Bourgneuf

Owned by the Vayron family since 1821, this lovely vineyard is situated in the heart of Pomerol’s most prestigious terroirs, with Château Trotanoy as its neighbor. Since 2008, the wine is made by the youngest Vayron to join the family venture, Frédérique, the daughter of current owners Xavier and Dominique. Situated in one of the warmest parts of Pomerol, Château Bourgneuf produces wines that are deep and dense, layered and complex, with perfectly rounded tannins.

2018

Wine Advocate 92: Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Bourgneuf has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and fragrant notes of lavender, kirsch, black truffles and cinnamon toast over a core of blackberry pie and Black Forest cake with a waft of woodsmoke. The intense, medium to full-bodied palate packs in the black fruit layers, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and savory.

James Suckling 95: This is a powerful Pomerol with dense, layered tannins that coat the mouth and show so much intensity and richness. It’s full-bodied and chewy. A wine that’s structured for the long term. Drink after 2025.

Vinous 92: The 2018 Bourgneuf retains the charming bouquet that I observed in barrel, offering well-defined blackberry and crushed strawberry fruit, forest floor scents percolating up with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, lithe and supple in the mouth. A touch of white pepper emerges toward the elegant finish. This is a delightful Pomerol, not long-term, but you will definitely finish a bottle.

Decanter 93: Delivering a ton of Pomerol signature, this is a really enjoyable, solid wine that has easy pleasure and lots of layers. Sweet black cherry fruit and a nice freshness through the finish, with touches of crushed mint. This is a lovely wine.

2019

Wine Advocate 90+: A little shy out of the gates, the 2019 Bourgneuf offers up rich aromas of dark berry fruit, asphalt, loamy soil and new oak. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and lively, with powdery tannins and good length on the finish, it will require a bit of patience.

James Suckling 93: Rich nose of blueberries, dark plums, walnuts and chili chocolate. It’s full-bodied with firm, plush tannins. Compact, rich and dense. Powerful Pomerol. Try in 2026.

Vinous 93: The 2019 Bourgneuf is another gorgeous wine from the Vayron family. Classy and polished from the very first taste, Bourgneuf has all the creaminess and texture it did en primeur, but with a bit more energy and tension backing it all up. In recent years, Bourgneuf seems to have a touch more volume, but it remains a wonderfully understated, classy Pomerol. Hints of red/purplish fruit, rose petal, new leather and cinnamon linger.