Bordeaux

One of the six famous communes (together with Listrac-Médoc, Margaux, Moulis, Pauillac and Saint-Julien) within the Haut-Médoc region in Bordeaux in France that is an own appellation, and is permitted to state the name of the commune on the label. It is the most northerly of these communes, lying around 50 kilometres north of the city of Bordeaux. The vineyard area totals 1.380 hectares. The history of viticultural activity here dates back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the Médoc. Saint-Estèphe lies in the “funnel” of the mouth of the Gironde river, and was an important port at the time. There is a subsoil with a high level of iron, covered with soils of gravel, clay and limestone. Generally speaking, the soils are more fertile than in the more southerly appellations. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety, but there is also quite a high proportion of Merlot. Five of the total of 61 chateaus classified as Grand Crus in Bordeaux in 1855 are to be found here (for complete list, see Médoc). They are Château Cos d´Estournel (2nd growth), Château Montrose (2nd growth), Château Calon-Ségur (3rd growth), Château Lafon-Rochet (4th growth) and Château Cos Labory (5th growth). In addition, there are around 40 estates classified as Cru Bourgeois, and many estates classified as Cru Artisanal. These include, for example, Château Capbern-Gasqueton, Château de Pez, Château Haut-Marbuzet, C´^ateau Laffitte-Carcasset, Château Les Ormes-de-Pez, Château Meyney and Château Phélan-Ségur. The red wines have an intense colour, they are tannic and have a long maturation potential, and have slightly more acidity than the wines from the more southerly appellations. Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading grape variety, Merlot accounts for 40% of the total, more than in the more southerly communes.