Pessac-Léognan
Carved out of the Graves in 1987 on the city’s doorstep: 10 communes that hold every Cru Classé de Graves, and Haut-Brion, the only estate in Bordeaux in 2 classifications.
The place
Pessac-Léognan is 10 communes at the southern edge of Bordeaux, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Léognan, Martillac, Mérignac, Pessac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence and Villenave-d’Ornon, on the grabas de Bourdeus: gravel and pebbles rolled by the rivers over clay, sand, alios and faluns. The city has taken its share. More than 3,000 hectares and several hundred growths were lost to it between the start of the 20th century and the 1970s; what remains is about 1,880 hectares, 86% of it red, in the hands of some 56 estates.
The rules
Red from the 6 Bordeaux varieties and dry white from Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, at 6,500 vines a hectare, 54 hectoliters with a ceiling of 60 in both colors, and 11% of natural alcohol. Reds are raised until September 15 and released from October 1 of the year after the harvest, whites until March 15 and from March 30. The decree is of September 9, 1987 and the cahier des charges (the appellation’s official rulebook) in force, the appellation’s official rulebook, of December 10, 2024. A revision adopted by INAO’s national committee on February 12, 2026, and not yet homologated, would add Arinarnoa and Castets for red and Floréal, Sauvignac and Souvignier Gris for white, and lower the density to 5,500.
The names
Every Cru Classé de Graves stands here: 14 châteaux, 5 classified for red, 2 for white and 7 for both, from the list of 1953 amended in 1959. Haut-Brion, a First Growth of 1855, is the only estate in Bordeaux in 2 classifications, and Jean de Pontac was already building there between 1531 and 1551. The classified growths make about 1 fifth of the appellation’s wine. André Lurton was the syndicate’s founding president.
- Colors
- Red and dry white
- Communes
- 10, at the southern edge of Bordeaux
- Vineyard
- About 1,880 hectares, 86% red; some 56 estates
- Grapes
- Red: the 6 Bordeaux varieties; white: Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle
- Density
- 6,500 vines a hectare at least
- Yield
- 54 hectoliters a hectare, ceiling 60
- Alcohol
- 11% natural at least
- Release
- Reds from October 1, whites from March 30, of the year after the harvest
- Classified
- All 14 Crus Classés de Graves; Haut-Brion also a First of 1855
- AOC since
- September 9, 1987; cahier of December 10, 2024
Sources: INAO, Pessac-Léognan · Quali-Bordeaux, cahier des charges Pessac-Léognan, arrêté du 10 décembre 2024 · INAO, projet de cahier des charges Pessac-Léognan 2026 · Syndicat Viticole de Pessac-Léognan, Les Crus Classés de Graves · Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux · Syndicat Viticole de Pessac-Léognan · INAO and the Fédération des Grands Vins de Bordeaux, cahiers des charges
The stack
The same ground in Pessac-Léognan may also be labeled Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Crémant de Bordeaux, Graves and Graves Supérieures. A grower chooses which appellation to sell under, and the narrowest is almost always the dearest.
The appellations of Bordeaux are stacked, not laid side by side. The map draws the whole stack. Open the map
Classifications that reach this appellation: The Classification of 1855, The Crus Classés de Graves and The Michelin Guide selection.
Châteaux on this site
- Château Bouscaut
- Château Brown
- Château Cantelys
- Château Carbonnieux
- Château Coucheroy
- Château Couhins
- Château Couhins-Lurton
- Château de Cruzeau
- Château de Fieuzal
- Château de France
- Château de Rochemorin
- Château de Rouillac
- Château Gazin Rocquencourt
- Château Haut Nouchet
- Château Haut-Bailly
- Château Haut-Bergey
- Château Haut-Brion
- Château Haut-Lagrange
- Château La Louvière
- Château La Mission Haut-Brion
- Château La Tour Haut-Brion
- Château Larrivet Haut-Brion
- Château Latour-Martillac
- Château Le Pape
- Château Le Thil Comte Clary
- Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Château Lespault-Martillac
- Château Malartic-Lagravière
- Château Olivier
- Château Pape Clément
- Château Picque Caillou
- Château Pontac Monplaisir
- Château Seguin
- Château Smith Haut Lafitte
- Domaine de Chevalier
Also in this appellation, with no page here yet: Château La Garde, Château Luchey-Halde.
