🇫🇷BORDEAUX–Medoc

MEDOC IS–   AOC.- 8     @Bordeaux

  • BLANC= Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon 49.5%, Merlot 44%, Cabernet Franc 3.7%, Petite Verdot 2.1%

GEOGRAPHY– France, REGION-Bordeaux(North-West), +Latitude(41.83°‘N’)

  • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, @Hw.#N215
  • PENINSULA/ 70 km. Long Between the Estuary of the River and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Sub-Zones– Landes du Medoc,  Bas-Medoc,  Haut-Medoc
  • AOC.’s– Haut Medoc AOC., Listrac AOC., Margaux AOC., Medoc AOC., Moulis AOC., Pauillac AOC., St. Estephe AOC, St. Julien AOC.

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Plateau/ Terraced”, +Altitude(5mt. to 43mt.), On~Gironde~Estuary~(Left Bank)

  • Medoc Terraces- Medoc is Comprised of 6 Terraces That Step Up From the Gironde Estuary.

VITICULTURE– 16,113ha./ ? ha. Planted

  • Left Bank- On~Gironde~River/ Estuary~, (Dutch Drained the Estuary In 1600’s.)
    • Man-Made Gravel Filled to 30 Feet Deep, It is Said That the Best Vineyards Have a View of the Water.
    • ROUGE= *Generally…Cabernet Sauvignon+65%, +Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot
      • Blends Vary by Commune and Chateau.
  • CHALLENGES– Spring/ Fall Frost, Hail, High Humidity

VINICULTURE– Wine Production- 32 Million Cases…61% Consumed In Europe, 39% Elsewhere

  • White Grapes Grown In Medoc Must Be Labeled Bordeaux Blanc.

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel(Gunzian/ Mindel), Mineral Rich Clay, Clay, Silt

CLIMATE– “Maritime/ Atlantic”, +Influenced/Gironde Estuary

HISTORY– Land Occupied by: Rome, Vandals, Goths, Visgoths, Saxon, England Over the Years.

  • 23 AD.- First Vineyard Planted.

CULTURE– WINE-TRAILS~ ~La Route Des Chateaux~

CLASSIFICATION OF MEDOC (1855) (Classified by Estate)

  • Napoleon III Wanted to Showcase the Best Reds of the Medoc Peninsula For Expo of Paris. Brokers From the Wine Industry Ranked the Wines According to Chateau’s Reputation and Trading Price.
  • There Are 61 Bordeaux Chateaux That Are Included In the 1855 Classification.
  • In Bordeaux Chateaus Are Classified….In Burgundy Vineyards Are Classified.
    • “First Growths” 5 (Premiers Crus)
      • 1st.-Margaux(262ha./ 87ha.),  1st.-Lafite Rothschild(112ha.)
      •  1st.-Latour(78ha.),  1st.Mounton Rothschild(222ha.)
      • 1st.-Chateau d’ Yquem(   ha.)
    • “Second Growths” 14 (Deuxièmes Crus)
      • 2nd.-Brane-Cantenac(75ha.),  2nd.-Cos d’Estournel(91ha.)
      • 2nd.-Ducru-Beaucaillou(? ha.),  2nd.-Durfort-Vivens(55ha.)
      • 2nd.-Gruaud-Larose(82ha.),  2nd.-Montrose(95ha.)
      • 2nd.-Lascombes(28ha.),  2nd.-Leoville Barton(47ha.)
      • 2nd.-Leoville-Las Cases(98ha.),  2nd.-Leoville-Poyferre(60ha.)
      • 2nd.-Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande(89ha.),  2nd.-Pichon-Longueville(73ha.)
      • 2nd.-Rauzan-Gassies(29ha.),  2nd.-Rausan-Segla(72ha.)
    • “Third Growths” 14 (Troisiemes Crus)
    • “Fourth Growths” 10 (Quatriemes Crus)
    • “Fifth Growths” 18 (Cinquiemes Crus)
    • Any Bottle Recognized In the Classification of 1855 May Display a “Cru Classe en 1855” On Their Label.

