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Graves

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MerlotCabernet SauvignonCabernet FrancSémillonSauvignon BlancMuscadelle

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Place & climate

  • Location: Left bank of the Garonne, south of Bordeaux and the Pessac-Léognan area.
  • Name: Graves refers to gravel; sand and clay also occur in its soils.
  • Colours: Red and dry white; colour is essential when ordering or comparing.
  • Planting density: The minimum is 5,000 vines/ha for red and white wine. The lower-density old-vine transition ended with harvest 2025; density alone does not establish quality or rooting depth.

Read the label

  • Red grapes: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are key blend references.
  • White grapes: Sauvignon and Sémillon form the principal dry-white partnership.
  • Taste tendency: Reds range from supple to structured; whites from fresh to textured.
  • Distinction: Graves Supérieures is a sweet-white appellation, not the next red tier.

At the table

  • Assess: Confirm colour, then assess fruit, acidity, texture and oak. Reds may show savoury development and whites may be lean or broad, but a smoky or mineral impression is not proof of a particular soil flavour.
  • Pair: Try entrecôte with red wine and shallots or roast duckling for red. A dry white with sufficient body and freshness can suit cream-sauced chicken or scallops.
  • Service: Start reds around 16–18°C; serve a crisp white nearer 8–10°C and a broader, textured one nearer 10–12°C. Taste before aerating, and treat any mature bottle according to its condition and sediment.