clay over limestone around the town, and from a gravel, clay and sand terrace
to the north-west of the region (commune of Figeac – Cheval Blanc). The soils at
the foot of these slopes (Pied de Côtes) consist of clay, sand and gravel. Merlot
(around 60%) is supplemented by Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvi-
gnon. Specific locations have a signi
fi
cant impact on the style: subtle and excep-
tionally elegant but with good aging potential (plateau), lively and dense medi-
um-bodied wines (slopes and lowlands), particularly fruity with character and
finesse (Figeac), characterised by woody notes and rich in extract in the style of
a Bolgheri (modernists), or compact and sharp (lowlands along the Dordogne).
Pomerol
800 hectares of vines I 150 winemakers I 4 million bottles a year
Pomerol, an oval four kilometres long and three kilometres wide on the right
banks of the Garonne and Dordogne, is the smallest of the large Bordeaux ap-
pellations in terms of size. The best ferrous loam soils with varying proportions
of clay and gravel can be found on the ‘plateau' around the church. In the west
towards the Isle – the Gironde's third river – the soils contain clay and sand and
produce lighter wines. In the east, Pomerol adjoins the vineyards of Saint-Emil-
ion (Figeac and Cheval Blanc estates). Merlot is the main variety at 80% and
produces elegant, velvety, full-bodied yet smooth wines.
Fronsac / Canon-Fronsac
1,100 hectares of vines I 150 producers I Around 8 million bottles a year
These two neighbouring appellations stand on a horseshoe-shaped chain of
hills between the Dordogne and the Isle, at a somewhat higher altitude than
those in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion in a relatively windy location, which has a
major impact on the maturation process and style of wine. Only a few winemak-
ers, mostly members of the Expression de Fronsac cooperative, produce great
wines. Clay over molasse and limestone soils, around 80% of which are planted
with Merlot, produce the most ‘Italian' of all the Bordeaux wines with angular
yet also astonishingly fresh tannins, offering extract and high levels of alcohol
which ensure long aging in the best examples.
The best wine bars,
restaurants, hotels
and other selected
addresses for visitors
to Bordeaux
Beginning on page 274
58
Map Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Sauternes, Bordeaux
Pessac-Léognan, Graves,
Sauternes, Bordeaux
5 Château Bastor Lamontagne
14 Château Bouscaut
18 Château Brondelle
20 Château Caillou
27 Château Carbonnieux
33 Château Climens
36 Château Couhins
37 Château Couhins Lurton
38 Château Coutet
39 Château Crabitey
44 Château D‘Yquem
48 Château de Fargues
50 Château de Malle
51 Château de Myrat
54 Château de Rayne Vigneau
56 Château Doisy Daëne
57 Château Doisy Védrines
66 Château Filhot
73 Château Gilette
81 Château Guiraud
83 Château Haut Bailly
86 Château Haut-Brion
99 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
100 Château La Mission
Haut-Brion / Laville Haut-Brion
102 Château La Tour Blanche
107 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
112 Château Lamothe Guignard
120 Château Latour Martillac
126 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
130 Château Malartic Lagravière
143 Château Nairac
145 Château Olivier
148 Château Pape Clément
163 Château Rabaud Promis
164 Château Rahoul
167 Château Raymond-Lafon
168 Château Respide Medeville
169 Château Rieussec
171 Château Seguin
172 Château Sigalas Rabaud
174 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
177 Château Suduiraut
180 Château Thieuley
190 Clos Floridene
192 Clos Haut Peyraguey
197 Dourthe N° 1
The next six pages list all of the chateaus portrayed in this book. They are
divided into the three main areas (south Bordeaux, Médoc, right bank) and
listed in alphabetical order: the number represents the page