Wines of the Medoc region

The Medoc has a special place in relation to the rest of the territory of the Gironde in the Bordeaux region.
On the one hand, a few isolated on the Peninsula, and on the other the wide-open world due to the deep mouth of the river to the Medoc and its inhabitants presented a perfect illustration of Aquitaine temperament, wavering between the tendency to withdraw into themselves and a desire for universalism. And it is not surprising therefore, to find here and the little family are almost unknown hozyayst, and huge featured domains belonging to a rich French or foreign companies.

Surprised this would be to forget that medokskih the vineyard (which represents only a part of the historical and geographical Medoc) extends over an area of more than 80 km long and 10 km wide. Thus, a traveler or a tourist can not only enjoy the huge Vinodelcheskij Chateau of the last century, but really to discover the whole country.

Very diverse terrain, it offers the look and a flat, monotonous line of the horizon (near Margaux), and beautiful mountains (closer to Pohaku), and finally, a very peculiar Northern, coastal, part of the Medoc.

The space used by the appellations of the médoc, is an area of about 15 400 ha.

The main wealth of the Medoc – it’s his gravelly soil, sloping soft cliffs to the mouth of the Gironde. Poor in natural fertilizers, the land, topography which contributes to the perfect drainage of water, as if created for the production of quality wines.

To distinguish between the Upper Medoc (Haut-médoc) – from Blankety to St Surran de Cabrn, and the Northern Medoc – from Saint-Germain-d Estey to Saint-Vivien.

In the depths of the first zone – O-médoc six communal appellations producing the most famous wines. They include, first and foremost 60 “CRU classé”, but only five of them have the exclusive right to the name “Haut-médoc”. CRU, included in the classification, account for approximately 25% of the total area of the Medoc vineyards, 20% of wine production and more than 40% of cash flow.

In addition to the “CRU classé”, the Medoc has a large number of “CRU bourgeois”, (which require bottling at the Chateau), enjoying an excellent reputation. Many cooperative farms are included in the appellations médoc and the Top of the Medoc, as well as three communal appellation.

The vineyard of the Medoc stretches from North to South, including the eight AOC.

There are two sub-appellations – médoc and Haut-médoc (60% medokskih vineyard) and six communal appellations: Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listrac-médoc, Moulis-EN-médoc and Margaux (40% medokskih vineyard). General regional appellation is Bordeaux, as in the rest of the Bordeaux vineyard.

Traditional médoc variety, Cabernet Sauvignon is now probably not as widespread as in the old days, but it still accounts for about half of all landings.

In second place Merlot (about a third). Produced from it a very flexible wine also has a high quality and the ability to more rapid maturation of what it can be used younger.

Cabernet franc gives the wine delicacy, is 10%. The rest of the landing is the fraction of Petit Verdot and Malbec, which do not play an important role.

Medokskih wines are exceptionally high reputation, they are among the most prestigious wines of France and around the world.

Of Medoc wines are distinguished by their ruby colour, evolving in the direction of the tile shades, as well as its fruity bouquet, in which the spicy notes of Cabernet is often blended with notes of vanilla that brings new oak barrels. Tannic structure of the wine is full and dense, but at the same time, elegant and velvety, as well as their exceptional balance allows a fine condition with aging, they flat out don’t istexas, and only win in olfactory and gustatory richness.

Medoc (Medoc)

The whole ensemble medokskih vineyard has the right to the name “médoc”, but in practice it is only used in the North of the Peninsula, near Lesparre. Farms located between Blankets and Saint-Seurin-de-Cadarn, use either the name “Haut-médoc” or utility name, depending on their location.

Despite this, the Medoc appellation is the most important.

Medokskih wines usually have a very intense color. More significant than the wines On-Medoc and wines communal appellations Merlot content, they often have a fruity bouquet and high roundness in the mouth. Some of them (from vineyards located on separate sand and rocky hills) are also greater sophistication and richness of tannins.

Haut-Medoc (Haut-Medoc)

The territory of the appellation Haut-médoc original: it goes around the vineyards of communal appellations. In magnitude, this AOC occupies the second place in Bordeaux. His wines have earned a high reputation, partly due to the fact that there are five CRU classé. In the six communal appellations-enclaves on-site On-Medoc CRU are the rest of the class.

In the Medoc classification of wines was held in 1855, nearly a century earlier than in the Graves appellation. This is due to the advanced development of viticulture in médoc, which began in the XVIII century, as it was then, with the advent of the concepts of “terroir” and “CRU”, that is, with an awareness of the relationship between the natural environment and the quality of the wine, came the “era of quality”.

The wine Haut-médoc are characterized by generosity, but without excessive power, really subtle fragrance and mainly a good ability to aging. When used after exposure they should be brought to the temperature close to room, and to serve with white meat, domestic or wild bird. If you open these wines are young, they should be served chilled, then they can accompany other dishes, such as some species of fish.