SAT® Tasting Notes: Château Tour Robert Pomerol 2011

Tasting notes on this AOC Pomerol wine, Right Bank of Bordeaux in France, according to WSET Level 4 (Diploma) Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine.

Château Tour Robert is the "Cuvee Prestige" of Château Robert in Pomerol. This Right Bank Bordeaux is made from old Merlot vines. On this article, we are going to access the quality of this wine along with full tasting notes. Check also information about the grape variety and region typicity to understand the style.

Wine Geek Fact

This wine needs to breathe before accessing. We have left the samples on the glass for one hour before starting the tasting.

The wine is vinified using modern techniques to ensure maximum quality. It's aged in oak (50% new barrels) for 16 to 20 months.

Wine Info

WSET Specification (Recommended tasting samples): France, Bordeaux Red – 2. Pomerol of very good or outstanding quality

Wine: Château Tour Robert 2011

Grape: 100% Merlot

Region: Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Price: £39.95

Where to buy: Vinarius, Eton Vintners

Appearance

Medium Garnet

Looking to the glass at a 45 angle against a white paper, I could see the colour brown on the rim but the wine is still red, so garnet It is. When I've put against a paper with something wrote on it, I could almost read it but not clearly (not pale) but I still could see the letters (not deep).

Nose

Intensity: Medium (+)

Aroma Characteristics

Primary: ripe black fruit (black plum, blackberries, blueberries, black cherry)

spices (cinnamon)

Secondary: Oak (wood, vanilla, cloves)

Tertiary: prune, meat, leather, barnyard, coffee

Palate

Sweetness: Dry

Acidity: Medium (+) acidity

Tannin: Medium| nature: Firm and ripe

Alcohol: Medium

Body: Medium-bodied

Flavour Intensity: Medium (+)

Flavour characteristics:

Primary: ripe black fruit (black plum, blackberries, blueberries, black cherry)

spices (cinnamon)

Secondary: Oak (wood, vanilla, cloves)

Tertiary: prune, meat, leather, barnyard, coffee

Finish: Medium (+)

Conclusions

Quality Assessment: Very Good

Balance - With a good level of fruit concentration, this wine be in balance on the palate when combined with the ripe and firm tannins preventing this wine from being bitter or astringent. The high level of bracing acidity is refreshing the wine on the palate which otherwise could be heavy because of the amount of fruit and oaky flavours. The flavours coming from the oak are not really well integrated with the wine which is causing it to be longer on the palate than the fruits.

Intensity - If the fruits were a bit more concentrated, this wine would be more intense but It is lacking some depth.

Length - The wine keeps lingering in your mouth but the fruit disappears before the oak. The flavours keep coming back to your palate but the oak is predominating it.

Complexity - The wine has a great number of descriptors from different clusters distributed in primary, secondary and tertiary aromas and flavours. The flavours are deep and well-defined. The wine is already showing signs of maturity with dried fruits and other components but considering the good level of tannins and acidity, It has the structure to develop with age.

Bottle ageing: Drink now but suitable for ageing.

Country/Region origin

Saint-Emillion and Pomerol are the most important appellations on the right bank of Bordeaux. Merlot is the dominant variety and the wines are generally softer in style than those from the Left Bank. They typically have medium tannins levels, medium acidity and a red fruit character (plum, red berry), developing cedar and tobacco when they age.

One of the jewels of Bordeaux, Pomerol is the home of Petrus, one of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world. The appellation does not have a classification system, the grapes allowed are Merlot (80 to 100%), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Soil: Clay-gravel. Style: Powerful, rounded and supple with a very deep, dense colour, the wines of Pomerol develop full, complex aromas of red and black fruit, spices, and hints of violet. They are underscored with hints of tobacco, liquorice, truffle and game, which become more complex with age. The palate is full, smooth and fleshy, steeped in fruit flavours with a powerful structure of silky, dense tannins. The lingering finish is long and fragrant.

Grape variety profile

Merlot gives wines that are less aromatic, with less intense flavours and lighter tannins and acidity than Cabernet Sauvignon but generally with more body and higher alcohol. The common flavours of Merlot from hot climates or overripe shows a black fruit character (blackberry, blueberry, black cherry), full-body, medium or low acidity, high alcohol and medium levels of tannin. A more elegant style, from moderate to cool climates shows a red fruit character (strawberry, red berry, plum), some herbal notes and a little more of tannins and acidity. The best ones are often aged in oak gaining spice and oaky flavours (vanilla, coffee).

Cabernet Sauvignon normally has deep coloured colours, high tannins and high acidity. Brings typical flavours of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry), with herbaceous notes (bell pepper, mint, cedar) and It’s frequently oaked (smoke, vanilla, coffee). The grape needs a moderate or hot climate to be fully ripe, otherwise, it becomes astringent, harsh with unpleasant herbaceous flavours. Wine from hot climates is fuller-bodied, with softer tannins, more black cherry fruit and less herbaceous.

A quick word about Château Tour Robert

Dominique Leymarie manages several crus in the Libournais vineyards, including three in Pomerol. Château Robert is the most important. It is located in the town of Libourne, 2 km west of the Pomerol bell tower. From 1.5 ha of the estate's oldest vines and best terroir. The production is severely limited.

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