CHÂTEAU DE ROQUEBRUNE
Lalande de Pomerol, France
Tucked in a northeast corner of Bordeaux's right bank, just between Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, nestles Lalande de Pomerol. Not as acclaimed as its neighbors, Lalande de Pomerol can be strikingly similar in presence, but softer, more friendly, and in less need of lengthy cellaring. Proprietor Florent Guinjard is a rare thing these days: a born and bred Bordeaux vigneron who has spent his life there. His family estate dates back to the 1880's, and that generational expertise shows in the wine.
Florent crafts Bordeaux for immediate consumption; it's all about pleasurability. As such, he emphasizes two keys to his winemaking: full phenolic ripeness and eschewing the use of wood barrels to spotlight the fruit. The wine is comprised primarily of Merlot with a small amount of Cabernet Franc dependent on vintage. The soils of Roquebrune's ten hectares of under vine are a mix of sand and gravel, typical in the Lalande appellation near the Dronne.
As it has been for five generations, harvest is carried out manually at Roquebrune. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks after a cold soak. No oak is used in ageing. As a result, Florent's belief in purity of fruit is entirely evident in the glass.
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