The famous wines, grands crus and vineyards of Bordeaux

What would Bordeaux and its region be without its great vintages and renowned wine estates? Although wine culture and know-how have been exported, Grands Crus and Bordeaux wine domains remain the world reference. No less than 63 different appellations symbolize this richness and this diversity. Do you dream of buying a wine estate in Bordeaux? BARNES Bordeaux takes you to discover them.

The Médoc great wines

The Médoc is located on the left bank of the Gironde. This is the land of great wines. Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, but there are also Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Among the famous grands crus of the Médoc wine estates, we can cite: Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Margaux. Here are a few pieces of history about these extraordinary wine estates.

Château Latour is a 90 hectare Médoc wine estate, whose beginnings date back to the middle of the 14th century. François Pinault is the owner. Its grand cru classified A comes from a plot of 48 ha of old vines.

Château Lafite Rothschild is, with its 103 ha of vines, the most extensive wine estate in the Médoc. It has a very high reputation and is extremely popular with Chinese customers.

Château Mouton-Rothschild is a 90 ha vineyard belonging to the Pauillac region. It was not included in the classification until 1973, but its wines are undoubtedly among the most aromatic of the appellation.

Château Margaux has undoubtedly the most beautiful wine estate in the Médoc with its huge park and its building with innovative architecture. It produces an opulent and fresh grand cru.

Graves wine estates

In the near continuity of the Médoc and inland, the Graves wine estates extend. The vines grow there on pebbles and gravel carried by the Garonne for centuries. Among the famous grands crus of the Graves wine estates, we can cite: Château Haut-Brion and Château Pape-Clément. These are vineyards of the Pessac - Léognan region.

Château Haut-Brion is a wine estate very close to Bordeaux. It is the only Graves wine classified premier cru in 1855. It is a 48 ha vineyard owned by American owners.

Château Pape-Clément claims to be one of the oldest wine estates in Pessac - Léognan because the first harvest was carried out there in the 13th century. The wine estate covers 60 hectares. The Grands Crus are vinified according to their grape varieties in wooden, concrete and steel tanks.

The wines of Libournais

It is impossible to speak of the great wines of Bordeaux without mentioning the Libournais. Indeed, the appellations Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac and Côtes de Bordeaux are probably the best known for neophytes. Château Cheval Blanc and Château Pétrus are the jewels of the Libournais wine estates.

Château Cheval Blanc extends over a 41 ha vineyard, unchanged for 140 years. Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère are the owners. Château Cheval Blanc recently made the headlines for the inauguration of its new winery designed by the famous architect Christian de Portzamparc.

Pétrus is a wine estate in Libourne with an area of 11.5 ha. Less than 30,000 bottles are produced there each year. Merlot grape varieties occupy 95% of the area.