Tastings
13
May 6, 2026 · 3
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2017, Pessac Léognan
April 23, 2026 · 10
Bordeaux En Primeur 2025, Day 3
April 20, 2026 · 10
Bordeaux En Primeur 2025, Day 1
March 16, 2026
Château Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2018, Pessac Léognan
March 13, 2026
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2023, Pessac Léognan
March 12, 2026
Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2016, Pessac Léognan
News from Pessac-Léognan
12
-
Pessac-Léognan Questions Its Assumptions
Estates across Pessac-Léognan are reconsidering drainage, planting density, harvest decisions and aging practices. The objective is adaptation without losing the appellation's recognisable Bordeaux identity.
These choices affect water availability, fruit maturity, alcohol levels and the balance between extraction and freshness. Pessac-Léognan offers an important test of how established Bordeaux appellations can adapt without defaulting to a completely new stylistic model.
-
Fifth heatwave drives Bordeaux white-wine harvest to a record-early start
A fifth heatwave has accelerated Bordeaux’s white-wine harvest. Château Latour-Martillac in Pessac-Léognan began its 2026 harvest on Aug. 11, 2026, 1 week earlier than its previous record from 2022, according to technical director Edouard Kressmann.
-
Wildfires and heat are reshaping Bordeaux's terroir
Wildfires near Bordeaux have not reached the vineyards, but record heat and dense smoke threaten the 2026 harvest, potentially reducing yields and giving wines smoky notes. Smoke has reached Graves and Pessac-Léognan.
-
Les Domaines de Moncets moves into Pessac-Léognan for the first time
Les Domaines de Moncets acquired Château Pontac Monplaisir in Pessac-Léognan, expanding to 5 properties totaling 56 hectares. The 16-hectare estate has historic links to the family that owned Haut-Brion.
-
Pessac-Léognan in All Its Diversity
A June 23 event focused on Pessac-Léognan brought together selected estates advised by Vignerons Consultants for conferences and geo-sensory tastings. The sessions examined the appellation’s diversity, history, practices and terroir influence across recent vintages.
-
Philibert Perrin: "White wines must gain visibility in Pessac-Léognan"
New ODG head Philibert Perrin outlines his vision for Pessac-Léognan as the appellation faces urban pressure, climate change, shifting consumer tastes, and economic fragility. He argues that the appellation’s white wines need greater visibility while preserving its identity.
-
Justin Meyer named best student sommelier in Bordeaux wine 2026
On May 12, Justin Meyer was named Bordeaux wine’s best student sommelier for 2026 after finishing ahead of 15 students in the 22nd Trophée Pessac-Léognan, hosted at château Malartic-Lagravière.
-
"Château Picque Caillou Is the Ideal Property for Me"
Laurent Marti, president of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, has acquired Château Picque Caillou, a Grand Cru de Pessac-Léognan property, according to vintagebyugcb.com.
-
Picque Caillou: Laurent Marti’s dream becomes reality
Laurent Marti, president of Union Bordeaux Bègles, acquired Château Picque Caillou in the Pessac-Léognan appellation from the Denis family. The property retains 25 hectares of contiguous vines in Mérignac.
-
Château Smith Haut Lafitte hands over reigns to next generation
Château Smith Haut Lafitte and Cathiard Vineyard have handed executive leadership to Mathilde Thomas and Alice Tourbier, while their mother, Florence Cathiard, becomes co-chair of the supervisory board. The daughters succeed their parents, who have owned the Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé since 1990.
-
What should you drink while watching France vs Australia?
Vintage by UGCB asked experts to recommend wines for France vs Australia on November 22, 2025, at Stade de France. Jacques Lurton recommended Château La Louvière 2021, from Pessac-Léognan, served slightly chilled.
-
The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux published its 2025 Harvest Notebook on October 13, 2025, covering the harvest from Saint-Julien to Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Émilion and Sauternes and describing the vintage as elegant and atypical.