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PRINCIPAL WINE REGIONS OF FRANCE
Bordeaux French Wine
For 2.000 years
Bordeaux has been producing an incomparable range of wines.
No other region can
match the tremendous variety of the wines produced in Bordeaux
and only Burgundy can match their greatness.
This region,
spreading along both banks of the Garonne River in the Southern
part of France, produces red wines (the famous "clarets"); rosé
wines; dry, medium-dry, sweet and very sweet white wines.
The principal
districts are:
The wines of Médoc
are red. They are lightbodied and unique in the world for
their elegant fragrance, their mellowness and their delicate
and long lasting taste.
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ST. EMILION:  (more
info) the wines of this district are red,
full-bodied, robust. They have a strong bouquet and a
distinguished taste.
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POMEROL: (more
info) a very small
district. Its wines are red. a little lighter than the St. Emilions with which they share most of the characteristics in
bouquet and taste.
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GRAVES: (more
info) Graves produces both red and white wines. The
whites may either be dry or medium dry. They are well
balanced, elegant wines with a delicate bouquet and a fruity
flavour.
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SAUTERNES: Sauternes,
which includes the township of BARSAC. produces the greatest
naturally sweet wines in the world. They have a beautiful deep
golden colour. They are mellow, very fruity with a long
lasting, rich flavour.
From Médoc, St.
Emilion, Pomerol. Graves, Sauternes and Barsac come the greatest
of the wines of Bordeaux. but very excellent wines are also
produced in the other districts.
Better known are the wines of CERONS, SAINTE-CROIX-DU MONT, LOUPIAC,
COTES-DE BORDEAUX-SAINT-MACAIRE, PREMIERES COTES DE BORDEAUX,
SAINTE-FOIX. ENTRE-DEUX-MERS, GRAVES de VAYRES, CANON FRONSAC
and COTES de CANON-FRONSAC.
The red wines of
Bordeaux, especially the ones from the Médoc, Graves, Pomerol
and St. Emilion, age exceptionally well. Although most of them
may be drunk young. generally they may be kept for several
years.
Some of the greatest
red Bordeaux may reach their peak between 10 and 20 years and
some have been known to last for 50 years and longer.
White wines mature
more quickly than reds and the dry white Bordeaux too are drunk
when young, although they keep well for several years. The rich
wines of Sauternes are slower in reaching their peak and age
very well.
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Médoc
is one of the most famous of the French wine-growing regions,
consisting of the region in the département of Gironde, on the
left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. The region
owes its fame to its production of red wine, home to around
1,500 vineyards including many of the finest in the world.
The Médoc's geography is not ideal, with its proximity to the
Atlantic Ocean resulting in a comparatively mild climate and
high rainfall making rot a constant problem. It is generally
believed that the region's greatness derives from the soil;
although the terrain is flat, the excellent drainage is a
necessity and the increased amount of gravel in the soil allows
heat to be retained, encouraging ripening, and extensive root
systems.
With the exception of Château Haut-Brion from Graves, all of the
red wines in the famous 1855 Classification are from the Médoc.
Almost all of the region's wine consists mainly of the cabernet
sauvignon grape, with merlot forming the majority of the
remainder. In addition cabernet franc is usually used in small
quantities, with petit verdot and malbec occasionally added.
The Médoc is subdivided into six smaller appellations, roughly
corresponding to the villages of the region. From north to south
they are:
St. Estèphe
is a village and commune on the left bank of the Garonne estuary
in the Gironde département of south-west France, famed for its
production of red wine. The village lies 20 km north-west of
Bordeaux.
Saint-Estèphe is best known as the northernmost, and one of the
four major wine growing appellations of the Médoc, home to many
of the world's most-prized red wines.
The area is separated from Château Lafite-Rothschild in Pauillac
to the south by the Jalle de Breuil stream and its vineyards
cover around 12 km² on the banks of the Garonne.
The layers of gravel on top of clay lead to comparatively poor
drainage, and the harvest is one of the latest of the whole
region, although this water retention can be of use in vintages
of low rainfall. The wines are distinctive and age extremely
well, though often lack the finesse of the village's southerly
neighbours.
Selection of famous vineyards of Saint-Estèphe
Pauillac,
is a small village and port on the Gironde estuary, famed for
producing some of the finest and longest-lasting red wine in the
world.
The village boasts a mere 3000 acres (12 km²) of vineyards in
the Haut-Médoc between the villages of Saint-Julien to the south
and Saint-Estèphe to the north, yet has the unique distinction
of being home to three of Bordeaux's five first growth wines:
Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château
Mouton-Rothschild.
