Médoc

This region is located on the left bank of the Gironde, more precisely where, in the north, it meets the Atlantic Ocean, forming a peninsula, or more schematically between Bordeaux and the tip of the peninsula. A north/south axis ("Bas-Médoc/Haut-Médoc") can sometimes be distinguished, with the north of the region as a land of historical prestige, which historically corresponded solely to the designation "Médoc." A further distinction can be made between the Landes du Médoc, the continental part, and the coastal Médoc wine region, where the essence of Médoc wine is produced. The "Médoc" AOC therefore covers 5,800 hectares, and vine growing is a prosperous and historic activity there: up to 285,000 hectoliters of Médoc red wine are produced each year. 

The Médoc appellation encompasses three types of soil found in the Médoc region: Garonne gravel, Pyrenean gravel, and clay-limestone. Given the vast size of the appellation, these terroirs are characterized by extreme variety. The wines are mainly made from Merlot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, supplemented in smaller proportions by Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Cot, or Malbec.

The Médoc has been a wine-producing region since Roman times, when it was already known throughout the Empire for its trade in wine and amber. The Middle Ages contributed to its renown as a religious and cultural pilgrimage route, a welcoming and prosperous land that travelers on their way to Santiago de Compostela would visit, not forgetting to savor its ever-famous wine. This golden age reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries, which saw the emergence of wines that have remained legendary ever since: Château Labadie and Château Lafitte (Haut-Médoc and wine go very well together!) caused a sensation at the 1855 World's Fair. Other great wines that have appeared since then include Château de By and the Poitevin vineyard, which are equal in quality to these wines that have made history. 

A land dotted with Gallo-Roman vineyards, evidence of a rich economic past, Médoc experienced a revival in the 1960s thanks to North Africa. At that time, a few repatriates settled on certain vineyards that had been left fallow following major financial crises. Armed with a strong will, they instilled a great deal of enthusiasm in the Médocains and revived part of the wine-growing region with new cultivation methods and winemaking secrets. The Médoc appellation d'origine contrôlée, granted by a decree of November 14, 1936, is now the largest in the Médoc region.

According to the official texts, the eight designated appellations of the Médoc region (from Jalle de Blanquefort north of Bordeaux to almost Pointe de Grave) are entitled to use the Médoc appellation. However, there is also a specific area in the north of the peninsula that exclusively produces wines under this appellation. In reality, the vast majority of Médoc wines come from the north of the peninsula. Among these different vintages, Château d'Escurac, Château Haut-Maurac and Château La Tour de By are particularly noteworthy.

A great wine never appears by chance, but generally through a combination of ideal geographical and meteorological conditions and unique expertise. This is certainly the case here, as the Médoc enjoys a very advantageous geographical location that also benefits the wines of Bordeaux, the large neighboring city. The climate of southern France is one of the best in the world for growing grapes: abundant sunshine, moderate but sufficient humidity for the proper development of many plants, long, hot summers, and a milder September are all essential elements for the proper development of grapes, which will be filled with flavor throughout the warm season without perishing from excessive heat. 

The Médoc also boasts exceptional subsoil, already noted and admired in ancient times, consisting of gravelly hilltops suited to viticulture, and further optimized since then by the drainage of certain marshes and by the work of winegrowers over the past 2,000 years, who have nourished and maintained this fertile land with the aim of constantly improving the quality of the wines. The result is a unique and surprising flavor: intense tannins that emerge in a balanced and structured wine, defined essentially by its power but nevertheless full-bodied. They are aged for 5 to 10 years to avoid a youthfulness that can make them too tannic. It should be noted, however, that the Médoc also produces wines from clay-limestone soils with a different character: fine, elegant, and subtle, they can, unlike their gravelly cousins, be enjoyed even when young.