Pessac-Leognan AOC

The communal appellation is the northern part of the Graves area (Bordeaux) and is named after the two most important villages. It covers 1,300 hectares of vineyards in the communes of Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans, Talence and Villeneuve-d'Ornon. Before being classified as a separate appellation in 1987, which André Lurton (1924-2019) successfully endeavoured to achieve, the area was called Haut-Graves. Clairet was produced around the town of Pessac in the Middle Ages. The dry white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are produced using barrel fermentation and oak ageing. The red wines are mainly blended from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with proportions of Cabernet Franc and Malbec (Cot). These are the typical grape varieties of the Rive gauche (left bank). However, the cuvées in the vineyards are very different. In 1953 and 1959, 16 châteaux were classified as "Cru Classé des Graves" (at that time still in the Haut-Graves sub-region within Graves). See the list under Graves.

Map: By Domenico-de-ga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
modified by N. Tischelmayer 6/2017