Clos Beauregard 1971 (ts) Pomerol

Pomerol is a much-respected red wine appellation in the Bordeaux region of southwestern France, known for its red wines based on Merlot. Many command very high prices.ls. Around a hectare of white grapes was planted in the early 1980s to make the very rare Aile d’Argent Bordeaux Blanc.

Both historically and physically, Pomerol stands apart from other Bordeaux appellations. It does not conform to the accepted image of a Bordeaux wine district with a long-established, château-laden area, boasting an all-important (if slightly outdated) classification system.

Pomerol is none of these things, yet has managed to earn itself a place among the world’s most revered wine region.

Pomerol has no formalized wine classification system (as do the Médoc, Graves, Sauternes and Saint-Émilion), and has risen to its current glory in a relatively short space of time. While the appellation was barely acknowledged in the middle of the last century, wines like Pétrus and Le Pin (note the lack of the “château” title) now command higher prices than many cru classé properties in the long-established Médoc.

Pomerol’s place in the international wine world is secure for some time to come, given the continuing increase in demand for prestigious wines and the limited production of this small, quality-focused appellation.