Gravel soils are a distinctive feature of the vineyards in Pomerol. Merlot grows more successfully on this type of soil. Therefore, it is here that the better Lalande-de-Pomerol wines are produced. The soils around Lalande are sandier and more alluvial in nature (being closer to the Isle and Dordogne rivers). This leads to a greater concentration of Cabernet grapes, which prefer free-draining soils.
