and Gazin, the wine is made from a typical Pomerol mix of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. A restrained but rich focused nose of fresh plums, blackberry and chocolate is followed by a stylish fruity palate with notes of pepper and a ripe, warm dark fruit finish. Very good indeed.
BBR Score 15/20 Drink 2010-2016.

"Mid crimson. Perfumed, slightly oak perfumed in fact. The fruit is a little attenuated for the oak charge. Slight sandpaper sensation on the finish. Some quite pronounced green on the finish too."
Jancis Robinson: 15/20
Drink: 2013-2018 

From his tiny, modest shed of a winery in the backlands of Pomerol, Jeremy Chasseuil has further enhanced his fine reputation with this voluptuous 2007 Feytit-Clinet. Made from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc it epitomises what Pomerol should be about: an attractive nose of dark chocolate-covered blackberries and cream leads on to a palate with fresh, seductive, plummy fruit, rich coffee hints and supple, velvety tannins. Very close to the outstanding 2006 in quality (which in turn was better than their 2005) this `vin de plaisir' is a terrific buy.
BBR Score 16/20 Drink 2010-2019

"Slightly evolved rim. Toasty, interesting nose. Big and bold and pretty confident. Long and yet not out of balance."
Jancis Robinson: 16.5/20
Drink: 2012-2018 

La Fleur Pétrus is never a powerhouse, but rather is known for its elegance and breeding; in 2007 though it has added a rather libertine layer of succulence and seductiveness that will make it absolutely delicious to drink in its youth. Superbly located on a gravel-rich plateau sandwiched between the legendary Lafleur and Pétrus, this outstanding wine is surprisingly close in quality to its far grander siblings. From its fragrant, creamy raspberry nose to the lovely sweet, silky redcurrant and strawberry fruit, firm but ripe tannins and long pure finish, this is a real triumph.
BBR Score 17/20 Drink 2012-2025

"Mid crimson. Lightly scented. Fruit still quite raw. Very edgy with some green notes. Pretty astringent at this point. Difficult to see how this is going to become a swan."
Jancis Robinson: 15.5/20
Drink: 2013-2018 

In 2007 Alexandre has produced an enormously attractive, early-drinking VCC with even more finesse and balance than usual. The glorious potential of this Burgundian-styled Vieux Château Certan is obvious from its beguiling, aromatic, pure red fruit nose. On the palate, brilliantly intense plum and raspberry fruit is accompanied by delicate notes of minerals, smoke and toast supported by firm silky tannins and a long red fruit finish of laser-sharp precision. Its atypical approachability means that you will be able to enjoy this exquisitely charming VCC while you wait for the even better 2006 and 2005 to mature.
BBR Score 16.25/20 Drink 2012-2020

"Cabernet Sauvignon was unripe although Alexandre Thienpont added a little Cabernet Sauvignon press wine! Particularly bright deep crimson – very healthy looking. Supple, slightly green nose – but with real satin to it - smooth and polished. Very fine, lively, complete and polished. Drink at 5-6 years, he says. Very fine and easy. Light with lots of finesse though absolutely not for ageing, Restaurant wine? Very pretty at 12.5% alcohol. Much bigger crop than 2006. ‘Smiling Merlot.’ Simple – to drink for the fruit."
Jancis Robinson: 17.5/20
Drink: 2011-2015

This is one of the very few `wow' wines in 2007 with a jaw-dropping concentration, exotic richness and complexity that mark it out as one of the wines of the vintage. The 15% Cabernet Franc (along with 85% Merlot) has bestowed this Conseillante with a stunning, elegantly floral nose of blackcurrant coulis and spice. The palate is even better, with sumptuous creamy blackberries, raspberry sorbet and a lovely minerality all supported by substantial velvety tannins. Aristocratic, feminine and irresistible, this will happily age for more than 15 years. So when should you drink it? That's easy: as often as possible.
BBR Score 17.75/20 Drink 2012-2025

"Quite dark crimson. Very fruity, polished nose. Extremely supple with tannins you really have to concentrate to discern. Sweet, voluptuous start and then a streak of greenness on the palate (notable both times I tasted it). Light and flirtatious with only just enough substance for the grandeur of this property’s grand vin."
Jancis Robinson: 16/20
Drink: 2010-2016 

The 44th and final vintage from legendary Pétrus winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet following his retirement at the end of 2007, and one of which he can be enormously proud. When you taste Pétrus you expect nothing less than brilliance, and its 2007 once again lives up to all the lofty expectations. A brooding, savoury, aethereal dark chocolate nose is matched by a palate of extraordinary complexity and intensity. Fresh, incredibly ripe plums, wild strawberries and licorice jostle with divinely-textured tannins leading to a simply awesome finish. Better than all the Médoc First Growths, this is simply sublime.
BBR Score 18.5/20 Drink 2016-2040

"Mid purplish crimson. Notably more ‘warmth’ on the nose than most Moueix wines – even a bit of breadth and complexity. A hint of putty – could this be the clay?! Truly mouthfilling and a decisive step up from everything else in the Moueix stable this year. Real life and interest. A thoroughly complete wine that shows the superiority of the vineyard here – but at this stage it seems far from the most seductive vintage of Pétrus."
Jancis Robinson: 17.5/20
Drink: 2018-2030 

Charismatic owner Jacques Thienpont has produced a wine reminiscent of top Grand Cru Red Burgundy from this tiny 1.6ha estate in 2007. The nose is as exotic and fragrant as ever, bursting with rich plums, raspberries, herbs and cherry blossom, while incredibly fine tannins permeate the intense creamy palate supported by notes of chocolate, tobacco and flowers. If you are looking for value for money in 2007, then Le Pin is probably not for you, but there is no question that this heavenly and phenomenally rare Pomerol remains one of the wine wonders of the world.
BBR Score 17.75/20 Drink 2015-2025

"Dark crimson with a pale rim. Rich and even a little bit of leather and liquorice. Very different from most years! More obvious richness than the Moueix wines just tasted but much lighter and leaner than most years. Sweet start, a hint of bloodiness, quite fresh but even Le Pin has a dry, rather sudden finish in 2007. The leanest Le Pin I have ever tasted. The Thienponts thought it wasn’t tasting as well as it had done the day before. Alain Vauthier showed another sample of it at Ch Ausone a couple of days later that looked much more powerful, velvety and rich."
Jancis Robinson: 17++/20
Drink: 2012-2017 

• Ch. le Bon Pasteur
• Ch. Certan de May
• Colombiers du Feytit-Clinet
• Ch. la Croix du Casse
• Domaine de l'Eglise
• Fugues de Nenin
• Ch. Hosanna
• Ch. Latour à Pomerol
• Ch. Nenin
• Ch. Petit Village
• Ch. Trotanoy

For further information on these and other Pomerol wines please contact us