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Terroir · Bordeaux in 3D

Sauternes and Barsac in 3D

Sauternes and Barsac, the Ciron and the Garonne. A block of 16 by 13 km: the relief measured by IGN, with the rock, the soil and the old maps laid over it, to turn, cut and read.

In 3D

Sauternes and Barsac, the Ciron and the Garonne, seen from the southwest, heights exaggerated 4 times.
Sauternes and Barsac, the Ciron and the Garonne, seen from the southwest, heights exaggerated 4 times.

How IGN measured this relief: 83.2% airborne laser (LiDAR), error under 30 cm; 15.2% aerial photos taken in winter, error under 70 cm; 1.5% the older 25 m grid, error 2 to 8 m.

The formations of the geological map, from the largest area of the block to the smallest (20)
  • CFp Formations superficiellesSlope wash and cover; 17% of the block
  • Fy3-z Alluvions subactuelles à actuelles indiféernéciées (sic)River and estuary deposits of today; 13.1% of the block
  • Fvb(G) Hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Martillac (type 2) indifférenciée et terrasse d'ArsacIce age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles; 13.1% of the block
  • g1-As Calcaire à AstériesStarfish limestone and marine marls; 12.4% of the block
  • Fwb(G) Moyennes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasses de Léognan, terrasse de Martillac et terrasse de St Selve indifférenciés (type 3 à 5) (Esltérien - "Mindel")Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles; 10.2% of the block
  • Fva(G) Très hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Léognan (type 1) indifférenciée et terrasse de ListracIce age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles; 7.6% of the block
  • Ft(Sa) Fmt de SadiracLandes sand and the oldest river deposits; 7% of the block
  • g1-A Molasse de l'Agenais inf. à facies argileux dominantAgenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone; 5.3% of the block
  • Ft(Bn) Formation de BelinLandes sand and the oldest river deposits; 4.2% of the block
  • Fxb(a) Basse terrasses - Terrasse de Bègle (type 6) indifférenciéeIce age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles; 3.8% of the block
  • NF2 Formation de Castets et Argiles d'Argelouse (sommet)Landes sand and the oldest river deposits; 3.4% of the block
  • CFp' Formations superficiellesSlope wash and cover; 0.9% of the block
  • m1-Ms Faluns de Saucats à faciès marneux dominantsShell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene; 0.7% of the block
  • m1-Gb Grès et calcaires de BazasShell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene; 0.4% of the block
  • m2-G Grès à MiogypsinesShell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene; 0.4% of the block
  • g2-M Molasse de l'Agenais indiférencié à faciès argileux dominantAgenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone; 0.2% of the block
  • m1-Cg Calcaire Gris de l'AgenaisShell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene; 0.1% of the block
  • SL Sables des LandesLandes sand and the oldest river deposits; under 0.1% of the block
  • c6a MaastrichienCretaceous limestones; under 0.1% of the block
  • e5-6(Bly1) Formation du calcaire de Blaye (base)Older sea limestones and marls; under 0.1% of the block

The layers under the surface, in The Descent: Sauternes, Barsac, Graves.

Sources: IGN, RGE ALTI 5 m, Gironde, edition of April 19, 2021, Licence Ouverte 2.0; BRGM, BD Charm-50, Gironde (GEO050K_HARM_033), Licence Ouverte 2.0; INRAE, Référentiel Régional Pédologique de la Gironde à 1/250 000 (Richer de Forges 2020, doi 10.15454/6BX5D7), Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0; unit outlines from IGN’s Géoplateforme; INAO, délimitation parcellaire des AOC viticoles, file of October 12, 2026, Licence Ouverte; BRGM, Banque du sous-sol (BSS), Gironde export; logs as printed in the BRGM notices at 1/50,000; API Géo (geo.api.gouv.fr): town halls and commune names; IGN Géoplateforme (data.geopf.fr): SCAN EM 40K, BD ORTHO Historique, BD ORTHO; Licence Ouverte.

The height of each formation

The height above sea level of the land where each formation of BRGM’s geological map comes to the surface in this block, from IGN’s RGE ALTI heights read every 10 m.

CodeFormation, as printedFamilyShare of the blockMedian height8 tenths between
CFp Formations superficielles Slope wash and cover 17% 55 m 24 to 78 m
Fy3-z Alluvions subactuelles à actuelles indiféernéciées (sic) River and estuary deposits of today 13.1% 8 m 6 to 17 m
Fvb(G) Hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Martillac (type 2) indifférenciée et terrasse d'Arsac Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles 13.1% 37 m 18 to 50 m
g1-As Calcaire à Astéries Starfish limestone and marine marls 12.4% 17 m 12 to 32 m
Fwb(G) Moyennes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasses de Léognan, terrasse de Martillac et terrasse de St Selve indifférenciés (type 3 à 5) (Esltérien - "Mindel") Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles 10.2% 25 m 17 to 32 m
Fva(G) Très hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Léognan (type 1) indifférenciée et terrasse de Listrac Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles 7.6% 68 m 18 to 78 m
Ft(Sa) Fmt de Sadirac Landes sand and the oldest river deposits 7% 97 m 82 to 111 m
g1-A Molasse de l'Agenais inf. à facies argileux dominant Agenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone 5.3% 50 m 35 to 61 m
Ft(Bn) Formation de Belin Landes sand and the oldest river deposits 4.2% 46 m 27 to 54 m
Fxb(a) Basse terrasses - Terrasse de Bègle (type 6) indifférenciée Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles 3.8% 14 m 10 to 21 m
NF2 Formation de Castets et Argiles d'Argelouse (sommet) Landes sand and the oldest river deposits 3.4% 57 m 26 to 67 m
CFp' Formations superficielles Slope wash and cover 0.9% 23 m 11 to 30 m
m1-Ms Faluns de Saucats à faciès marneux dominants Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene 0.7% 46 m 38 to 60 m
m1-Gb Grès et calcaires de Bazas Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene 0.4% 54 m 36 to 84 m
m2-G Grès à Miogypsines Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene 0.4% 48 m 40 to 60 m
g2-M Molasse de l'Agenais indiférencié à faciès argileux dominant Agenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone 0.2% 40 m 33 to 49 m
m1-Cg Calcaire Gris de l'Agenais Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene 0.1% 55 m 51 to 65 m

