Chateau La Croix-Toulifaut Pomerol

Château La Croix-Toulifaut Pomerol sits on the south-facing slope of the Pomerol plateau, positioned between Château Beauregard and the Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé Château Figeac. The vineyard's terroir is sandy over a ferruginous base layered with clinker hardpan—the iron-rich crust that shapes the structure and aging potential of Pomerol's greatest wines. The blend is 85% Merlot for roundness and fruit weight, 15% Cabernet Franc for spine and elegance, a formula that has earned the estate the nickname "the Princess of Pomerol" from Jean-Luc Pouteau, named best sommelier in the world. The estate works closely with consulting oenologist Michel Rolland, whose fingerprint across Bordeaux's Right Bank is unmistakable. Rolland's approach here emphasizes finesse over power—coaxing the iron and clay undertones from the clinker without overwhelming the Merlot's plush fruit. The ferruginous soils contribute a subtle mineral thread that lifts the mid-palate and extends the finish. Pomerol's maritime-influenced climate and sandy topsoil allow early ripening, so the Merlot develops full phenolic maturity while retaining freshness, a balance that defines the appellation's best expressions. The bouquet opens with blackcurrant and cherry, the fruit darker and more compact than neighboring Saint-Émilion. The palate is velvety and restrained, toasted oak folding into the fruit rather than dominating it, with crisp tannins that frame rather than grip. This is a wine built for the table—pair it with herb-crusted lamb, duck confit, or aged Comté. It drinks well on release but will soften and integrate over the next decade, the clinker's influence revealing itself as the tannins resolve and secondary notes of tobacco and truffle emerge. Château La Croix-Toulifaut Pomerol is available now at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.