Saint-Estèphe

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Soils predominantly sandy-gravelly or clay-gravelly on the hillcrests; shallow rendzina soils to the west over hard limestone.
• Viticultural hillcrests lying very close to the Gironde to the east, reducing the palus to a strip only 200 to 300 metres wide. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The most northerly appellation and the second largest by area among the communal AOCs of the Médoc, restricted to the single commune of Saint-Estèphe. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• From the 13th century, Saint-Estèphe was known for its 'fine vineyards'; in the 17th and 18th centuries its tithe revenue was the highest in the Médoc.
• The blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with no mandated proportion; each estate composes freely from 6 permitted grape varieties. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Deep ruby colour, broad tannic structure (Cabernet Sauvignon dominant); Merlot contributes red fruits and spice.
• Wines built for ageing: with time they gain roundness, fruitiness, and finesse.

• Gravelly soils (east) → Cabernet Sauvignon; karstified limestone bedrock (west) → Merlot, thanks to natural drainage in both cases. (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 30 avril 2026
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVB