Haut-Médoc
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Cabernet FrancCabernet-SauvignonCarmenèreMerlotCotPetit Verdot (Verdot Petit)ArinarnoaCastetsMarselanTouriga Nacional
Terroir
Natural factors
- 28 communes in the Gironde, spanning a 50 km north–south axis barely more than ten kilometres wide east to west, between Le Taillan-Médoc and Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne.
- Soils derived from Quaternary gravels (of Garonne or glacial origin) arranged in stepped terraces, ranging from small pea-sized pebbles to large cobblestones, on well-drained hillocks.
- Tertiary clay-limestone subsoil, featuring a distinctive massive bench known as the 'de Listrac' layer, formed during the marine transgressions of the Tertiary era.
- Rolling topography of hillocks ('cos') carved by the erosion and incision of the Garonne, the 'esteys' and 'jalles', with elevations ranging from 3 m to 50 m.
Human factors
- From the 18th century onward, plantings consisted exclusively of 'small-berried varieties': carmenère, cabernet franc, cabernet-sauvignon, petit verdot, cot, and merlot.
Product characteristics
- Deep colour, pronounced tannins; cabernet-sauvignon contributes spice and vanilla notes (barrel ageing is more common here than in the AOC Médoc). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Concentrated wines with excellent ageing potential; merlot contributes roundness and red-fruit aromas. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Terroir / wine link
- Each variety is matched to a specific soil type: merlot on colluvial soils, cabernet-sauvignon on deep graves. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 5 août 2025
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — Conseil des Vins du Médoc