Saint-Estèphe AOC is a red wine appellation covering the commune of Saint-Estèphe on the left bank of the Bordeaux region, directly north of Pauillac. St-Estèphe is the most northerly of the Haut-Médoc’s six communally-named AOCs, the others being Margaux AOC, Saint-Julien AOC, Pauillac AOC, Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis-en-Médoc AOC. The region is halfway between the city of Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave at the top of the Médoc peninsula.
Communes (1): Saint-Estèphe.
Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 52,872hl from 1,254ha (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.389).
1855 Classed growths (5): Second: Château Cos d’Estournel. | Château Montrose. Third: Château Calon-Ségur. Fourth: Château Lafon-Rochet. Fifth: Château Cos Labory.
Lieux-dits: Allian. | Laujac. | Leyssac. | Marbuzet. | Pez. | Saint-Corbian.
Wine style: Reds with noticeable tannin levels, which hold their colour, and are earthy when young. Blackcurrant and cedarwood flavours emerge over 10-20 years (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.229). Heavier soils mean higher percentages of Merlot to Cabernet compared to the Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux AOCs to the south.
Wineries
Certified organic: Château Haut-Baron.
No certification: Château Andron-Blanquet. | Château Beau-Site. | Château Calon-Ségur. | Château Capbern-Gasqueton. | Château Chambert-Marbuzet. | Château Cos d’Estournel. | Château Cos Labory. | Château Coutelin-Merville. | Château de Marbuzet. | Château de Pez. | Château Grand Village Capbern. | Château Haut-Beauséjour. | Château Haut-Coutelin. | Château Haut-Marbuzet. | Château Houissant. | Château L’Argilus du Roi. | Château La Haye. | Château La Peyre. | Château La Rose Capbern. | Château Lafon-Rochet. | Château Lavillotte. | Château Le Boscq. | Château le Crock. | Château Les Ormes de Pez. | Château Lilian-Ladouys. | Château Meyney. | Château Montrose. | Château Morin.| Château Moulin de Calon. | Château Petit Bocq. | Château Phélan-Ségur. | Chateau Picard. | Château Saint-Estèphe. | Château Saint-Roch. | Château Ségur de Cabanac. | Château Tour de Marbuzet. | Château Tour de Pez. | Château Tour des Termes. | Château Tour Saint Fort. | Château Tronquoy-Lalande.