Photo: Domenico-de-ga at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bordeaux · Sub-regions
Pomerol
The smallest of the great appellations — and the most mythical. No classification, no grand châteaux, just farmhouses across 800 hectares — yet the world's most expensive Merlots. The secret: a lens of iron-rich blue clay (crasse de fer) on which Pétrus stands. Velvet, truffle, violets, dark plum — opulence without weight.
Grape Varieties
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Most Famous Site
Pétrus
Vineyard Area
800 ha
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Pomerol Blue-clay Merlot myth
Pomerol: 800 hectares of blue clay — the quietest myth in wine.
SOILS
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
Sandaromatic, approachable
Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Oceanic climate in one of Bordeaux's smallest appellations; the microclimate is tempered by the nearby Dordogne and the Isle. The clay-rich subsoil stores water and helps in hot years. Spring frost has caused damage in individual years.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Almost flat plateau at elevations between about 10 and 40 metres above sea level, without real hills. Height differences amount to a few metres; what matters lies in the subsoil, not at the surface.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Region aroma cloud
Bordeaux overview
This sub-region is part of Bordeaux. The map shows all 23 sub-regions — Pomerol is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
At around 800 hectares, Pomerol is one of the smallest appellations of Bordeaux. It lies on a flat plateau on the right bank of the Dordogne northeast of Libourne and borders Saint-Émilion to the east. The landscape is marked by farmhouses and small estates rather than grand châteaux; the vines mostly stand on gentle rises that barely amount to a ridge.
The soil is distinctive: in the centre of the plateau lies a lens of blue, iron-rich clay (crasse de fer) on which Pétrus stands; towards the edges the soils turn to gravel and sand. The climate is oceanic, with the Dordogne and the Atlantic tempering temperatures. The clay-rich soils retain water particularly well, which helps Merlot in dry years.
Merlot clearly dominates, with Cabernet Franc in a supporting role. The wines are dense, velvety and marked by plum, truffle and violet. Pomerol has no official classification; well-known estates include Pétrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, Trotanoy and Vieux Château Certan.
Soil Type
Blue iron-rich clay (crasse de fer) at the centre, gravel and sand towards the edges — the more clay, the denser the wine
Climate
Oceanic, tempered by the Dordogne and the Atlantic; the clay-rich soils retain water and support Merlot in dry years.
Top sites & producers
7 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
By place (7)
Pomerol7 entries
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
28 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list belowPétrus
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~100%
Le Pin
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~100%
Château Lafleur
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~70%, Cabernet Franc ~25%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~5%
Château Trotanoy
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot 90 %, Cabernet Franc 10 %
Château La Conseillante
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~80%, Cabernet Franc ~20%
All Wineries
57 resultsPétrus
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~100%
Le Pin
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~100%
Château Lafleur
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~70%, Cabernet Franc ~25%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~5%
Château La Conseillante
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot ~80%, Cabernet Franc ~20%
Château Trotanoy
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot 90 %, Cabernet Franc 10 %
Château L'Évangile
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Lafleur Pétrus
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Hosanna
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Château Certan de May
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Clos l'église
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Le Gay
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Clinet
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Gazin
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Château Petit Village
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Feytit-Clinet
Pomerol · Pomerol
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Château le Bon Pasteur
Pomerol · Pomerol
Château Nénin
Pomerol · Libourne
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Events in Bordeaux
All events in Bordeaux →12 Dec – Sun, 13 December 2026
Bordeaux Tasting
Tasting · Bordeaux
19 Feb – Mon, 22 February 2027
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Strasbourg
Wine fair · Straßburg
12 Mar – Sun, 14 March 2027
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Bordeaux
Wine fair · Bordeaux
19 Apr – Thu, 22 April 2027
Semaine des Primeurs Bordeaux
Trade event · Bordeaux
1 May – Sun, 2 May 2027
Portes Ouvertes en Saint-Émilion
Open cellar · Saint-Émilion
Thu, 24 June 2027
Fête de la Fleur
Wine dinner · Bordeaux
Frequently Asked Questions
What is special about the soil in Pomerol?
At the centre of the plateau lies a lens of blue, iron-bearing clay (crasse de fer) on which Pétrus stands; outwards the soils give way to gravel and sand. The clay-rich soils hold water especially well, which favours Merlot in dry years.
Is there an official classification in Pomerol?
Pomerol has no official classification. Known estates include Pétrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, Trotanoy and Vieux Château Certan.
Where is Pomerol and what are the wines like?
At around 800 hectares Pomerol is one of the smallest appellations of Bordeaux, on a flat plateau north-east of Libourne. Merlot clearly dominates; the wines are dense, velvety and marked by plum, truffle and violet.
Which grape varieties define Pomerol?
The key grape varieties in Pomerol are Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The best-known vineyard is Pétrus.
How many wineries are there in Pomerol?
Cellarmap lists 57 wineries in Pomerol across roughly 800 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
Which is the most famous vineyard in Pomerol?
Pétrus is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Pomerol. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
All wineries in Pomerol, A to Z
- Château Beau Soleil · Libourne
- Château Beauregard · Pomerol
- Château Bourgneuf · Pomerol
- Château Certan de May · Pomerol
- Château Clinet · Pomerol
- Château Clos l'église · Pomerol
- Château Feytit-Clinet · Pomerol
- Château Franc Maillet · Pomerol
- Château Gazin · Pomerol
- Château Gombaude Guillot · Pomerol
- Château Haut Maillet · Pomerol
- Château Haut-Tropchaud · Pomerol
- Château Hosanna · Pomerol
- Château L'Évangile · Pomerol
- Château la Clémence · Libourne
- Château La Conseillante · Pomerol
- Château la Croix · Pomerol
- Château La Croix de Gay · Pomerol
- Château la Croix du Casse · Libourne
- Château La Croix Taillefer · Pomerol
- Château La Fleur de Gay · Pomerol
- Château la Fleur de Plince · Libourne
- Château la Fleur du Roy · Pomerol
- Château La Grave à Pomerol · Pomerol
- Château La Pointe · Pomerol
- Château la Tribune · Libourne
- Château Lafleur · Pomerol
- Château Lafleur Gazin · Pomerol
- Château Lafleur Pétrus · Pomerol
- Château Lafleur Saint-Jean · Pomerol
- Château le Bon Pasteur · Pomerol
- Château le Caillou · Pomerol
- Château le Clos du Clocher · Pomerol
- Château Le Gay · Pomerol
- Château les grands Sillons · Pomerol
- Château Nénin · Libourne
- Château Petit Village · Pomerol
- Château Pierhem · Pomerol
- Château Pomeaux · Pomerol
- Château Providence · Pomerol
- Château Rouget · Pomerol
- Château Seraphine · Libourne
- Château Toulifaut · Pomerol
- Château Tour Maillet · Pomerol
- Château Tropchaud L'Église · Pomerol
- Château Trotanoy · Pomerol
- Château Vieux Maillet · Pomerol
- Château Vray Croix de Gay · Pomerol
- Clos Beau Soleil · Libourne
- Clos Beauregard · Pomerol
- Clos Toulifaut · Pomerol
- Clos Vieux Taillefer · Libourne
- Daniaud · Libourne
- Le Pin · Pomerol
- Pétrus · Pomerol
- Ronan by Clinet · Pomerol
- Vieux Château Certan · Pomerol
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.