Château La Pointe Pomerol 1958

Château La Pointe Pomerol 1958

📋 Introduction & Conclusion - A classic, mature Bordeaux in the late autumn of its drinking maturity

Château La Pointe Pomerol 1958 is a classic, mature Bordeaux from a lighter and more elegant vintage. The wine represents the unpretentious style of the château from an era before the extensive modernisations of the 21st century. Today, it is definitely in the last third of its drinking maturity and should be savoured without delay by connoisseurs who appreciate a mature, earthy and elegant Bordeaux.

🍷 Context: The 1958 Bordeaux vintage

To categorise Château La Pointe 1958, it is essential to take a look at the 1958 Bordeaux vintage as a whole:

• Overall character: the products of the 1958 vintage are predominantly light, elegant and well-made, but not known for possessing great structure or longevity. One critic summarised the vintage as "light, but not unpleasant".

• Viticultural environment: The vintage was not characterised by widespread extreme weather or disease. The result was a vintage described overall as "small" in terms of yield.

• Ageing potential: Bordeaux vintage reports explicitly point out that most of the wines from the 1958 vintage have passed their optimum drinking window ("past their prime"). This emphasises the extraordinary fact that La Pointe 1958 still exists as a drinkable wine.

🏚️ Background: Château La Pointe

• History: The château was named after the unique, triangular shape of its vineyards. The estate has existed since at least the middle of the 19th century and La Pointe was listed as one of the finest growths in Pomerol in the 1868 edition of the important work "Bordeaux et ses vins". In 1941, the estate was acquired by the d'Arfeuille family, who shaped it for several decades. The modern upswing of the estate that we know today only began after a change of ownership in 2007.

• Size: La Pointe is the third largest vineyard in the entire Pomerol appellation. With 23 hectares of vines, it covers more than two per cent of the entire appellation, which is unusual in Pomerol, which is otherwise characterised by small parcels.

• Soil: The vineyards of Château La Pointe are blessed with the famous ferruginous clay soils known in the region as "crasse de fer". This terroir is exclusive to the highest sites of Pomerol and is also found in the vineyards of the legendary Château Pétrus. These soils give the wines the typical, lush truffle flavours for which the great Pomerols are world-famous.

🍇 Vinification & grape variety

• Alcohol content: The little information available on this particular vintage varies between 12.5% and 14%. This discrepancy is not unusual for wines of this age.

• Proportion of grape varieties: The Grand Vin from Château La Pointe is a cuvée that traditionally consists of a high proportion of Merlot (approx. 85%) and a lower proportion of Cabernet Franc (approx. 15%).

👃 Flavour profile & drinking maturity

• Characteristic: The aromas are dominated by the typical Merlot fruit notes such as cassis, dark berries and plum. These are joined by the truffle flavours typical of the terroir and highly valued by connoisseurs . Other nuances such as cedar wood and violets round off the bouquet. One tasting note describes the palate as "supple and moderately full-bodied", which perfectly matches the character of the vintage.

• Drinking maturity: This bottle is a wine for immediate enjoyment. The wine is currently in its final drinking window.

🏅 Critics' ratings

There are no more professional reviews to be found. This is not unusual for a wine of this age. The lack of official reviews increases the importance of the condition of the bottle for the evaluation of the wine.

💰 Current market value & price

• Price range: Prices for this rare wine currently vary greatly depending on the retailer:

  • iDealwine (price estimate): 208 €.

  • Traditional Wine: 279 €.

  • Jahrhundertweine.de: 375 €.

🍽️ Serving recommendations & food pairing

• Temperature: Serve the wine at 16-18 °C.

• Maturity: The wine should be drunk now. Longer storage is not recommended.

• Food pairing: Due to its age and elegance, La Pointe 1958 harmonises perfectly with dishes that complement its fine flavours without overpowering them. Recommended are:

  • Poultry: Such as roast chicken (chapon à la broche) or duck breast with a red fruit sauce.

  • Meat: Tender veal (e.g. axoa de veau) or a tender fillet of beef from the grill.

  • Cheese: A mildly matured soft cheese whose creaminess blends perfectly with the soft tannins of the wine.

📝 Important note on the condition of the bottle

For a wine over 65 years old, the physical condition of the bottle is of the utmost importance. Pay particular attention to this when making a purchase:

• Fill level: "Into Neck" is ideal.

• Label and capsule: These should be intact and in good condition.

• Storage: Only from perfectly tempered and professional cellars.