2021 Clos l’Hermitage, Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux

£20.75 inc. VAT

A junior Pomerol that does the job very well. Near the up-and-coming village of Néac in Lalande de Pomerol, Clos de L’Hermitage covers 3.10 hectares of mainly Merlot vines, with one fifth planted to Cabernet Franc, planted on argilo-calcaire soil. Grapes are harvested at full maturity, sorted, and pressed at the winery. During vinification the temperature is carefully monitored to achieve the desired aromas and structure in the wines, before maturation in a combination of vats and casks for over a year. The wine is then allowed further maturation in bottle before release.

The style is voluptuous yet poised and well-balanced, with plump, dark cherry fruit and a meaty, savoury finish. Get the oven on low for some braised beef or, better still, a meltingly tender ox cheek when you’re thinking of having a bottle of this.

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