Situation and soil

Until the dawn of the 20th Century, Pauillac was a thriving commercial harbour by which the wines of the neighbour appellations were exported. The little town of Pauillac is located beside the Gironde estuary between Saint-Julien and Saint-Estephe. It still remains the beating heart of the Medoc agricultural area. The reputation of Pauillac relies not only on the creation of its large wine properties during the 18th and 19th Centuries, but on its exceptional soil. The Pauillac region has remarkable gravel deposits mixed with aeolian sands, ideal for vinegrowing.

Characteristics

Pauillac is the most prestigious wine producing region of the Left Bank with an amazing concentration of Classified Growths in 1855 (18), including the famous two 1st Classified Growths – Latour and Lafite Rothschild. In 1973 Mouton Rothschild, joined the prestigious duo, after Edmond de Rothschild finally obtained an exceptional and partial revision of the 1855 historical classification. Beside of the Classified Growths, Pauillac hosts 16 Crus Bourgeois estates. Cabernet Sauvignon is at its most majestic in Pauillac. This full-blown, sometimes opulent fruity, complex and powerful character is always beautifully balanced by an incomparable tannic structure. Pauillac's ageing potential is generally between 10 and 20 years and potentially longer in very good vintages for the best growths.

Main properties of the appellation

• 1er Grand Cru Classé:
  - Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
• 2e Grand Cru Classé:
  - Pichon Longueville Baron, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
• 4e Grand Cru Classé:
  - Duhart Milon
• 5e Grand Cru Classé:
  - D'Armailhac, Batailley, Clerc Milon, Croizet-Bages, Grand Puy Ducasse, Grand Puy Lacoste, Haut-Bages Libéral, Haut-Batailley, Lynch-Bages, Lynch Moussas, Pedesclaux, Pontet Canet
• Other leading properties:
  - Bécasse, Colombier-Monpelou, Fonbadet, Haut-Bages Monpelou, Pibran, Plantey

This is a non exhaustive list.

Varietals and technical data (*)

The average production, almost exclusively in red, is of approx. 63,000 hl within a planted surface of 1,200 ha.

• Authorized yields: 47 to 66 hl/ha
• Sugar (grams per liter of must): 178 gr minimum
• Base Alcoholic strength: 10% / 13%

Main grape variety:

• - Cabernet-Sauvignon (50%)
• - Merlot (35%)
• - Cabernet-Franc (15%)

(*) Sources:
• Bordeaux and its Wines - Ch. Cocks - Ed. Féret - 17th Edition,
• Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB)