BORDEAUX - LA REGION DU MEDOC

(3.490 ha) and MEDOC (3.770). Two "simple" appellations whose names do not do them justice. A fine apportunity to discover great Bordeaux in these two A.O.C.S.

(620 ha). The most robust, full-bodied, and well-balanced of the Médoc wines.

(1.260 ha). Five villages (Arsac, Cantenac, Labarde, Margaux and Soussans) have a right to the Margaux appellation. They produce the most delicate wines of all.

The name Médoc means "the country in the middle". Shaped like a fat wedge of cheese, the region lies nothwest of Bardeaux and is flanked on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and onthe esat by the estuary of the Gironde River. Vineyards extend for 80 mi. (129 km), but the area is small in width-only about 5 mi. wide (8 km)-because to the west pine forests have been planted along the shore to protect the vineyards from ocean. The Médoc is divided into two regions, the Médoc and the Haut-Médoc, which share six appellations in two communes : Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Moulis, Saint-Julien, Margaux and Listrac. The vineyard extends, from north to south, over approximately 80 kilometres. It is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by a large pine forest and bordered by the huge Gironde estuary. It relatively warm and humid microclimate is ideally suited to the cultivation of the vine. Paradoxically, the Médoc's poor quality and porous quaternary soil is a blessing for the vineyards. Primarily composed of sand, gravel and pebbles, it makes the ideal mixture for great vineyards. This mixture allows the roots to grow as deep as ?? feet (six meters) underground and helps the growth of the grapevine at both the soil and subsoil levels. Beacuse the Boredaux winegrowing region is situated on the 45th parallel, the Médoc has a warm and humid marine climate. Weather conditions are the further improved by its geographic location. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River, these two bodies of water serve as heat regulators, creating the best microclimate vines could ever hope for. The amount of sunshine is not impressive, nor is the temperature which remains stable at about 53.6°F (12°C). Annual rainfall varies, averaging only 170 days of precipitation a year. But this is good because the small amount of rain has no trouble trickling down the many tiny hills where the Médoc vineyards are scattered.

(510 ha). Between Saint-Julien and Margaux, produces fragrant, soft and rich wines.

This 1.070 ha vineyard, located between Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Julien, produces three of the best grands crus classés of the Médoc (Lafite, Latour and the recen,t Mouton, born in 1973). Generally strong, elegant, well-bred and vigourous wines.

(1.260 ha). Richer, better-balanced and fuller than most of the great Médoc appellations, the Saint-Estèphe wines only come into their own with ageing.

(840 ha). Somewhere between Saint-Julien and MArgaux and the robustness of the Pauillac. Generally dense and full, they also have a fine bouquet.