Gravel
Stones washed down by rivers: warm, dry and the soil of the Médoc.
Gravel in the atlas
Atlas regions where this rock appears in the text or the soil profile.
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What it is
Gravel is the coarsest particle class in a soil: particles larger than 2 mm.1
Schematic: how fast water drains through the rock. A qualitative comparison based on the sources on this page.
Warm and dry
Warm soils tend to be coarse and rich in stones such as gravel.2 In the Médoc, sandy soils with a high gravel content store so little water that vines must root deep to avoid severe summer stress.2 In one Bordeaux estate study, gravel on Quaternary alluvium was among the best soil types.2
In Saint-Émilion, Cabernet Sauvignon is noted as well suited to warm, dry soils such as exposed sandy gravel.3
Where to see it
In Pauillac in Bordeaux, Quaternary gravel terraces about ten metres thick run along the Gironde.4
Regions
Sources
- Soil classification systems (Forage Information System). Oregon State University. level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
- Soil-related terroir factors: a review (van Leeuwen, Roby, de Rességuier, OENO One 52(2):173-188). OENO One, 2018. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru PDO technical file (PDO-FR-A0993). European Commission eAmbrosia / Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
- Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Pauillac». INAO, 2025. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13