Appellation Bordeaux Pauillac

The city of Bordeaux is known not only for its rich historical heritage, but also for its famous 1885 classification. This official classification makes it a benchmark for winemakers around the world. The region is home to a plethora of the most famous châteaux and wine estates. It is also the largest producer of appellation wines in France and Europe. In this guide, we will take a look at the Bordeaux Pauillac appellation. An appellation which gathers prestigious red wines produced by about forty wine estates.

Vineyard landscape about Bordeaux Pauillac appellation

The geographical area of the appellation "Pauillac" corresponds to the territory of Pauillac and a parcel of land of Cissac-Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle and Saint-Sauveur. The appellation has 18 classified growths which represent 85% of the wines produced by the region. The label indicates this classification. The temperate oceanic climate, the sunny late season, the gravelly, stony and sandy soils of the hilltops and the draining properties of the gently sloping terraces all contribute to the production of high quality red wines. The 1214 ha plantations are composed of Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot but also Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. The style of Pauillac is varied. The first growths Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild each have their own particularity while being ample, rich and unctuous. The AOC Pauillac (appellation d'origine contrôlée) was created in 1936. Pauillac alone includes 3 of the 5 first classified growths of 1855 (Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild). It stands out for the complexity of its aromas, the delicacy, the elegance and the finesse of the aromas. The tannins become rounder over the years. These wines have a remarkable ageing potential. These red wines need time to open up and become fine, sumptuous or very fragrant while retaining their density and power.

Our selection of wines from Pauillac appellation

The vineyards of Pauillac are surely the most illustrious in Bordeaux. The annual production of red wines of the region is 54 000 hl. Mouton-Rothschild also produces white wines.