
The Pessac-Léognan appellation is fascinating on many levels and sets itself apart in many ways, starting with accessibility, both in terms of tasting and price. Let’s set off to the Bordeaux region and pay the Left Bank a visit!
Unique History and Geography
While the appellation itself is recent, dating back only to 1987, winemaking history here go back to the Romans. Already renowned in the Middle Ages, Bordeaux’s youngest appellation was recognised as a First Growth in 1855 and later included in the Crus Classés de Graves in 1955. At the top of the leaderboard is Château Haut-Brion, the only 1855 grand cru classé red wine from outside Médoc – and a top-ranking one at that – alongside other equally prestigious and long-established estates. One example is Château Pape-Clément, which became famous in 1305 when its owner became Pope Clément V. This is regarded as the oldest winery in Bordeaux, dating back to 1252! Both their red and white wines are included in the Crus Classés de Graves.

Located south-west of Bordeaux, the Pessac-Léognan AOC extends over approximately 1,600 hectares, spreads over 10 communes: Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence and Villenave-d’Ornon. The AOC includes the northern area of the extensive Graves appellation, which it separated from when the appellation was created in 1987. The vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are the closest to the city of Bordeaux and are home to the oldest wineries in the whole region. The mosaic of microclimates and soils is what makes the “suburban vineyards” and wines of Pessac-Léognan so unique. This appellation was in part created to protect the vineyards from urbanisation. The territory of the Graves (gravelly land) has a rather distinctive terroir for the region, consisting of a thick layer of gravel combing quartz with ochre, white, red and pink quartzite, as well as jasper, flint and lydian – gravel, pebbles, sand and clay. This was created when the ancient mouth of the Garonne River poured into the area at the end of the Tertiary period and the beginning of the Quaternary period. With a depth of 20 cm to 3 metres and more, these gravelly soils are considered to be poor soils, which means they are especially well suited to vine-growing, as they force the vines to dig deeply for water and nutrients.
The whole of Pessac-Léognan is a mosaic of soils and microclimates and this diversity leads to high quality blends in both the white and the red wines. The grape varieties in the appellation are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère for the reds, and Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle for the whites. Pessac-Léognan produces around 80% reds and 20% whites. The region is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest red wines, crafted from nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is also celebrated for its exceptional, age-worthy dry white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
A Classified Vineyard
The Graves wine classification, first drawn up in 1953, then revised and enshrined in ministerial decree in 1959, only includes wines from the Pessac-Léognan appellation. This includes 16 crus, including seven in red, three in white and six crus in both red and white. This classification, bringing together estates all north of Graves, totalling some 500 hectares, was one of the reasons for the split between the Graves and Pessac-Léognan appellations.
- Château Bouscaut (Red and White)
- Château Carbonnieux (Red and White)
- Domaine de Chevalier (Red and White)
- Château Couhins (White)
- Château Couhins-Lurton (White)
- Château de Fieuzal (Red)
- Château Haut-Bailly (Red)
- Château Haut-Brion (Red)
- Château La Mission Haut-Brion (Red)
- Château Latour-Martillac (Red and White)
- Château Laville Haut-Brion (White)
- Château Malartic-Lagravière (Red and White)
- Château Olivier (Red and White)
- Château Pape Clément (Red)
- Château Smith Haut Lafitte (Red)
- Château la Tour Haut-Brion (Red)
Whether classified or not, iDealwine has naturally researched the area to form its own opinion and has unearthed the finest wines in the appellation for you. We are also very fortunate to work closely and directly with some of the most prestigious estates in Pessac-Léognan: Château Carbonnieux, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Haut-Bergey, Château les Carmes Haut-Brion, Château Olivier, Château Pape Clément, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château Malartic-Lagravière and Domaine de Chevalier.
Shop all our Pessac-Léognan wines online
Pessac-Léognan performance at auction in 2023
To provide you with an insight into trends in the appellation, we have analysed the Pessac-Léognan wines that were auctioned in 2023. In 2023, the appellation’s red wine auction volume rose by 10%, while its value also increased by 11%, to reach an average price of €123 per bottle. By way of comparison, the Bordeaux region as a whole saw an increase in volume (+10.4%) but a fall in average price (-7%) to €131. This means that the appellation is clearly on the up…
A unique style of wine in Bordeaux
Wines from the Pessac-Léognan region are totally different from those produced in Médoc or on the Right Bank. They are lighter, but still have plenty of body, and offer a fine balance of finesse and power, with good density and silky tannins. They are often more pleasant to drink when young than Médoc wines, releasing aromas of red fruit and already possessing supple, airy textures. While their cellaring potential is generally not as good as that offered by the Médoc estates, it is still excellent, often lasting a good twenty years for the reds, or even much longer for the best estates in the appellation. These wines pair well with flavourful meats, such as lamb, game birds, beef and veal but it best to avoid those with the most powerful flavours.

The white wines are also very distinctive thanks, in particular, to the varietal aromas of Sauvignon Blanc (citrus fruit, boxwood). On the palate, they display a great deal of freshness, combined with a certain unctuousness that provides good balance. These wines are perfect partners for oysters and other seafood from the region.
And while many of these bottles are fine wines, they have the advantage of retaining their very reasonable prices.
To sum up, the wines of Pessac-Léognan are currently among the most interesting opportunities up for grabs in Bordeaux, and we are not just saying that because the original French article was penned by a native of Bordeaux who actually grew up in Pessac!