CLASSIFICATION OF MEDOC CRU BOURGEOIS (2003/ 2010)

  • ASSOCIATIONS~ ~Alliance de Crus Bourgeois du Medoc~
    • Mission~ Private Membership Association That Was Formed to Promote Recognition and Quality Among Medoc Wine Producers Not Classified In 1855. Membership Applied For From Vintage to Vintage, as of 2008 Membership is For 5 Year Period to Help Produces Market On Bottles.
    • 1 Inspection to Examine Physical Facilities and Confirm Size of Vineyards is Large Enough to Supple the Stated Number of Bottles Produced.
    • 2 Independent Board to Evaluate and Assess Quality of Wine Every 5 Years.  There is Also Hospitality Factor That is Put In the Equation.
    • Cru Bourgeois is a Sign of Quality of the Wine and Not the Chateaux.
    • Members by Year…
      • 2011– 256      2012– 267      2013– 251
      • 2014– 278     2015– 271       2016–
        • Cru Bourgeois/ Medoc- 122          Cru Bourgeois/ Haut-Medoc- 88
        • Cru Bourgeois/ Listrac- 14            Cru Bourgeois/ Moulis- 14
        • Cru Bourgeois/ Margaux- 10        Cru Bourgeois/ Pauillac- 3
        • Cru Bourgeois/ St.-Estephe- 19

**Refer to “BORDEAUX/ Home” For Detailed Information On Bordeaux as a Region.

MEDOC AOC.     @Lesparre

  • BLANC= ?
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux(North-West), SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, “Multi-Appellation”
  • TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Terraces”, +Altitude( ? mt.)
    • Encompasses Multiple Terraces Spreading Away From the Gironde River.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
  • VITICULTURE- 5,522ha. Planted
  • VINICULTURE– Labeled–“MEDOC” Wine Produced Non-Conforming to AOP.
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Margaux–(10)– Balac(CB.)Baudan(CB.), Castera(CB.), Fonreaud(CB.), Lalaudey(CB.), Panigon(CB.), Priurre-Lichine(CB.), Saint-Christoly(CB.)
    • Estate/ Producers- Begadan, Cadonne, Castera, Galiane, Lousteauneuf, Noaillac, Plagnac
  • CULTURE- “Medoc”…+Pronounced…“Meh-doc”

HAUT-MEDOC AOC.     @

  • BLANC= ?
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, In Medoc, “Multi-Appellation”, South Half(2/3) of Medoc Peninsula
    • AOC’s- Listrac AOC., Margaux AOC., Moulis AOC., Pauillac AOC., Saint-Julien AOC, Saint-Estephe AOC.
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Terraces”, +Altitude(30mt.)
    • On~Gironde~Estuary~(Left/ West)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Alluvail Terraces/ Gravel, Clay
  • VITICULTURE- 4,682ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- 3rd.-La Lagune,  4th.-La Tour-Carnet,  5th.-D’Arcins,  5th.-Belgrave(59ha.),  5th.-Camensac,  5th.-Cantemerle(90ha.),  5th.-Magnol
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Haut-Medoc-(88)– Agassac(CB./45ha.), Arcins, Arnauld(CB./18ha.), Aurilhac(CB.), Balac(CB.), Barateau, Barreyres(CB.), Barthez, Beaumont(CB.), Bel Air Gloria(CB.)(34ha.), Bellegrave du Poueau(CB.), Belle-Vue(CB./15ha.), Berna-Dotte(CB.), Beyzac(CB.), Bibbia(CB.), Boheme(CB.), Braude(CB.), Breuil(CB.), Cambon La Pelouse(CB./39ha.), Cartillon Cartuiac(CB.), Charmail(CB./27.5ha.), Cissac(CB.), Clement-Pichon(CB.), Corconnac(CB.), Croix du Trale(CB.), Dasvin Bel Air(CB.), Devise d Ardilley(CB.), Dillon(CB.), Doyac(CB.), Duthil(CB.), Fondu Berger(CB.), Fonpiqueyre(CB.), Gironville(CB.), Grand Clapeau Oliver(CB.), Grandis(CB.), Grand Medoc(CB.), Hantellan(CB.), Haut Beyzac(CB.), Haut-Logat(CB.), Haut Madrac(CB.), Labat(CB.), Lanessan(CB.), Larose Perganson(CB.), Larose-Trintaudon(CB.)(165ha.), Laurette Declercq(CB.), Lestage Simon(CB./45ha.), Lieuean(CB.), Liversan Magnolia(CB.), Malescasse(CB.), Malleret(CB./60ha.), Martin(CB.), Maucamps(CB.), Maurac, Meyre(CB.), Moulin de Blanchon(CB.), Moulin des Moines(CB.), Moulin Rouge(CB.), Muret(CB.), Paloumey(CB.), Peyrat-Fourthon(CB.), Aux, Retout(CB.), Reysson(CB.), Rollin(CB.), Saint Ahon(CB.), Saint-Paul(CB.), Taillan(CB.), Tonnelle(CB.), Tour du Haut Moulin(CB.), Tour-du-Roc(CB.), Tour Saint-Joseph(CB.), Tourteran(CB.), Trois Moulins(CB.), Victoria(CB.), Villambis(CB.)
    • Others– Clos du Jaugueyron, Hourtin-Ducasse, Jean-Baptiste Audy, Lomothe-Bergeron*, Sociando-Mallet(85ha.), Tontesteau
  • CULTURE- “Haut-Medoc”…+Pronounced…“Oh Meh-doc”

