Découvrez nos millésimes Vins de Pauillac

Pauillac, iconic gem of the Bordeaux vineyard

Few places concentrate such excellence: over just 1,200 hectares, the Pauillac appellation brings together three First Growths and a collection of estates as iconic as they are fascinating. On the banks of the Gironde, north of Bordeaux, this Médoc enclave forms one of the most coveted terroirs in the wine world.

Located between the prestigious appellations of Saint-Julien to the south and Saint-Estèphe to the north, the Pauillac appellation includes 18 classified growths from 1855, meaning that almost 85% of its total production comes from grands crus. Among the five First Growths from the famous 1855 classification, Pauillac boasts three: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild. This leading trio is surrounded by other emblematic estates: Duhart Milon, Pichon Comtesse, Lynch-Bages, Pontet-Canet, to name just a few.

The fascinating history of Pauillac

The Pauillac appellation turned early to port commerce thanks to its proximity to the estuary. As early as Antiquity, traces show that its port was active (a bronze port dating from the second millennium BCE). It was in the 16th and 17th centuries that a more organized and structured vineyard began to develop. In the 18th century, when Bordeaux lost its privileged status with English trade, Pauillac once again became an important wine trading port.

The 19th century marked Pauillac’s golden age: the great châteaux were established, trade became international, and Pauillac’s image as a land of exceptional wines was cemented.

In 1936, the Pauillac AOC appellation was officially recognized. Since then, it has been consistently associated with the quintessence of the Médoc.

Pauillac, a terroir shaped by the Garonne and time

The Pauillac terroir is complex, the result of millions of years of erosion and alluvial deposits from the Massif Central carried by the Garonne. It consists of gravel terraces, 3 to 30 meters high and about ten meters thick. These terraces run parallel to the Gironde estuary and date back to the Quaternary period. These gravels cover marl and limestone. Across the appellation, there is also Landes sand—also called aeolian sand—and gray and black clay.

These poor soils force vine roots to dive deep into the ground in search of minerals and water. These deep roots help produce refined wines with great structure and tension.

The quintessence of Cabernet Sauvignon

The Pauillac appellation owes part of its success to its flagship grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon. The most widely planted grape in the world, it is also Bordeaux’s most famous. Cabernet Sauvignon has found its kingdom in Pauillac, where it is predominantly planted on deep gravels. It gives rise to powerful, structured wines with impressive aging potential.

It is often blended with Merlot, which brings roundness and smoothness. Blends may also include Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Each château has its own signature, and each vintage expresses a different nuance. Château Latour is known for using a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in its blends—on average 90%—which gives the wine a pure, straight style with impressive longevity. The tannins are bold, with a layered and deep bouquet. Château Rothschild also uses predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, up to 96% in the 2024 vintage. Its wines are known for their refinement, power, and elegant tannins.

Temperate climate, controlled ripening

Pauillac has an ideal climate for vine growing and fine wine production. The climate is temperate oceanic, with mild, wet winters followed by sunny, warm, and fairly dry summers or rainy late seasons. The vintage effect is very pronounced.

The climate is naturally moderated by factors like the nearby Atlantic Ocean and the estuary waters. The presence of water helps reduce and regulate extreme temperatures in both summer and winter. This protects vine and berry development, supporting the production of high-quality wines. Berry ripening is slow, helping preserve acidity and freshness while developing a bouquet of ripe aromas.

Viticulture in Pauillac, between tradition and modernity

In Pauillac, viticulture is a matter of precision and passion. Pruning, hand harvesting, rigorous sorting, parcel-by-parcel vinification, and long aging in barrels (often new) — each step is carefully controlled. Planting density is high to encourage healthy competition between vines — around 8,000 vines per hectare. Yields are relatively low, under 50 hl/ha, but vary depending on the estate and vintage. Château Lafite Rothschild typically produces between 30 to 40 hl/ha to obtain powerful, racy, and concentrated wines.

From precision agriculture, many estates have shifted to organic and biodynamic practices. Since 2010, Château Pontet-Canet has been certified organic and biodynamic. It was also the first classified growth in Pauillac to obtain these environmental certifications.

Other châteaux like Lafite Rothschild have gone further and embraced a new philosophy to rethink their relationship with nature. Since 2024, Lafite has been certified as a B Corp, joining a very exclusive group of companies, with only a handful of wine estates earning the label.

Many châteaux are investing in their production facilities to push the pursuit of excellence even further. Lynch-Bages stands out with the construction of one of the largest wineries in Bordeaux. A true cathedral of glass and stainless steel, Lynch-Bages inaugurated the 2020 harvest with its brand-new facilities.