The appellations

The AOC delimited areas inside the block (INAO parcel delimitation of October 12, 2026).

The measured lines

The sections of the appellation pages that run through the block. In the 3D view, each one cuts the block.

Boreholes with a printed log

BRGM holds a verified log for 15 boreholes in this block.

The boreholes in this block whose log BRGM printed, layer by layer, in the notices of its 1/50,000 geological maps. Each log is given as printed.

08521X0018/F · Barsac; top of the hole at 8.2 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 3 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 3 to 103 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 103 to 250 m (Éocène)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 24

08521X0009/F · Cérons; top of the hole at 16.6 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 2.3 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 2.3 to 69 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 69 to 333 m (Éocène)
  • Cretaceous: 333 to 354 m (Crétacé)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 25

08522X0013/F1 · Langon; top of the hole at 10.2 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 6 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 6 to 66.4 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 66.4 to 107.5 m (Eocène)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 25

08522X0012/F1 · Saint-Macaire; top of the hole at 21.2 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 9 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 9 to 54 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 54 to 131 m (Éocène)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 25

08522X0024/F2 · Saint-Macaire; top of the hole at 21.2 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 9 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 9 to 54 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 54 to 143 m (Éocène)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 25

08522X0011/F · Toulenne; top of the hole at 13.7 m above sea level

  • Quaternary: 0 to 2.5 m (Quaternaire)
  • Oligocene: 2.5 to 60 m (Oligocène)
  • Eocene: 60 to 152.2 m (Éocène)

BRGM, notice 0852, p. 25

The soils

The units of the soil map of the Gironde at 1/250,000, from the largest area of the block to the smallest. Each unit groups several soil types.

  • UCS 89 SOLS BRUNS SANS CHARGE CAILLOUTEUSE DE LA REGION DES GRAVES: 17.2%
  • UCS 122 COMPLEXE DES VERSANTS PLUS OU MOINS HYDROMORPHES, PLUS OU MOINS LESSIVES, SUR MOLASSES DE L'AGENAIS, DE L'ENTRE-DEUX-MERS OCCIDENTAL: 14.1%
  • UCS 88 SOLS BRUNS A CHARGES CAILLOUTEUSES SUR GRAVES: 12.3%
  • UCS 21 SOLS FERSIALLITIQUES DE LA VALLEE DE LA GARONNE: 7.9%
  • UCS 54 GRANDS LITS MAJEURS DE L'ISLE, DE LA DORDOGNE ET DE LA GARONNE: 7.2%
  • UCS 136 ANCIENNES TERRASSES DE LA GARONNE, SABLO-LIMONEUSES, PLUS OU MOINS HYDROMORPHES, PLUS OU MOINS LESSIVEES, PLANES, BATTANTES, DU BAZADAIS: 7.2%
  • UCS 60 LANDE SECHE EN POSITION DE PLATEAU: 6%
  • UCS 62 LANDE HUMIDE: 4.1%
  • UCS 67 VALLEES D'ALLUVIONS RECENTES SUR SABLE DES LANDES: 3.5%
  • UCS 74 LANDES HYDROMORPHES ET TRES HYDROMORPHES EN BORDURE NORD-EST DES LANDES DE GASGOGNE: 3.2%
  • UCS 72 SURFACE PLANE SABLEUSE, ACIDE, DES LANDES DE GASCOGNE SUR LES GRAVIERS DE LA REGION DES GRAVES: 3.1%
  • UCS 138 COMPLEXE DE PENTES DU BAZADAIS: 2.7%
  • UCS 123 PLATEAUX HYDROMORPHES, LESSIVES, DE L'ENTRE-DEUX-MERS OCCIDENTAL: 2.2%
  • UCS 63 LANDE TRES HUMIDE: 1.7%
  • UCS 126 HAUT DE VERSANTS, SOUVENT HYDROMORPHES, PLUS OU MOINS BATTANTS, PLUS OU MOINS LESSIVES, DE L'ENTRE-DEUX-MERS OCCIDENTAL: 1.6%
  • UCS -6 ZONE URBANISEE: 1.6%
  • UCS 130 BAS DE VERSANTS CALCAIRES, SUR MOLASSE DE L'AGENAIS SUR CALCAIRE A ASTERIES, DE L'ENTRE-DEUX-MERS ORIENTAL: 1.5%
  • UCS 61 LANDE MESOPHILE: 1.4%
  • UCS 124 COMPLEXE DE BAS DE VERSANTS HYDROMORPHES, PLUS OU MOINS LESSIVES, PLUS OU MOINS CALCAIRES, DE L'ENTRE-DEUX-MERS OCCIDENTAL: 0.9%

The other blocks

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