ST. ESTEPHE AOC.    @Marbuzet

  • BLANC= Chardonnay
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 6.5%, Petite Verdot 2.5%
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, In Haut-Medoc(North-East), BORDERS-Pauillac AOC.(South)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, +Altitude( ? mt.)
    • On~Jalle/ Breuil~Stream(North)~Gironde~Estuary~(Left Bank)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Clay, Limestone
  • VITICULTURE- 1,217ha. Planted,  62 Estate Producers, 17 Co-Op.’s
    • Estate/ Producers– 2nd.-Montrose(95ha.),  2nd.-Cos d’Estournel(91ha.),  3rd.-Calon-Segur,  4th.-Lafon-Rochet,  5th.-Cos Labory(18ha.),  5th.-Serilhan,  5th.-Tour De Pez(26ha.)
    • Cru Bourgeois/ St.-Estephe–(19)– Argilus Du Roi(CB.), Le Boscq(CB./18ha.), Clauzet(CB.), Come(CB.), Commanderie(CB.), Coutelin Merville, Le Crock(CB./32ha.), Haye(CB.), Lafitte Carcasset(CB.), Lilan Ladouys(CB./80.5ha., Petit Bocq(CB./20ha.), Picard, Plantier Rose(CB.), Saint Pierre de Corbian(CB.), Serlhan(CB.), Tour de Pez(CB./20ha.), Tour des Termes(CB.), Tour Saint-Fort(CB.), Vieux Coutelin(CB.)
    • Others– Capbern(38ha.), Haut-Marbuzet(75ha.), Meyney(51ha.), Phelan Segur(70ha.), St. Estephe, Tronquoy-Lalande(30ha.)
  • HISTORY- 1936- AOC. is Officially Established.
  • CULTURE- “St. Estephe”…+Pronounced…“Sant-eh-Steff”

