St Emilion
The picturesque, historic town of Saint-Emilion, just to the north of the Dordogne River is at the centre of the well-known appellation of the same name in the Libournais region of Bordeaux. Saint-Emilion's wine history goes back to Roman times, and is home to some of the world's longest-lived and most highly regarded red wines. Unlike the vineyards of the Medoc, Merlot is the grape of choice in Saint-Emilion and makes up about two-thirds of plantings. Merlot ripens more consistently in the cooler clay soils of the region, and its principal blending partner, Cabernet Franc, adds seasoning and spice. The rounder, fuller flavours of Merlot make the wines of Saint-Emilion more approachable in their youth, though they can age for extended periods.
Two of the best-known estates, Figeac and Cheval Blanc, lie in the north-east of Saint-Emilion on a broad plateau of gravels, much like the vineyards of Medoc and Graves, allowing them to successfully ripen the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes which dominate their red blends.
