Winemaker Notes
A beautiful glittering crimson, the wine has a complex and seductive nose on aromas of black fruit, especially black cherry, violet and vanilla. Richly flavored and remarkably well-balanced, it opens with notes of black fruit and subtle spice which fill out on an ample and complex mid-palate sustained by the caress of refined, silky tannins, leading into a long and elegant finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very polished and pretty with berry, chocolate and light lemon-peel character. Medium body. Creamy texture. Refined and polished.
Barrel Sample: 93-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromas of dark berries, red fruits and cherries mingled with hints of mint and violets introduce the 2023 De Sales, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (which performs well on these terroirs) and 5% Cabernet Franc. Charming, elegant and fruit-driven, if it can make it into bottle without succumbing to the Brettanomyces that inflicted the 2021, it will be well worth seeking out.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Jeb Dunnuck
A sexy, supple, and seductive Pomerol that's largely from sandier soils, the 2023 Château De Sales is based on 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc that was raised 13 months in 15% new oak with the balance in second-fill barrels. Ripe red and black fruits and spicy herbal nuances define the nose, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with soft, light tannins and rock-solid overall balance. Drink this attractive, satisfying effort over the coming 10-12 years or so. Drink 2026-2038.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A source of exceptionally sensual and glamorous red wines, Pomerol is actually a rather small appellation in an unassuming countryside. It sits on a plateau immediately northeast of the city of Libourne on the right bank of the Dordogne River. Pomerol and St-Émilion are the stars of what is referred to as Right Bank Bordeaux: Merlot-dominant red blends completed by various amounts of Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon. While Pomerol has no official classification system, its best wines are some of the world’s most sought after.
Historically Pomerol attached itself to the larger and more picturesque neighboring region of St-Émilion until the late 1800s when discerning French consumers began to recognize the quality and distinction of Pomerol on its own. Its popularity spread to northern Europe in the early 1900s.
After some notable vintages of the 1940s, the Pomerol producer, Petrus, began to achieve great international attention and brought widespread recognition to the appellation. Its subsequent distribution by the successful Libourne merchant, Jean-Pierre Mouiex, magnified Pomerol's fame after the Second World War.
Perfect for Merlot, the soils of Pomerol—clay on top of well-drained subsoil—help to create wines capable of displaying an unprecedented concentration of color and flavor.
The best Pomerol wines will be intensely hued, with qualities of fresh wild berries, dried fig or concentrated black plum preserves. Aromas may be of forest floor, sifted cocoa powder, anise, exotic spice or toasted sugar and will have a silky, smooth but intense texture.