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Medoc
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The Médoc is one of the Bordeaux wine-regions, located South-West of France.
The appellations and terroir of Medoc
The Médoc is divided into 8 appellations :
- 2 regional appellations : Médoc (North of the peninsula of the same name) extends on 4,7000 hectares (31.5% of the Médoc vineyards) and Haut Médoc, stretching over some 37 miles and representing 28% of the Médoc vineyards;
- 6 communal appellations which are, from North to South : Saint-Estephe (9% of surface), Pauillac which extends on only 8% of the Médoc area but gathers as many as 18 Great Classified Growths, Saint-Julien (6% of the Médoc wine-region, 11 Great Classified Growth), Moulis (4% of the Médoc vineyards), Listrac-Médoc and Margaux which gathers 21 Great Classified Growth on 9% of the Médoc vineyards.
The term Medoc means "the middle land" as this peninsula lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde Estuary. This geographical position is a great advantage: those great water masses act as thermal regulators, thus creating an ideal micro-climate for the vineyard.
The terroir is mainly made of gravels dating back from the end of the Terciary. The geology of the region is characterized by a succession of ridges separated by small brooks flowing out into the estuary. This topography of gravelly depressions and folds plays an irreplaceable role in natural water drainage.
The vineyard and the wines of Medoc
The first Medoc vineyards appeared in the 16th century and were pratically all established by about 1760. As early as 1730, several procedures which enabled wines to be kept longer had already become standard practice : topping up casks to compesate for ullage or racking for instance. Aging techniques were also improved.
In the middle of the 18th century, the idea of Grand Cru and Chateau became firmly anchored. The famous Classification, concerning 60 Chateaux in Médoc and 1 in Graves (Haut Brion) was created in 1855. The classification was based on the consistency in quality and this is the reason why it has almost remained unchanged until now (except for a revision in 1973). Today, besides the Great Classified Growths, there are 2 other official classifications : 419 Crus Bourgeois and 335 Crus Artisans. The prosperity the region enjoyed in the 18th and 19th centuries came to an end with the phylloxera invasion, at the end of the 19th century. The 2 World Wars and the economic crisis of the 30's prevented the development of the region until the beginning of the 60's. However, over the past 30 years, surface areas and harvests have doubled and estates have been restructured and modernized. Wine-growers have invested millions in renovating buildings and installing ultramodern cellars and vat-houses. Today, despite the formidable increase in the surface area planted with vines, the Médoc has not yet regained the surface area planted before the invasion of phylloxera. Médoc wines are always the result of skilfull blends of different varietals, the proportion of which varies depending on the quality of the crop, the maturity of each varietal and the type of wine sought after by the wine-grower. Three main varietals are grown in Médoc: Cabernet Sauvignon, which offers a great aging potential and is particularly resistant to rot, Cabernet Franc, which makes a brigh wine with a rich bouquet, and Merlot which brings mellowness to the final blending. Petit Verdot and Malbec are also grown and added to the blending in much smaller quantities.
To display our Medoc selection, click the appellations below:
Saint-EstepheMargauxPauillacSaint-JulienListracMedocHaut-MedocMoulis
