In terms of quality producers, Saint Estephe is the northernmost wine-growing department of the Haute-Médoc. The gravel banks of the banks of the Garonne River mark the wines of the area, giving them character and quality. They are characterised by being strong, dark and long-lived wines.
Cos d’Estournel and Chateau Montrose, both second Cru Classé, produce the highest quality wines. Other important wineries are: Chateau Ormes de Pez and Calon Segur.
Pauillac is the most important wine-growing department of the Médoc, possibly also of Bordeaux. Not surprisingly, it is home to three First Cru Classé wineries: Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour.
The wines of this appellation are characterised by a combination of soft fresh fruit, oak and dryness, with a hint of cigar box aroma, a subtle sweetness and above all vigour and longevity.
Other important wineries are: Chateau Pontet Canet, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron, Chateau Lynch Bages.
If Pauillac is the most important wine-growing department of the Médoc, and Margaux the one with the most second and third Cru Classé, Saint Julien is the appellation with the highest proportion of “Crus Classés”, as 80% of the total vineyards are “Crus Classés”. The wines of Saint Julien, once matured, are round and smooth. In a way, they are a transition between the spectacular and brilliant Pauillac wines and the Margaux wines, which are usually the most refined and exquisite.
The treasure of Saint Julian is the great property of Léoville, next to the border with Pauillac, once the largest in the Médoc, and today divided into three second Cru Classé:
– Chateau Léoville-Les Cases
– Chateau Léoville Barton
– Chateau Léoville Poyferre
The other major winery is Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, also second Cru Classé. Other important wineries are: Chateau Talbot, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau Graud Larose, Chateau Lagoa Barton
Maybe, the wines of Margaux and Cantenac are the cleanest wines of the whole Médoc, but only that, maybe. Because when we are talking about a wine-growing area where the “chateau” makes such a difference, the finesse of the wines does not necessarily match that of those of the appellation. However, the soils of Margaux have a coarse gravel that encourages the roots to dig deep in search of water. In any case, it is an indisputable fact that in Margaux and Cantenac there are more second and third Cru Classé than in any other part of the Médoc, which gives us an idea of the excellent quality of their wines.
The most important winery is Chateau Margaux, one of the five Premier Cru Classé in Bordeaux.
Other great wineries are: Chateau Brane Cantenac, Chateau Rauzan Segla, Chateau Rauzan Gassies, Chateau Durfort Vivens, Chateau Lascombes (all of them second Cru Classé) and Chateau Palmer (third Cru Classé).