24.2.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 88/103
Density: the minimum planting density of the vines is 5 000 plants per hectare.
The distance between the rows is not more than 2 metres and the distance between plants in the same row is at least 0,80 metres.
Pruning rules: pruning is mandatory.
It is carried out at the unfolded leaves stage (Lorenz stage 9) at the latest.
The vines are pruned using the following techniques: — two cane pruning, double Guyot or Médoc, with a maximum of five count buds per cane; — simple Guyot and mixed Guyot, with a maximum of seven count buds per vine; — short pruning, fan pruning to four arms or two cordons, with a maximum of 12 count buds per vine.
5.2.
Maximum yields 1.
65 hectolitres per hectare
6.
Demarcated geographical area The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and matured on the territory of the following communes in the department of Gironde, on the basis of the official geographical code in force on 1 January 2021: Arcins, Arsac, Avensan, Bégadan, Blaignan-Prignac, Blanquefort, Castelnau-de-Médoc, Cissac-Médoc, Civrac-en-Médoc, Couquèques, Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Gaillan-en-Médoc, Grayan-et-l’Hôpital, Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac, Labarde, Lamarque, LesparreMédoc, Listrac-Médoc, Ludon-Médoc, Macau, Margaux-Cantenac, Moulis-en-Médoc, Naujac-sur-Mer, Ordonnac, Parempuyre, Pauillac, Le Pian-Médoc, Queyrac, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Saint-Christoly-Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, SaintGermain-d’Esteuil, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, Saint-Laurent-Médoc, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Seurinde-Cadourne, Saint-Vivien-de-Médoc, Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc, Sainte-Hélène, Salaunes, Soulac-sur-Mer, Soussans, Le Taillan-Médoc, Talais, Valeyrac, Vendays-Montalivet, Vensac, Le Verdon-sur-Mer and Vertheuil.
7.
Main wine grape variety(-ies) Cabernet Franc N Cabernet Sauvignon N Carmenère N Cot N - Malbec Merlot N Petit Verdot N
8.
Description of the link(s) The geographical area demarcated for the ‘Médoc’ registered designation of origin is located in the department of Gironde on the left banks of the Garonne river and the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux.
This wine-growing area of the Médoc peninsula stretches for almost 80 kilometres from north to south and just over ten kilometres from east to west, and covers 50 communes.
The riverside flank of the Médoc region is characterised by moderate seasonal fluctuations and very modest rainfall for an Atlantic climate.
Although the geographical area has a cooler climate than the south of the peninsula owing to its northerly location, it also receives less precipitation.
These climatic conditions, which are good for wine growing, are due to the presence of the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Gironde estuary to the east, which help to regulate temperatures.
The oceanic climate, in some years combined with periods of autumnal low pressure and rain or, conversely, warm and very sunny autumns, creates a notable ‘vintage’ effect.
The resulting vineyard landscapes are relatively level (altitude between 3 and 50 metres), bordered by forest to the west and the Gironde estuary to the east.
Gravelly hillocks planted with vines stretch from north to south, bounded by jalles (streams) and marshier non-winegrowing areas.