AOP PESSAC-LEOGNAN

A terroir found nowhere else on earth
Situated around the port, two thousand years ago, “Las Grabas de Bourdeus” was the cradle of a vineyard of which the prestigious name is now known all over the world. Its history is linked to that of the capital of Aquitaine.
1987 : birth of the AOC Pessac-Léognan
Famous well before the birth of Médoc, the “Graves de Bordeaux”, have always been known for their very attractive terroirs situated around two chief poles: Pessac and Léognan.
On July the 6th 1984, a decree passed in line with INAO directives, recognised the appellation areas of “Pessac” and of “Léognan” under the form of two denominations. On September the 9th, 1987, another decree, then recognised AOC “Pessac-Léognan” extending across 10 districts: Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard d’Eyrans, Talence and Villenave d’Ornon. The decree was retroactive in that which concerns the 1986 vintage.

A well delimited micro-climate

Situated in the northern part of Graves, on the southern and southwest side of the town of Bordeaux, the terroir of Graves of Pessac-Léognan profits from the protection of Girondes’ Landes Forest, its western neighbour.

Our wines Pessac Léognan

Its climate is representative of that of Gironde, mild and favourable to the vine, thanks to its gentleness and regular hydrometry, influenced by the ocean close by on the 45th parallel. In addition, the territory of Graves of Pessac-Léognan is situated in the North at the limit of a climate produced by the “Le Saucats” water current cutting across the village of La Brède at the foot of the famous château where Montesquieu was born.

A rare soil and so poor that it’s only adapted to growing vines and forests

The Graves of Pessac-Léognan are situated on a clay subsoil, of sand, hand pan layer, and limestone. They bear witness to the ancient current of the Garonne river, established at the end of the tertiary era, then during the quaternary era during the various ice age periods.
These Graves, composed of gravel and stones smoothed out by the waters, have a thickness varying between 20 centimetres to 3 metres or more: an exceptional variety with quartz and ochre, white, red, pink quartzite, jasper and flint… a careful harmonious and colourful mixture.
The diversity of the terroirs comes from the different layers of soil: sands, silt, clay etc.