Pessac-Léognan (France)
Pessac-Léognan is a white wine from Bordeaux in France.
Typical Flavors
 Lime |
 Grapefruit |
 Gooseberry |
 Honey |
 Flowers |
 Herbs |
 Grass |
 Chalk |
Lime, Grapefruit, and Gooseberry are common flavors for Pessac-Léognan.
Notes of Herbs, Grass, and a hint of Flint.
Profile
Pessac-Léognan is more floral and less herbal than Sauvignon Blanc.
| SUGAR | Dry | ||
| BODY | Medium - Light | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Aperitif |
 Fish |
 Seafood |
 Pasta |
 Vegetables |
Pessac-Léognan is perfect for a wide variety of dishes.
Citrus aromas along with herbs, spices, and salty mineras, also makes it perfect for rich seafood dishes.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
White Fish with Lemon and Green Herbs.
Salmon. Sushi. Sashimi.
Roast Chicken. Roasted Pork.
Asian Cuisine.
Chicken Tikka Masala.
Chilli Tomato Pasta.
Green Herbs:
Parsley. Basil. Thyme.
Vegetables:
Asparagus. Avocado. Cucumber.
Cheese:
Soft Cheese. Goat Cheese. Feta. Robiola.
Rich Pessac-Léognan
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Orange Zest |
 Fig |
Flowers |
 Ginger |
 Butter |
 Flint |
Rich Pessac-Léognan tends to be have more Semillon, which offers a richer taste than Sauvignon Blanc. Expect more yellow fruit, and more oily flavors.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Lobster with Garlic, Butter,or Wine Sauce.
French Onion Soup.
Duck. Roast Pork.
Veal Chops with Creamy Sauce.
Thai and Soy Sauce dishes.
The Ideal Glass
A Tulip Shaped glass is the best choice for a dry white wine.
It guides the wine to the center of your mouth, avoiding the sides, where acidity is less pleasant.
A smaller bowl also helps to serve smaller quantities, and keep the wine cold.
Remember to hold the glass by the stem!
About Pessac-Léognan
Pessac-Léognan is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (main grape), Semillon and Muscadelle.
It is believed that Sauvignon Blanc originates from Bordaux in France.
Pessac-Léognan has big fruit flavors. It is more floral and less herbal than a pure Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity is not as high as a Sauvignot Blanc from Pouilly-Fumé, and the flavor is not as tropical as New World Sauvignon Blanc.
Crus Classés de Graves
(Pessac-Léognan AOC)
The Graves wine classification of 1959 covers 13 red wines and 10 white wines from 16 châteaux in Bordeaux's Graves region.
In 1987 Pessac-Léognan AOC was created with all the 16 châteaux belonging to the new AOC.
Red Wines
Crus Classés de Graves
(Pessac-Léognan AOC)
| Château Bouscaut |
| Château Carbonnieux |
| Château de Fieuzal |
| Château Haut-Bailly |
| Château Haut-Brion (also Premier Cru Classé 1855) |
| Château La Mission-Haut-Brion |
| Château La Tour-Haut-Brion |
| Château Latour-Martillac |
| Château Malartic-Lagravière |
| Château Olivier |
| Château Pape-Clément |
| Château Smith-Haut-Lafite |
| Domaine de Chevalier |
White Wines
Grand Cru Classe de Graves
(Pessac-Léognan AOC)
| Château Bouscaut Blanc |
| Château Carbonnieux Blanc |
| Château Couhins |
| Château Couhins-Lurton |
| Château Haut-Brion Blanc |
| Château Latour-Martillac Blanc |
| Château Laville-Haut-Brion |
| Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc |
| Château Olivier Blanc |
| Domaine de Chevalier Blanc |
Bordeaux
Bordeaux in Southwest France is the most famous wine region in the world.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where the two famous, but very different, Bordeaux Blends are produced.
The Left Bank
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The Right Bank
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
Left Bank Wines
Bordeaux Rouge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc
Margaux
Graves
Pessac-Léognan
Right Bank Wines
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Grapes
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
White Grapes
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sweet Wines
Sauternes (Sweet)
Sparkling
Bordeaux Left Bank
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The terroir is rocky, with gravel (stones) and some limestone.
In the wine world, this bad soil means good wine because the more the roots have to struggle, the better the quality. Rocky soils and hillsides give a good drainage (too much water gives a watery berry).
Famous appellations are:
- Haut-Médoc
- Margaux (Château Margaux)
- St.Estephe
- St.Julien
- Pauillac (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour)
- Pessac Leognan (Château Haut-Brion)
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
Bordeaux Right Bank
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.
Famous appellations are:
- St. Emilion (Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus)
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.