PAUILLAC AOC.     @Pauillac

  • BLANC= Muscadelle(-1%), Sauvignon Blanc(-1%), Sémillon(-1%)
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon 62.5%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 5.5%, Petite Verdot 1.5%, Carmenere
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, In Haut-Medoc/ “Left Bank”(North-East), @Hw. D2
    • BORDERS-St.-Estephe AOC.(North), St.-Julien AOC.(South), (23 Square km.)
    • Sub-Zones- “Northern Part”, “Southern Tip”, +Latitude(45.19°‘N’)
  • TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Plateau(Mouton)”, +Altitude(5mt. to 30mt.)
    • On~Ruisseau/ Juillac~Stream~(North)~Gironde~Estuary~(Left Bank)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel(Gunzian), Sand, Clay, Marl(Savoisian)
  • CLIMATE- “Maritime/ Atlantic”, Influence From Gironde Estuary Influence.
    • *Challenges– Spring/ Fall Frost, Hail, High Humidity
  • VITICULTURE- 1,258ha. Planted, +100 Producers
    • Left-Bank– Dutch Drained Part of the Gironde Estuary In 1600’s.
    • Estate/ Producers- 1st.-Lafite Rothschild(111ha.),  1st.-Latour(92ha.),  1st.-Mounton Rothschild(88ha.),  2nd.-Pichon-Longueville(73ha.),  2nd.-Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande,  4th.-Duhart-Milon,  5th.-L’Armailhac(70ha.),  5th.-Bateiley(57ha.),  5th.-Clerc Milon(45ha.),  5th.-Croizet-Bages(30ha.),  5th.-Darmailhac,  5th.-Grand-Puy-Ducasse(40ha.),  5th.-Haut-Bages Liberal(30ha.),  5th.-Haut-Batailley(22ha.), 5th.-Lynch-Bages(100ha.),  5th.-Lynch-Moussas(60ha.), 5th.-Pedesclaux(22ha.),  5th.-Ponet-Canet(81ha./Bio-Dy.)
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Pauillac-(3)- Fleur Peyrabon(CB.), Fonbadet(CB.), Plantey(CB.)
    • Other Producers- La Couronne, Fonbdet, Haut-Bages-Averous, Haut-Bages-Monpelou, Pibran
  • VINICULTURE- White Grapes Grown In Medoc Must Be Labeled Bordeaux Blanc.
  • HISTORY- 1300’s- First Vineyard Planted   |   1600’s- Majority of Vineyard Planted
    • 1855- Classification of Medoc (3 First Growth)
  • CULTURE- “Pauillac”…+Pronounced…“Poy-yac”
    • PIONEERS~ ~Jean-Michel Cazes~ Owner Chateau Lynch-Bages, Help Bring Winery to Prominence.

St. JULIEN AOC.      @Beychevelle

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon 66%, Merlot 28%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petite Verdot 4%, Malbec
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, COMMUNE-St.-Julien
    • In Haut-Medoc(North-East), BORDERS-Pauillac AOC.(North), (5km. Long & 3.5km. Wide), @Hw.#D2/ D101
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”,+Altitude( ? mt.), ON PLATEAU
    • On~Ruisseau de Juillac~Stream(South)~Gironde~Estuary~(Left Bank/ West)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
    • Gunzian-Gravel(Quartz Clay, Flint), Sand and Limestone Bedrock
  • VITICULTURE- 910 ha. Planted,  Classed Growths– 11
    • Estate/ Producers- 2nd.-Ducru-Beaucaillou(75ha.),  2nd.-Gruaud-Larose(82ha.),  2nd.-Leoville-Barton(47ha.),  2nd.-Leoville-Las Cases(98ha.),  2nd.-Leoville-Poyferre(80ha.),  3rd.-Lagrange(100ha.),  3rd.-Langoa-Barton,  4th.-Branaire-Ducru(60ha.),  4th.-St.Pierre(17ha.),  4th.-Talbot(110ha.),  4th.-Du-Luc,  4th.-Beychevelle,  4th.-Glan
    • (The 3 Leoville Began as a Single Estate In 1630, and the 3 Spliting Off In 1840’s.)
    • Other Estates- Clos du Marquis,Gloria
  • HISTORY– PIONEERS~
    • ~Alexandre de Gascq-Leoville~ Nobleman From Gascony Who Married the Granddaughter of the Jean de Moytie(First Person to Plant Vines In St. Julien) and Marketed St. Julien On Grand Scale.
    • ~Anthony Barton~ “Bordeaux”, Irish Transplant Who Owned Leoville-Barton & Langoa-Barton.
  • CULTURE- “St. Julien”…+Pronounced…“Sant Jhoo-lee-ehn”

