Pauillac is the home of Cabernet Sauvignon based wines, with elements of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot.
Pauillac has been hailed as a legendary AOC having 3 Premier Crus (First Growths) out of the 5 in Bordeaux namely Chateaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Other than that, there are 15 other Grand Crus Classes within its boundaries.
Pauillac being sandwiched between Saint Estephe to the north and Saint Julien to the south on the River Gironde as it widens into its estuary. The vineyards of Pauillac lie on the undulating hills above marshland. The hills contain heavy gravel which is important to vine growing as it reflects the sun and allows excellent drainage. The gravel is mixed with touches of sand, limestone and iron in certain spots, provides just enough nutrients and minerals to give unique, virile, powerful wines with a great concentration of flavors. Pauillac wines are rich, densely colored, full bodied and profound with an elegant mix of black currants and cedary oak that is luxurious and distinguished when mature.
The AOC takes its name from the town of Pauillac which has been a successful commercial harbor since ancient times. It’s thought to have taken it’s name from a Roman villa belonging to Paullius. Pauillac is one of France’s oldest yachting harbors and the premier port in the estuary. Years ago the wines of neighboring appellations were exported from the port at Pauillac which is perched on the west bank of the Gironde estuary exactly midway between Bordeaux and the Bapauillac porty of Biscay. It was about as far up the estuary as the limited maneuverability of sail could bring ocean going ships, making it a natural port for the merchants of Bordeaux and the surrounding region.
Though small, Pauillac was already the informal capital of the Medoc and it seems that it also attracted French corsairs and pirates who eventually settled and made wine there. One of Lafite Rothschild’s chateaux, Duhart Milon, is named after the Sieur of Duhart, a corsair and gun-runner to Louis XIV, who owned the land. Oral history has it that Duhart settled there in his retirement. The “pirates house” on the Pauillac port existed up to the 1950’s, and inspired the label for the Duhart Milon wines.
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