Médoc
Styles
Principal grape varieties
MuscadelleSauvignonSauvignon GrisSémillonAlvarinhoFloréalLiliorilaSauvignacCabernet FrancCabernet-SauvignonCarmenèreMerlotCotPetit Verdot (Verdot Petit)ArinarnoaCastetsMarselanTouriga Nacional
Terroir
Natural factors
- Soils split between Quaternary gravels (Garonnaise or glacial) and Tertiary clay-limestone formations uplifted by anticlinal pressure
- Rolling ridges known as "cos", shaped by erosion and the incising action of the Garonne, its "esteys" and "jalles"
- An area of 50 communes, roughly 80 km north–south by 10 km east–west, ranging from 3 m to 50 m in elevation, on the left bank of the Garonne/Gironde (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Dual thermal regulation from the Atlantic Ocean (to the west) and the Gironde estuary (to the east), with moderate rainfall for an Atlantic climate (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Human factors
- After 1709, new red plantings were made exclusively with "small-berried varieties": carmenère, cabernet franc, cabernet-sauvignon, petit verdot, cot, and merlot
Product characteristics
- Deep colour, fine tannins, and spicy notes (cabernet-sauvignon), red fruit and roundness (merlot); developing toward undergrowth and liquorice with age (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Terroir / wine link
- Cabernet-sauvignon thrives on gravels (elegance, refined aromas), merlot contributes fruitiness, cabernet franc is preferred on limestone soils, and petit verdot suits warm, well-draining ground
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