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Pessac-Léognan () is a wine growing area and
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boun ...
, in the northern part of the
Graves
A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as gravey ...
region of
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
. Unlike most Bordeaux appellations, Pessac-Léognan is equally famous for both red and (dry) white wines, although red wine is still predominant. It includes the only red-wine producer outside the
Haut-Médoc classified in the
Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, the ''
premier cru''
Château Haut-Brion, and also includes all of the châteaux listed in the 1953/59
classification of Graves. These classed growths account for a third of the wine produced in Pessac-Léognan.
Geography
Pessac-Léognan, France lies on the left bank of the
Garonne
The Garonne (, also , ; Occitan, Catalan, Basque, and es, Garona, ; la, Garumna
or ) is a river of southwest France and northern Spain. It flows from the central Spanish Pyrenees to the Gironde estuary at the French port of Bordeaux – a ...
. It is immediately south of the city of
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
(with a small portion to the west): indeed some of the northern vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are completely surrounded by the housing estates of Bordeaux, as a result of the city's southward expansion. It consists of 8 communes: (from north to south)
Mérignac Mérignac may refer to :
;Places
* Mérignac, Charente, a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France
* Mérignac, Charente-Maritime, a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France
* Mérignac, Gironde, a commune ...
,
Talence,
Pessac,
Gradignan
Gradignan (; oc-gsc, Gradinhan) is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.
It is a suburb of the city of Bordeaux and is located on its southwest side. Thus, it is a member of the Bordeaux Métropole.
Population
Educatio ...
,
Villenave-d'Ornon
Villenave d’Ornon (; Gascon: ''Vilanava d’Ornon'') is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
It is the fourth-largest suburb of the city of Bordeaux, and is located to its south side. Thus, it is ...
,
Cadaujac
Cadaujac () is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Cadaujac station has rail connections to Langon and Bordeaux.
Population
International relations
Twinned with Tramore, County Waterford, Irelan ...
,
Léognan
Léognan (; oc-gsc, Leunhan) is a commune in the Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Population
Its inhabitants are called ''Léognanais''.
Wine
It is located in the Graves area of the Bordeaux county, known for its ...
and
Martillac
Martillac (; oc, Martilhac) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Gironde department
The following is a list of the 535 Communes of France, communes of the G ...
. A significant part of the area is forested. It includes 1580 hectares of vines. The soil is very gravelly.
History
Pessac-Léognan has a long wine-making history. Red wine from this region (and the rest of Graves) was the wine originally loved by the English as ''claret'', during the 300 years that Aquitaine was under English rule, from 1152 to 1453. The area includes the oldest named property in Bordeaux,
Château Pape Clément, founded by Pope Clement V in 1306. In the mid-seventeenth century,
Château Haut-Brion became the first château of international renown, being praised by Samuel Pepys in 1663, while the
Médoc
The Médoc (; oc, label= Gascon, Medòc ) is a region of France, well known as a wine growing region, located in the ''département'' of Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. Its name comes from ''(Pagus) Medull ...
was still swamp.
However, the ''appellation'' of Pessac-Léognan is relatively recent, dating to 1987. Before then, the area was part of the Graves AOC, and known informally as ''Haut-Graves''.
Wine
Red wine
As with the Médoc to the north,
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon' ...
is the predominant grape, but a somewhat greater proportion of
Merlot
Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...
is typically used in the blend.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire's Chinon. In addition to being us ...
is also used, with small amounts of
Petit Verdot and
Malbec. Styles vary more widely than in most Bordeaux AOCs, but typical flavours are blackcurrant and cedar, and the wines are often described as 'earthy'.
White wine
Sauvignon blanc
is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words ''sauvage'' ("wild") and ''blanc'' ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in ...
and
Sémillon are the grapes used, usually blended. The wine is typically fermented in barrels at a low temperature. Nectarine is a typical flavor when the wines are young, maturing (over 7–15 years) into flavours of nuts, honey and custard. They are said to be among France's greatest whites.
Food matching
The traditional pairing for reds is with roast lamb, although they are flexible enough to have with ham, beef or game. The whites complement fish and seafood.
[Clarke, p. 62.]
Châteaux
First growth (1855 classification)
Château Haut-Brion
Classed growths (1959 classification) (by commune)
Cadaujac
Château Bouscaut
Château Bouscaut is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' for red and dry white wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. The winery and vineyards are located south of the city ...
, Château Bardins
Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier
Domaine de Chevalier is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' for red and white wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. The winery and vineyards are located south of the city o ...
,
Château Carbonnieux
Château Carbonnieux is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the Pessac-Léognan region of the Graves. The estate was one of the first estates included in the Graves wine classification and is known for its red and white wine production.
Chateau ...
,
Château de Fieuzal
Château de Fieuzal is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959, though the estate also produces a dry white wine which was not class ...
,
Château Haut-Bailly,
Château Malartic Lagravière
A château (; plural: châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking regions.
Nowaday ...
,
Château Olivier
Martillac
Château Latour-Martillac
Château Latour-Martillac, previously Château La Tour-Martillac and known as Kressmann La Tour, is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, rated a ''Cru Classé'' (Classed Growth) in the 1953 Classification of Graves wine. The wine ...
,
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. The winery and vineyards are located south of the city of B ...
,
Clos Marsalette,
Château D'Eyran,
Pessac
Château Haut-Brion,
Château Pape Clément,
Château Le Sillage, de Malartic
A château (; plural: châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking regions.
Nowaday ...
Talence
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Château la Mission Haut-Brion is a Bordeaux wine
Bordeaux wine ( oc, vin de Bordèu, french: vin de Bordeaux) is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. To the north of the ...
,
Château Laville Haut-Brion
Château Laville Haut-Brion was a Bordeaux dry white wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, which was ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953. The estate is located in close vicinity of the city of Borde ...
,
Château La Tour Haut-Brion
Château La Tour Haut-Brion was a Bordeaux wine estate from the Pessac-Léognan appellation within Graves, and was ranked as a ''Cru Classé'' for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. It was located in close vicinity of ...
Villenave d'Ornon
Château Couhins
Château Couhins is a Bordeaux wine estate from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Grands'' ''Crus Classés'' for dry white wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959. The winery is located in close Southern vicinity of the ...
,
Château Couhins-Lurton
Château Couhins-Lurton is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' for dry white wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959. The winery is located in close vicinity of the city of Bordeaux, in ...
Other notable châteaux
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
Château les Carmes Haut-Brion is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the AOC Pessac-Léognan within the region of Graves.
In addition to producing a red ''grand vin'' named Château les Carmes Haut-Brion, the estate produces the red second wine L ...
,
Château La Louvière
Château La Louvière is a Bordeaux wine producer from the Pessac-Léognan Appellation d'origine contrôlée, appellation of Bordeaux wine, Bordeaux. The château is located in the commune of Léognan. It was owned by André Lurton from 1965 to ...
, Château Rochemorin, Château Cruzeau,
Château Haut-Lagrange
Notes
See also
*
French wine
French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and America ...
*
Bordeaux wine regions
References
*
*
*
*
External links
Union of Classed Growths of Graves official site
Bordeaux AOCs
{{Portal bar, Wine, France