Selection of famous estates of Pauillac
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Château d'Armailhac
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Château Batailley
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Château Clerc Milon
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Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild
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Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse
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Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
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Château Haut-Bages-Liberal
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Château Haut-Batailley
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Château Lafite Rothschild
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Château Latour
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Château Lynch-Bages
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Château Mouton Rothschild
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Château Pichon Longueville-Baron
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Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
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Château Pontet-Canet
St. Julien,
Listrac, Moulis
Margaux
is a village and commune in the Gironde département of
south-west France, famed for its production of red wine.
Population: 1,358. The village lies in the Haut Médoc wine
making region on the left bank of the Garonne estuary, north
west of the city of Bordeaux.
Margaux' fame rests in the name of the wine appellation, Margaux
AOC, that encompasses the village and the neighbouring villages
of Arsac, Labarde, Soussans and Cantenac, and is the most
southerly of Médoc's appellations. The commune makes almost
entirely red wine.
The 1855 classification contained more wines from Margaux than
from any other appellation, and its most famous vineyard,
Château Margaux, was one of only four wines to be awarded the
coveted Premier Cru status.
Pomerol is a village and wine growing region (AOC) in France. It
is a commune of the Gironde département, located near Bordeaux.
Many small growers in this area of about 7.60 km² produce a
plummy, generous, long lived wine. Predominant grape variety
used is Merlot, often together with Cabernet Franc.
Recent vintages
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Outstanding: 1990, 1982
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Excellent: 2000, 1998, 1995, 1989, 1985
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Very good: 2001, 1988, 1986, 1983, 1979
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Good: 2002, 1999, 1996, 1994, 1978
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Average: 1997, 1993, 1987, 1981
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Poor: 1992, 1991, 1984, 1980, 1977
Some Producers
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Outstanding: Château Pétrus, Lafleur
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Excellent: L'Eglise Clinet, L'Evangile, La Conseillante,
Vieux Chateau Certan, Clinet,Trotanoy, Le Pin, Certan de May, La
Fleur de Gay
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Very good: Latour a Pomerol, Gazin, Beauregard,
Petit-Village, La Fleur-Petrus, La Croix de Gay, Le Gay
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Good: Nenin (after 1993), Rouget, La Rose Figeac, Guillot
Clauzel, Clos L'Eglise, Beau-Soleil, Belle-Brise
is a small town near Bordeaux, France that is famous for the
eponymous wine region that surrounds it.
The Romans planted vines in what was to become Saint-Émilion as
early as the 2nd century AD. In the 4th century, the Latin poet
Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.
The origins of the town date from the 8th century, when Emilian,
a travelling confessor, came to settle in a hermitage carved
into the rock.Saint-Émilion is located 35 km north-east of
Bordeaux, between Libourne and Castillon-la-Bataille.
St Emilion is one of the 4 principal red wine areas of
Bordeaux (the others being Médoc, Graves and Pomerol). The same
grape varieties tend to be used but in a different ratio, with
Merlot and Cabernet Franc predominating, whilst relatively small
amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon are used. The region is much
smaller than the Médoc and adjoins the wine region of Pomerol.
As in Médoc, the winemakers devised a system of ranking the
vineyards. Whilst that of Medoc was done in 1855 Bordeaux Wine
Official Classification of 1855 that of Saint-Émilion was first
done in 1878.
The use of the word "first" is significant, as unlike the Médoc
classification which has never been revised (except for the
promotion of Château Mouton Rothschild from 2nd to 1st Grand Cru
Classe), the Saint-Émilion classification is revised about every
10 years.
Château Ausone, and Château Cheval Blanc are the only two wines
currently classified as Premier grands crus classes A (First
Great Growths category A). There are then 11 premier grands crus
classés B and 62 grands crus classés. In addition, a number of
vineyards are classified as Grand Cru.
In 1954 the wines of St-Emilion in the great wine-growing
region of Bordeaux were classified. Unlike the Bordeaux Wine
Official Classification of 1855, the list is updated every 10
years or so. Following the initial classification, the list was
updated in 1969, 1986, and most recently in 1996.
The 1996 classification comprises 13 Premier Grand Cru Classé and 62 grands crus classés.
