Pessac-Léognan
Created in 1987, the Pessac-Léognan appellation is notably a partly urban wine region, as it lies within the Bordeaux urban community. In total, it covers 1,600 hectares across ten communes in the south of the city: Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence and Villenave-d’Ornon.
Pessac-Léognan used to be part of the Graves AOC, but is now an AOC in its own right, demonstrating the unique characteristics and high quality of its wines. The AOC includes all 14 wines awarded Graves Grand Cru Classé status in the classification of 1953. Pessac-Léognan also boasts an 1855 Grand Cru Classé estate – the only one outside the Médoc or Sauternes – Château Haut-Brion.
The appellation’s terroir is made up of gravel and sand, with well-draining soils that can be quite varied depending on the area, with some clay and sandstone in varying proportions. For the reds, the grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The white grape varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris.
Pessac-Léognan reds are renowned for their finesse and suppleness, showing fine-grained, silky tannins and fruitiness, while the whites are renowned for their balance of roundness and aromatic freshness.
Some of the appellation’s finest estates are Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Château Smith Haut-Lafitte, Domaine de Chevalier, and Château Haut-Bailly.