TERROIR PROFILE
Médoc & Haut-Médoc
Classic left-bank terroir
Médoc & Haut-Médoc: the left bank's grand stage — and its best supporting roles.
Climate, site & wine
Gravel over clay and limestone, with sand and loam in the west, determines the soils. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the mounds, Merlot on clay-richer plots between the gravel terraces; Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complement.
The wines are medium- to full-bodied, with blackcurrant, cedar and firm tannin; they are lighter and earlier accessible than the great communes. The Crus Bourgeois form a quality tier of their own.
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Médoc & Haut-Médoc Classic left-bank terroir
Médoc & Haut-Médoc: the left bank's grand stage — and its best supporting roles.
SOILS
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
Sandaromatic, approachable
Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Oceanic climate between the Gironde and the Atlantic, mild and humid, shielded in the west from wind and sea air by the Landes pine forests. The Gironde moderates frost and heat; ripening is mid to late, and rain at harvest remains the main risk.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Flat peninsula of low gravel mounds (croupes) along the Gironde, passing westwards into sandy ground and pine forest. The best vineyards lie near the river on the gravel mounds with good drainage.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Blaye & Bourg
Bordeaux
100% similar
- Médoc & Haut-Médoc and Blaye & Bourg share a strikingly similar fingerprint — the differences lie in soil and grape varieties.
Lalande-de-Pomerol
Bordeaux
100% similar
- Médoc & Haut-Médoc and Lalande-de-Pomerol share a strikingly similar fingerprint — the differences lie in soil and grape varieties.
Wineries on this terroir
See all 94 →Château La Lagune
Ludon-Médoc
Renown 82/100
Château La Tour Carnet
Saint-Laurent-Médoc
Renown 80/100
Château Cantemerle
Macau
Renown 78/100
Château Belgrave
Saint-Laurent-Médoc
Renown 77/100
Château Camensac
Saint-Laurent-Médoc
Renown 77/100
Château Barreyres
Arcins
Renown 6/100
Domain Imbert
Renown 3/100
Cave Coopérative La Paroisse
Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne
Renown 3/100
This terroir's soils in the glossary