Premiers grands crus classés A
Premiers grands crus classés B
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Château Angélus- Saint-Emilion
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Château Beauséjour - Saint-Emilion
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Château Beau-Séjour Bécot - Saint-Emilion
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Château Bélair - Saint-Emilion
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Château Canon - Saint-Emilion
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Château Figeac - Saint-Emilion
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Clos Fourtet - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion
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Château Magdelaine - Saint-Emilion
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Château Pavie - Saint-Emilion
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Château Trottevieille - Saint-Emilion
Grands crus classés
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Château L'Arrosée - Saint-Emilion
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Château Balestard-La-Tonnelle - Saint-Emilion
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Château Bellevue - Saint-Emilion
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Château Bergat - Saint-Emilion
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Château Berliquet - Saint-Emilion
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Château Cadet-Piola - Saint-Emilion
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Château Cadet-Bon - Saint-Emilion
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Château Canon-La-Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion
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Château Cap de Mourlin - Saint-Emilion
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Château Chauvin - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Clotte - Saint-Emilion
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Château Corbin - Saint-Emilion
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Château Corbin-Michotte - Saint-Emilion
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Couvent des Jacobins - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Couspaube - Saint-Emilion
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Château Dassault - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Dominique - Saint-Emilion
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Château Faurie-de-Souchard - Saint-Emilion
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Château Fonpléglade - Saint-Emilion
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Château Fonroque - Saint-Emilion
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Château Franc-Mayne - Saint-Emilion
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Château Grand-Mayne - Saint-Emilion
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Château Grand-Pontet - Saint-Emilion
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Château Les Grandes Murailles - Saint-Emilion
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Château Guadet-Saint-Julien - Saint-Emilion
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Château Haut-Corbin - Saint-Emilion
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Château Haut Sarpe - Saint-Christophe des Bardes
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Château Clos des Jacobins - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Marzelle - Saint-Emilion
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Château Laniote - Saint-Emilion
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Château Larcis-Ducasse - Saint-Laurent des Combes
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Château Larmande - Saint-Emilion
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Château Laroque - Saint-Christophe des Bardes
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Château Laroze - Saint-Emilion
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Château Matras - Saint-Emilion
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Château Moulin du Cadet - Saint-Emilion
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Clos de l'Oratoire - Saint-Emilion
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Château Pavie-Decesse - Saint-Emilion
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Château Pavie-Macquin - Saint-Emilion
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Château Petit-Faurie-de-Soutard - Saint-Emilion
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Château Le Prieuré - Saint-Emilion
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Château Ripeau - Saint-Emilion
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Château Saint-Georges-Côte-Pavie - Saint-Emilion
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Château Saint-Martin - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Serre - Saint-Emilion
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Château Soutard - Saint-Emilion
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Château Tertre Daugay- Saint-Emilion
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Château La Tour-Figeac - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Tour-du-Pin-Figeac - Saint-Emilion
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Château La Tour du Pin Figeac Moueix - Saint-Emilion
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Château Troplong-Mondot - Saint-Emilion
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Château Villemaurine - Saint-Emilion
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Château Yon-Figeac - Saint-Emilion
meaning 'gravel land' in French) is an
important wine region of Bordeaux, producing over 20 million
bottles each year.
The region stretches 50 kilometers south east from the suburbs
of Bordeaux itself long the left bank of the Garonne river, and
despite being principally a producer of red wine, it is the only
of Bordeaux's regions to be known for both its red and white
wines. The area encompasses villages including Pessac, Talence,
Léognan, Martillac, St Morillon, and Portets.
In 1987 the region was split into a second appellation with the
creation of Pessac-Léognan, containing most of its most
celebrated Châteaux.
This has had the effect of devaluing the name
of wines labelled with the Graves appellation, and so are
considered by many to be better value than those of
Pessac-Léognan.
The area's red wines are generally considered to be more robust
than those of Médoc, and are made using a majority of Cabernet
Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The famous dry white wines are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and
Sémillon.
Classification
Despite its importance, the region was
largely overlooked by the famous Bordeaux Wine Official
Classification of 1855, and only a single producer, Château
Haut-Brion, was included, being one of only four wines to be
assigned the status of Premier Grand Cru Classé.
After the Second World War the omission of the great wines of
Graves from the official classification was having a noticeable
effect on the price and desirability of wines from the region,
and so in 1953 the region announced its own classification of
red wines, with white wines being added in 1959.
Sixteen wines were given the title Grands
Crus Classés, though most now fall in the Pessac-Léognan
appellation.
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Château Bouscaut (red & white)
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Château Carbonnieux (red & white)
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Château Couhins (white)
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Château Couhins Lurton (white)
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Château Domaine de Chevalier (red & white)
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Château Fieuzal (red)
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Château Haut-Bailly (red)
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Château Haut-Brion (red)
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Château La Mission Haut-Brion (red)
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Château Latour Haut-Brion (red)
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Château La Tour Martillac (red & white)
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Château Laville Haut-Brion (white)
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Château Malartic-Lagravière (red & white)
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Château Olivier (red & white)
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Château Pape Clément (red)
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Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte (red)
Other wines that pass the requirements are
labelled Appellation Graves Controlée. In addition, the
appellation of Graves Supérieurs Controlée is reserved for the
region's sweet white wines.
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