Médoc

This region is located on the left bank of the Gironde, more precisely where, to the north, it joins the Atlantic Ocean to form a peninsula, or more schematically, between Bordeau and the tip of the peninsula. There is also a North/South axis ("Bas-Médoc/Haut-Médoc"), with the north of the region being the land of historical prestige, which historically corresponded to the "Médoc" designation alone. A further distinction is made between the Landes du Médoc, the continental part, and the wine-growing, coastal Médoc, where the essence of Médoc wine is produced. The "Médoc" AOC thus covers 5,800 ha, and vines are a thriving and historic crop: up to 285,000 hectolitres of Médoc red wine are produced here every year. 

The Médoc appellation territory combines the three soil types of the Médoc: Garonne gravel, Pyrenean gravel and clay-limestone. Given the vast size of the appellation, these terroirs are characterized by extreme variety. Wines are mainly made from Merlot noir and Cabernet-sauvignon grapes, with smaller proportions of Cabernet franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec.

The Médoc has been a land of wine since Roman times, when it became famous for its trade in wine and amber throughout the Empire. In the Middle Ages, the Médoc became an important religious and cultural pilgrimage route, a welcoming and prosperous land for travellers on their way to Santiago de Compostela, not forgetting to savour its famous wine. This golden age reached a climax in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the appearance of crus that have remained legendary ever since: Château Labadie and Château Lafitte (haut médoc and wine can go very well together!) made a big splash at the 1855 Universal Exhibition. Other grands crus to emerge since then include Château de By and the Poitevin vineyards, which match the quality of these historic vintages. 

A land dotted with Gallo-Roman vineyards, testimony to a rich economic past, in the 60s Médoc experienced a second wind from North Africa. At that time, a number of repatriates settled on wine-growing land left fallow following major financial crises. Armed with a strong will, they inspired the Médoc people with renewed enthusiasm, reviving part of the wine region with new cultivation methods and winemaking secrets. The Médoc appellation d'origine contrôlée, granted by decree on November 14, 1936, is now the most extensive in the Médoc region.

According to the texts, all eight delimited appellations in the Médoc region (from the Jalle de Blanquefort to the north of the Bordeaux conurbation, almost as far as the Pointe de Grave) are eligible for the Médoc appellation. But it also has a specific territory, located in the north of the peninsula, which produces exclusively wines of this appellation. In fact, the vast majority of Médoc wines come from the northern part of the peninsula. Among these, Château d'Escurac, Château Haut-Maurac and Château La Tour de By are particularly noteworthy.

A great wine never appears by chance, but usually by the confluence of ideal geographical and meteorological conditions and unique know-how. This is exactly the case here, as the Médoc enjoys a highly advantageous geographical location that also benefits the wines of neighboring Bordeaux. The climate in the south of France is one of the best in the world for growing vines: abundant sunshine, moderate but sufficient humidity for the development of many plants, long, hot summers and a milder September are all essential for the development of the grapes, which will gorge themselves with flavor throughout the warm season without perishing from excessive heat. 

The Médoc also boasts an exceptional subsoil, already noticed and admired in ancient times, consisting of gravelly hilltops suited to viticulture, and further optimized since then by the draining of certain marshes and the work of winegrowers over the past 2000 years who have nurtured and maintained this fertile soil with the aim of constantly improving the quality of the wines. The result is a unique and surprising flavor: intense tannins that emerge on the frame of a balanced and structured wine; defined essentially by its power but nevertheless full-bodied. They are refined over 5 to 10 years to avoid a youthfulness that can make them too tannic. It's worth noting, however, that in the Médoc we also find wines born of clay-limestone soils with a different character: fine, elegant and subtle, they can, unlike their gravelly cousins, be enjoyed even when young.