Graves

 

The Graves extends from the southern edge of the Pessac Leognan appellation to beyond Sauternes to the south. Around 70% of the total production is red wine. It's history is a somewhat sad one - for Graves producers - as it's northern area broke away from the region and formed a separate appellation in 1987 after it became clear that the quality and consistency of those wines are superior to the southern Graves. This is not to say that Graves wines are low quality per se, they are just a different style, best drinking younger and are lighter wines, less complicated, easy going. They don't have the concentration and longevity of a Pessac Leognan. It is traditionally a white wine area planted with the trio of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle (and recently some Sauvignon Gris) for dry whites that can equally carry the Graves designation. Some rather basic sweet wine is also made here that will be sold under the name Graves Superieures. For reds, the area of around 5.000 ha of vineyards is mainly planted with Merlot, as the later ripening varieties would struggle here. There is certainly a trend going on that replaces existing Cabernet vines with Merlot. The minimum planting density is 5.000 vines/ha as opposed to the Pessac Leognan figure of 6.500 vines/ha. As the name suggests, the soil is gravel of varying dephts with a clay-limestone bedrock. The riverside vineyards - as everywhere else - have a warmer microclimate and ripening is easier. Graves does not have classified growths.

 

Mixed gravel soil.