MÉDOC The Médoc is arguably the most famous red wine district in the world, home to many of the greatest and most renowned names of Bordeaux. Stretching north-west from the city of Bordeaux with the Gironde estuary to the east, the vineyards extend up to eight miles from the river and run for about 50 miles northwards. As a rule of thumb, the greatest wines are made at those properties closest to the water. The most northerly, low-lying vine- yards are classified as Bas-Médoc , whilst those on higher ground, closer to the city of Bordeaux, are entitled to the Haut-Médoc appellation. Within that appellation, there are further communal or village appellations, namely Listrac and Moulis , and the four great names of St-Estèphe , Pauillac , St Julien and Margaux . HAUT-MÉDOC Despite being as visually unprepossessing as the rest of the Médoc, this large red-wine appellation is home to some of the world’s greatest wines with 4,500ha of vineyards. All the great communes of the Left Bank fall within its boundaries: Margaux, St-Julien, Pauillac and St- Estèphe, as well as the up-and-coming Moulis and Listrac. These are labelled under their own, more illustrious and expensive appellation names. Châteaux labelled simply as Haut- Médoc rarely reach such heights, but nevertheless offer consistently good quality and offer some of the best value in Bordeaux. Haut-Médoc wines tend to be firm and fine with generous fruit and a nice minerality – what many would consider ‘textbook Claret’. They come from loftier vineyards and offer higher quality and more complexity than those labelled simply as ‘Médoc’. Keep 3 to 12 years.
ST-ESTÈPHE St-Estèphe is the northernmost of the most important communes of the Médoc and borders Pauillac on its southernmost border. To the north lies the Bas-Médoc. St-Estèphe is defined by the depth of its gravel, which varies in depths and occasionally clay predominates. This keeps the soil cooler and wetter than its counterparts so that the wines can appear fresh in lighter vintages, but superbly successful in hot, dry years. The best châteaux in the south of the commune have the deepest soil and the thickest gravel (Cos d’Estournel). The wines can appear austere in youth, but the best typically display good depth of colour, pronounced acidity and tannins when young and are exceptionally long-lived. At their best, they are the equal of almost any Bordeaux. Keep 5 to 12 years.
ST-JULIEN St-Julien is the smallest of the “Big Four” Médoc communes. Although, without any First Growths, St-Julien is recognised to be the most consistent of the main communes, with several châteaux turning out impressive wines year after year. The wines can be assessed as much by texture as flavour, and there is a sleek, wholesome character to the best. Elegance, harmony and perfect balance and weight, with hints of cassis and cedar, are what epitomise classic St-Julien wines. At their very best they combine Margaux’s elegance and refinement with Pauillac’s power and substance. Keep 7 to 20 years.
MARGAUX If Pauillac is the bastion of
‘traditional’ red Bordeaux, Margaux represents its other facet in producing wines that are some of the region’s most sensual and alluring. It is the largest commune of the Médoc and encompasses the communes of Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labaude, in addition to the village of Margaux itself. Margaux is the closest of the important communes to the city of Bordeaux. The soils in Margaux are the lightest and most gravelly of the Médoc, with some also containing a high percentage of sand. Vineyards located in Cantenac and Margaux make up the core of the appellation with the best vineyard sites being located on well-drained slopes, whose lighter soils give Margaux its elegant touch and silky perfumes.
LISTRAC Listrac is the furthest from the
BORDEAUX
Margaux wines are typically of extreme finesse, intense flavour
Gironde of all the named communes and comprises some of the highest land in the Médoc. The soil is mainly clay and limestone on a gentle rise, and this contributes to the style – which is rather austere and dense compared to its more famous neighbours. Listrac wines typically have a higher proportion of Merlot than other Médoc wines. They are medium to full-bodied and have been described as having the fruit and finesse of St- Julien combined with the firmness and structure of St-Estèphe. They
but should never be heavy. Perfumed, medium-bodied and refined, they need time in bottle to express their best. Keep 7 to 20 years.
BORDEAUX
PAUILLAC Pauillac is the aristocrat of the Médoc boasting Grand Cru Classés representing 84% of Pauillac’s production.
MOULIS Moulis is the smallest of the six Médoc communes but boasts a wide variety of soils and terroirs. One of the two communal appellations located on the Atlantic side of the Médoc, its hilly country is studded with a diversity of gravels, limestone and clay. These are sturdy wines, but the best are capable of considerable longevity and are often seductively perfumed, with more power than Margaux wines – albeit less finesse and elegance. Keep 3 to 12 years.
Bordering St-Estèphe to the north and St-Julien to the south, Pauillac has fine, deep gravel soils with important iron and marl deposits, and a subtle, softly rolling landscape, cut by a series of small streams running into the Gironde. The vineyards are located on two gravel- rich plateaux, one to the northwest of the town of Pauillac and the other to the south, with the vines reaching a greater depth than anywhere else in the Médoc. With three first growths this is the classic example of Médoc at its best: deep, intense, full, distinctive and fine yet powerful and punchy. Keep 7 to 20 years.
are often deeply-coloured and noticeably tannic when young, and need a few years of bottle- ageing to show at their best. Keep 3 to 12 years.
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