Medoc

Medoc region

Within Bordeaux, the red wines from Médoc are best regarded, and this is where the most expensive wines in the world come from. But, fortunately, there are also red wines that are of good quality and affordable. Big names are Mouton-Rotschild and Margaux, classic red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon. They may supplement the Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The Médoc is a French wine region in the Gironde department, above the city of Bordeaux. The region extends over an area of ​​80 by 15 kilometers along the left bank of the Gironde. It is divided into the Haut-Médoc in the south and the (Bas-)Médoc in the north. The vines, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, supplemented with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, are on terraces of pebble, gravel, limestone, clay, marl and sand, which ensures good drainage.

History

Before the 17th century, the Medoc region consisted only of fields for rye production. Dutch engineers drained the lands of medoc for agricultural use. After a certain time, the Medoc region became suitable for wine production and vineyards were planted in 1760.

In the 19th century, the left half of Bordeaux was completely full of vineyards that fell under the Medoc appellation. Many vineyards and chateaux were opened during this period. Nowadays, wine tastings in the region are super popular.

Sub appelations en classes

In fact, the Medoc region consists of the Haut Medoc and contains 6 sub-appellations

AC Saint-Estèphe
AC Pauillac
AC Saint-Julien
AC Listrac-Médoc
AC Moulis-en-Médoc
AC Margaux

In addition to this division by origin, since the Paris World Exhibition of 1855, there has also been one by quality for the top products. A distinction is made into 5 classes. The layout has hardly changed since then.

Premiers crus
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac, Graves (Pessac-Leognan sinds 1987)
Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Latour, Pauillac
Château Margaux, Margaux
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac (since 1973)

Deuxièmes crus
Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose, Saint-Julien
Château Lascombes, Margaux
Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien
Château Léoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien
Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien
Château Montrose, Saint-Estephe
Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac (ook Château Pichon-Longueville genoemd)
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac (ook Château Pichon-Lalande genoemd)
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (ook gespeld als Château Rausan-Segla)
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux

Troisièmes crus
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur, Saint-Estephe
Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Desmirail, Margaux
Château Ferrière, Margaux
Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
Château d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien
Château La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)
Château Langoa Barton, Saint-Julien
Château Malescot St. Exupery, Margaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux
Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

Quatrièmes crus
Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estephe
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux
Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien
Château Talbot, Saint-Julien
Château La Tour Carnet, Saint-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)

Cinquièmes crus
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château Belgrave Saint-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Château Camensac, Saint-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Château Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Medoc)
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Château Cos Labory, Saint-Estephe
Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
Château Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)

List of the classified white wines of Sauternes and Barsac

Château d’Yquem

Château Guiraud
Premier cru supérieur
Château d'Yquem, Sauternes

Premiers crus
Château La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)
Château Coutet, Barsac
Château Climens, Barsac
Château Guiraud, Sauternes
Château Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)
Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)

Deuxièmes crus
Château de Myrat, Barsac
Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac
Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac
Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac
Château d'Arche, Sauternes
Château Filhot, Sauternes
Château Broustet Barsac
Château Nairac, Barsac
Château Caillou, Barsac
Château Suau, Barsac
Château de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)
Château Romer, Fargues (Fargues)
Château Romer du Hayot, (Farques, Barsac)
Château Lamothe, Sauternes
Château Lamothe-Guignard, Sauternes