Haut Medoc, Bordeaux

The Haut-Medoc is an area of land that lies within the Medoc region of Bordeaux. With around 4,198 hectares of vineyards and almost 250 Chateaux producing wine, the Haut-Medoc is home to five Chateaux that were named in the 1855 Grand Cru classifiction and almost all of the Cru Bourgeois Chateaux.
The Haut-Medoc is generally considered to produce a higher quality wine than those labelled simply as Medoc, although some exceptions can be found such as Chateau La Tour De By, the Haut-Medoc can offer some exceptional quality and value.
The main Bordeaux grape varieties are planted in the Haut-Medoc including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot for the red wine and Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for the white wines, although only red wines may be labelled as Haut-Medoc.
With varying soils across the appellation with the best vineyards planted on soils with a higher gravel content. The soils in the north tend to be cooler, with higher clay content at higher altitudes and the soils to the south tend to be warmer, with higher sand content on flatter land.
Within the Haut-Medoc, inland from Gironde River there are two communes that are regarded to be the highest quality are Moulis and Listrac. With several Cru Bourgeois Chateaux located with these, the most note worthy being Chateau Chasse Spleen and Chateau Poujeaux from Moulis.
Of the Chateaux labelled under the Haut-Medoc appellation there are many that provide both quality and value and we have sourced several that offer both. Cru Classe Chateau Cantemerle and it's 2nd wine Allees De Cantermerle wine are very well regarded and is one of only five included in the 1855 classification. Chateau Citran is a firm favourite of ours, we have 2005 and 2010, both stellar vintages offering either perfect drinking maturity or one to cellar for a few years to become one of the greats. Chateau Devise D'Ardilley is a Cru Bourgeois Chateau that impresses us on every vintage and Chateau Lanessan was named by Decanter Magazine as one of the best value of 2015.
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