Pessac-Léognan

The appellation d'origine contrôlée Pessac-Léognan is an appellation of the Bordeaux vineyards. The AOC Pessac-Léognan was created in September 1987 in the ancient Graves region of Bordeaux. Pessac-Léognan is undoubtedly the precise starting point for winegrowing in Bordeaux, some 2,000 years ago. As early as Roman times, man realized that this terroir, which concentrates all the Crus Classés of the Graves region, was particularly well-suited to vine-growing. The cultivated area quickly grew to 1,600 hectares, with annual production of almost 70,000 hectolitres. Among the most famous Pessac-Léognan estates is Château Haut-Brion, the only premier cru classé de 1855 outside the Médoc. Other outstanding estates include Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château Pape Clément, Domaine de Chevalier, Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion and Château Haut-Bailly.

AOC Péssac Léognan is one of the few appellations to include a large number of grape varieties. Growing on the left bank of the Garonne, these varieties have similar flavors despite their different genomes. 

There are currently nine main grape varieties used to make the Pessac Léognan vintage:

Hand-picked, the grapes are then fermented in the age-old vats of Château coucheroy pessac Léognan AOC. Respectful of tradition, the winemakers repeat gestures codified by others centuries ago. 

A wine with great ageing potential

Despite the passage of time, this ritual has lost none of its effectiveness. Pessac Léognan red wines retain all their tannins for 7 to 20 years. For certain Pessac Léognan vintages, the ageing potential is much higher. 

As for white wines, the experts at Château coucheroy Pessac Léognan AOC recommend keeping them for a maximum of 2 to 5 years. Of course, certain cuvées can be aged with greater delicacy. In fact, they can be kept for 10 to 15 years. 

The soils of Pessac-Léognan wines are composed of a particularly thick layer of gravel and pebbles rolled by the waters, known as "graves". This layer rests on a substrate of sand, alios and clay in varying proportions. The vines occupy vast clearings surrounded by pine trees, ideally protecting them from humidity-laden westerly winds. The AOC produces red Pessac-Léognan wines mainly from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. They are cherry-colored with black tints. Their nose expresses notes of ripe red fruit and violets, supported by a smoky bouquet of grilled almonds and resin. These are rich, elegant, noble, full-bodied wines that can be enjoyed young, but also show great aptitude for ageing. Dry white wines from the Pessac-Léognan appellation are generally pale straw-yellow, often the result of ageing in oak barrels. Their fragrance is marked by Sauvignon, the appellation's dominant grape variety, which brings freshness and fruitiness, allied or not to Sémillon, which brings the fatness of its unique candied fruit aromas. The white wines of Pessac-Léognan are complex, fleshy, round and sweet, yet very dry.