LISTRAC AOC.     @Listrac

  • BLANC= ?
  • ROUGE= Merlot 58%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Petite Verdot 2.7%
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc, DEPARTMENT-Gironde
    • In Haut-Medoc(Central)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Terraces/ Plateau”, +Altitude(43mt.)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel Outcrop, On Limestone/Clay Plateau
  • VITICULTURE- 522ha. Planted
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Listrac–(14)– Baudan(CB.), Cap Leon Veyron(CB.), Capdet, Donissan(CB.), Ermitage(CB.), Fonreaud(CB.), Fourcas-Borie(CB.), Lafon(CB.), Lalande, Lestage(CB./45ha.), Liouner(CB.), Reverdi(CB.), Saransot-Dupre(CB.), Vieux Moulin(CB.)
    • Estate/ Producers- Cap Leon Veyrin, Clarke, Forces Dupre, Fourcas Hosten
  • CULTURE- “Listrac”…+Pronounced…“Lee-strahk”

MOULIS AOC.     @Moulis

  • BLANC= ?
  • ROUGE= Merlot 49%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petite Verdot 2.8%
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, In Haut-Medoc(Central)
    • Sub-Zone- Grand Poujeaux Plateau
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Plateau”, +Altitude(34mt.)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel Over Silt, Limestone, Clay
  • VITICULTURE- 617ha. Planted
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Moulis–(14)– Anthonic(CB.), Biston-Brillette(CB.), Branas Grand Pouieaux(CB.), Brillette(CB.), Caroline(CB.), Chemin Royal(CB.), Duplessis(CB.), Garricq(CB.), Gressier Grand Pouieaux(CB.), Guittgnan, Lalaudey(CB.), Moulin a Vent(CB.), Mouline(CB.), Myon de l’Enclos(CB.), Pomeys(CB.)
    • Estate/ Producers- Chasse-Spleen, Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Lagorce Bernadas, Malmaison, Maucaillou, Mauvesin Barton, Poujeause

MARGAUX AOC.     @Labarde

  • BLANC= Muscdelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon 48%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petite Verdot 4%, Carmenere, Malbec
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Bordeaux, SUB-REGION-Medoc, North of Bordeaux-City(24km.)
    • DEPARTMENT-Gironde, In Haut-Medoc(South)
    • COMMUNES-Cantenac, La Barde Arsac, Margaux, Soussans
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Plateau/ Terraced”, +Altitude( ? mt.), On~Gironde~Estuary~(Left Bank)
    • “Non-Contiguous”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel(To 12mt. Deep), Silt, On Limeston, Clay
  • VITICULTURE- 1,530ha. Planted
      • Growths… 1st.-1,  2nd.-5,  3rd.-11,  4th.-3,  5th.-2
    • Estate/ Producers- 1st.-Margaux(262ha./ 87ha.), 2nd.-Rausan-Segla(72ha.), 2nd.-Rauzan-Gassies(29ha.), 2nd.-Durfort-Vivens(55ha./ Bio-Dy.), 2nd.-Lascombes(Kosher)(120ha.), 2nd.-Brane-Cantenac(75ha.), 2nd.-Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande(89ha.), 3rd.-Kirwan, 3rd.-Palmer(Bio-Dy.), 3rd.-D’Isson, 3rd.-Giscours, 3rd.-Malescot St. Exupery, 3rd.-Boyd-Cantenac, 3rd.-Desmirail, 3rd.-Dubignon, 3rd.-Ferriere(Bio-Dy.), 3rd.-Marquis d’Aesme Becker, 4th.-Pouget, 4th.-Le Prieure, 4th.-Maruquis de Terme, 4th.-Paveil De Luze, 5th.-Dauzac(49ha.), 5th.-Tertre(52ha.)
    • Cru Bourgeois/ Margaux–(10)– Arsac(CB.), Bellevue de Tayac(CB.), Deyrem Valentin(CB.), Fortune(CB.), Haut Breton Largudiere(CB./15ha.), Mongravey(CB.), Pavel de Luze(CB./32ha.), Pontac Lynch(CB.), Tayac-Plaisance(CB.), Tour de Mons(CB.)
    • Other Estates- Baron de Brane, Gravieres de Marsac, Larruau, Siran*
  • HISTORY- 1954- AOC. Officially Established.
  • CULTURE- “Margaux”…+Pronounced…“Mahr-go”
    • PIONEERS~ ~Laura & Corinne Mentzelopoulos~ Own and Run Chateau Margaux.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.