Château la Ballade de la Pointe 2012

La Pointe is one of the most well-known properties in the Pomerol appellation. It owes its name (the point) to the vineyard's unique location on the appellation's south-westernmost tip. La Pointe's reputation and its title of château relate not so much to the Directoire style architecture of the residence, built in the early 19th century by the Chaperon family from Libourne, but rather to the quality of its terroir. It contains the famous iron-rich clay (also found in the soil of Petrus' vineyards) which gives wines the sumptuous, truffle-like aromas characteristic of great Pomerols. The Merlot and Cabernet vines (Franc and Sauvignon) cover 22 hectares of sandy-gravelly soil. They have an average age of 35 years. After alcoholic fermentation in traditional vats, the wines are aged in barrels (35% renewed each year) for 15 to 18 months.