Pauillac is the most powerful commune in Bordeaux. Three of the five First Growths sit here, and the style is as recognisable as the addresses: Cabernet Sauvignon, cedar, graphite and a structure built for decades. Here is our selection.
Three of the five First Growths are in Pauillac
When Bordeaux brokers ranked the wines of the Médoc for the 1855 Paris Exposition, three of the five top places went to Pauillac: Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Mouton was only promoted in 1973, but the result stands. No other commune in the Médoc carries the same weight.
This is not only about prestige. The 1855 classification was drawn from the prices the wines commanded, and those prices reflected which parcels delivered consistently. Nearly two centuries on, the ranking has held up remarkably well.
Gravel, drainage and the classic Pauillac frame
Pauillac has the deepest gravel beds in Bordeaux, reaching some forty metres in places. Gravel soaks up the sun, drains fast and forces the vine to send roots deep in search of water. That is exactly what Cabernet Sauvignon needs to ripen fully this far north.
The result is red wine with blackcurrant, cedar, pencil shavings and tannins that demand patience. A young Pauillac can taste austere. After ten or fifteen years it opens, and the best bottles keep going for decades. Merlot and Cabernet Franc are almost always in the blend, softening the edges.
The châteaux we stock, from First Growth to second wine
Our selection spans the whole pyramid. Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild sit at the top, with bottles reaching well past €7,000. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Pichon Baron are two of the Médoc's most respected Second Growths, and Lynch-Bages, Pontet-Canet and Grand-Puy-Lacoste are the names that year after year deliver above their classification.
Second wines are the sensible way in. Carruades de Lafite, Le Petit Mouton, Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, Réserve de la Comtesse and Echo de Lynch-Bages come from the same soils and the same hands, made from younger vines and released earlier. Château Pedesclaux and Grand-Puy-Ducasse start under €50.
Vintages worth looking for
Bordeaux swings between vintages more than warmer regions, and in Pauillac it shows. 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 all count as strong years with the concentration that makes these wines age. 2021 was cooler and produced lighter wines that mature faster, which suits anyone who would rather drink now than wait fifteen years. 2022 delivered concentration despite the heat.
Frequently asked questions about Pauillac
What grape is Pauillac made from?
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, usually between sixty and eighty percent, blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and small amounts of Petit Verdot.
How long should Pauillac be cellared?
A classified château from a good vintage wants at least ten years, and the First Growths develop over thirty or more. Second wines are usually enjoyable after five to eight.
What is a second wine?
A second wine comes from the same estate but from lots that do not go into the main label, often from younger vines. It is a cheaper route into the house style and drinks earlier.
What food goes with Pauillac?
Rack of lamb, ribeye, game. The tannins need fat and protein to show their best, and rosemary or juniper in the cooking picks up the wine's herbal side.
What does a Pauillac cost?
Our selection starts under €50 for second wines and lesser-known châteaux. The classified estates mostly run between €100 and €300, and the First Growths considerably higher.