Médoc
From EncycloWine
The Médoc is a French wine growing region, consisting of the area in the département of Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. The region owes its economic success to its production of red wine, home to around 1,500 vineyards.
The Médoc's geography is not ideal, with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a comparatively mild climate and high rainfall making rot a constant problem. It is generally believed that the nature of the region's wine derives from the soil; although the terrain is flat, the excellent drainage is a necessity and the increased amount of gravel in the soil allows heat to be retained, encouraging ripening, and extensive root systems.
With the exception of Château Haut-Brion from Graves, all of the red wines in the 1855 Classification are from the Médoc.
Almost all of the region's wine consists mainly of the cabernet sauvignon grape, with merlot forming the majority of the remainder. In addition cabernet franc is usually used in small quantities, with petit verdot and malbec occasionally added.
The Médoc is subdivided into six smaller appellations, roughly corresponding to the villages of the region. From north to south they are:
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