How to understand Bordeaux wines - part 8 - St. Julien, Pauillac, St. Estephe, and Haut-Medoc

This week we'll discuss Left Bank wines found in the northern Medoc region.  St. Julien, Pauillac, and St. Estephe are three of the most elite appellations on the Left Bank.  They are located close together on the west side of the Gironde River about 25 miles north of Margaux.  The large region surrounding these three appellations is called Haut-Medoc and contains hundreds of petit chateaux that produce good to excellent Bordeaux wines.

As with other areas on the Left Bank, there are gravel-type soils at St. Julien, Pauillac, St. Estephe, and Haut-Medoc that are very good for Cabernet Sauvignon and produce wines that are well-structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends with firm textures and fairly high tannin levels.  Many of these wines need cellar time for integration of the tannins, and the wines from the elite estates are among the longest-lasting wines made in Bordeaux.  The taste profile for these wines includes cherry, currants, cassis, and black fruit, with notes of cedar and spice.