Listrac-Medoc is a red wine appellation of the Haut-Medoc district of Bordeaux. It takes its name from the parish of Listrac-Medoc where grapes must be grown in order for the wine to qualify for the appellation title.
The Listrac-Medoc appellation is the least prestigious of those from the Haut-Medoc, for a variety of reasons. Unlike Margaux or Pauillac, the parish is situated in an area of limestone and clay soils, rather than gravel and clay, and it is also further from the temperature-moderating influences of the Gironde estuary, albeit a distance of only 5 miles (8km). The soils are also more shallow here than in surrounding areas, meaning that the vine roots do not run very deep, resulting in less complex wines.
These may not seem like reasons for a wine-producing area to be less successful, but the precise location and soil make-up of Pauillac and Margaux, to the north and south of Listrac-Medoc respectively, are exactly what has made them stand out as sources of exceptional wine.
Wines labeled AOC Listrac-Medoc are made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, but may also be made from the Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Malbec grape varieties. The appellation laws stipulate that the wines must be made from grapes taken from vineyards planted to densities between 6,500 and 10,000 plants per hectare (2,631 and 4,048 per acre), carefully controlled with specified vine management techniques. The yield from these vineyards must not exeed 45 hectoliters per hectare, and the resulting wines must reach a minimum alcohol level of 10.5%.
Listrac-Medoc wines are known for being dry and austere when young, but there is an increasing use of Merlot in the wines, intended to increase their softness and approachability.
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