Pessac-Léognan 1 product.

Carved out of the broader Graves appellation in 1987, this zone immediately north of Bordeaux city contains every estate classified in the 1959 Crus Classés de Graves, making it the undisputed epicentre of Graves quality. Deep beds of gravel over clay — among the finest soil profiles in all of Bordeaux — drain superbly and store warmth, giving both reds and whites a distinctive earthy, mineral edge alongside their fruit.

The reds, based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are among Bordeaux's most age-worthy, while the whites — blending Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, typically aged in new oak — represent a distinct world-class style unique to this appellation. Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion stand as the ultimate benchmarks, but a dozen other classified estates produce wines of genuine and lasting distinction.