Médoc wine: the heart of Bordeaux's Left Bank
The Médoc is the long, flat peninsula north of the city of Bordeaux, with the Gironde estuary on one side and the Atlantic pine forests on the other. The vineyards follow the estuary on low ridges of gravel, land that was largely marsh until Dutch engineers drained it in the 17th century. Today the name is used by two regional appellations: Médoc in the north and Haut-Médoc in the south. This page brings both together, while the famous village appellations have pages of their own.
Médoc or Haut-Médoc: how the two appellations differ
Haut-Médoc, the "upper" Médoc, is the southern half, closer to Bordeaux. It runs from Blanquefort up to Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne and surrounds the communal appellations of Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, as well as Listrac and Moulis. Wines from those villages carry the village name, and the vineyards between and around them are Haut-Médoc. The soils are deep, warm gravel that drains well, exactly what Cabernet Sauvignon needs to ripen fully.
The Médoc appellation covers the northern part of the peninsula beyond Saint-Estèphe, around villages such as Bégadan, Saint-Yzans and Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil. The area used to be called the Bas-Médoc. There is more clay here, so Merlot plays a bigger part, and the wines are often a little rounder and ready to drink sooner.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the classic Médoc style
Nearly every red from the Médoc is a blend. Cabernet Sauvignon brings blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and firm tannins, Merlot adds plum and a softer middle, and Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot contribute perfume and spice. Young wines are dark and structured. With age they turn to tobacco, leather and forest floor, and good vintages from the better Haut-Médoc estates keep well for more than a decade.
Classed growths, Crus Bourgeois and estates to know
The 1855 classification included five estates that sit in the Haut-Médoc appellation, among them La Lagune (third growth), La Tour Carnet (fourth growth) and Cantemerle (fifth growth). All three are here in several vintages. Sociando-Mallet in Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, bought by Jean Gautreau in 1969, was never classified in 1855 yet is regularly compared with the classed growths (here from bottle to Methuselah).
Many other estates belong to the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, which since 2020 has three tiers (Cru Bourgeois, Supérieur and Exceptionnel) and is reviewed every five years. Look for Charmail, Citran, Sénéjac and Ramage La Batisse. In the northern Médoc, Château Potensac, owned by the Delon family of Léoville Las Cases, and G d'Estournel, made by the Cos d'Estournel team from the Goulée vineyard near the tip of the peninsula, show how serious the appellation can be. Some great village châteaux also make a Haut-Médoc from vines outside their commune, such as Le Haut-Médoc de Branaire-Ducru and Cérès de Haut-Bages Libéral.
Food pairing with Médoc and Haut-Médoc
Lamb is the classic partner: a roast leg or rack with garlic and rosemary. Rib of beef, entrecôte bordelaise, duck breast and hard cheeses such as aged Comté also work well. A younger, Merlot-led Médoc suits burgers, sausages and mushroom dishes. Decant young bottles an hour before serving.
FAQ about Médoc wine
What is the difference between Médoc and Haut-Médoc?
Haut-Médoc is the southern part of the peninsula, with more gravel and more Cabernet Sauvignon. Médoc is the northern part, with more clay and more Merlot. Both make red Bordeaux blends.
Are Pauillac and Margaux part of the Médoc?
Geographically, yes. They lie within the Haut-Médoc area, but their wines are sold under their own appellation names. For the wider region, see our Bordeaux wine page.
What does Cru Bourgeois mean?
It is a classification for Médoc estates outside the 1855 ranking, based on blind tastings of several vintages. Since 2020 it has three levels and is revised every five years, so the status on a label can change over time.
How long can you keep a Haut-Médoc?
Most Médoc and Haut-Médoc reds drink well from about five to ten years after the vintage. Classed growths and top estates such as Sociando-Mallet often need ten years and can last twenty or more in strong vintages.