Haut-Médoc

Overview

The Haut-Médoc region lays claim to many of Bordeaux’s best wines, and arguably the finest wines in the world. It’s purely a red wine appellation, with white wines grown within its borders labeled simply as “Bordeaux”. Within the Haut-Médoc are the six famous communal appellations of Saint-Éstephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listrac, Moulis, and Margaux.

At the north end is Saint-Éstephe. Like all of the others on the left bank, this commune produces great red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. However, because the soils in Saint-Éstephe’s vineyards have a higher clay content and a cooler microclimate, Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t ripen well. Many of the area’s chateaux plant higher percentages of Merlot instead. The most famous among the estates of Saint-Éstephe is Château Cos d’Estournel.

To the south of Saint-Éstephe along the Haut-Médoc lies the great commune of Pauillac. Pauillac contains three of the great premiers crus on the left bank of Bordeaux: Château Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. The wines of Pauillac are powerful, long-lived wines that often have a pencil lead, cassis character. Pauillac has deep, well-drained gravel soils.

Saint-Julien lies on Pauillac’s southern border and is home to five second-growth vineyards. Although there are no premier crus in Saint-Julien, some chateaux often produce wines that are of premier cru quality. The wines of Saint-Julien are generally a bit softer and more supple than those made in Pauillac, but are bigger than Margaux which is farther to the south.

Margaux wines are often characterized as feminine, soft, and supple. The vineyards of Margaux are planted in a shallow bed of pebbles over limestone, and make up 35% of all of the classed growths in the Médoc. The best of these great wines is the premier cru, Chateau Margaux, which is considered by some to be the best wine in the world. Between Saint-Julien and Margaux, and a bit farther west, are Listrac and Moulis. While these appellations also produce some excellent wines, they lack the power and finesse of their famous competitors.

Geography

The Haut-Médoc comprises slightly more than the southern half of the Médoc Peninsula, which spans the distance between the city of Bordeaux and the Atlantic Ocean.

Temperature

The climate of this appellation is mild year round, with maritime influences moderated by a thick forest along the Atlantic coast. These trees serve to disperse detrimental cold ocean breezes that would otherwise reach the vineyards. Summers are warm, but rain is not unusual during harvests, making vintages vary in extensively in quality.

Topography

Bordeaux is fairly flat, but the Haut-Médoc contains some gentle hillsides facing the river.

Terroir

One reason for the Haut-Médoc’s superior quality is its well drained gravely soils. As a result, Cabernet Sauvignon grows well here and is the main variety. However, most wines produced in the Haut-Médoc are blends of different red varieties.

Important Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc

Note: Most red wines are a “Bordeaux Blend”, which vary in their composition according to the producer.