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PGI — Aquitaine
Sheepfold lamb reared without outdoor runs — suckled by its dam in the meadows of the Médoc — pale pink flesh, delicate flavour, a festive tradition since the Middle Ages.
Lamb from Aquitaine, PGI (IGP) since 2004.
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The history of Agneau de Pauillac begins in the mountains of Béarn, with the great winter transhumance that brought the roads of Aquitaine to life each year: as early as the 12th century, the cultivated plains of Gascogne were already receiving Béarnese ewes, and the shepherds of the Aspe, Ossau and Baretous valleys continued over the centuries — with the Béarnais settling particularly in the Entre-deux-Mers in the 18th century — to bring their flocks down to the Gironde plains for the winter. At the same time, the "moutonniers" of the Médoc moorlands left their wet, waterlogged heathlands every autumn for the well-drained lands along the banks of the Gironde, today occupied by vineyards. This seasonal migration firmly established sheep farming in the Gironde, at the heart of one of the world's greatest wine regions — indeed, the presence of flocks there predated that of the vines, as shown by the sheepfolds visible on 18th-century maps in the parishes of Pauillac and Saint-Julien-Beychevelle.
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It was within this ancestral pastoral setting that Agneau de Pauillac, as we know it today, was born: spending the winter in unfamiliar territory, the shepherds from the moors and the Pyrénées kept their lambs exclusively nourished on their mother's milk, inside the sheepfold, until slaughter. This practice of suckling from the dam, without early weaning, gave the young animals a pale flesh of remarkable tenderness, highly prized at the Bordeaux market. The name "Pauillac" took hold naturally, rooted in a world-renowned wine-growing landscape.
The reputation of Agneau de Pauillac crossed the threshold of the Élysée Palace on 2 May 1903, when it featured on the menu of the dinner hosted by President Émile Loubet for His Majesty the King of England — a prestige reaffirmed nearly a century later by its inclusion on the menu of the luncheon hosted by President François Mitterrand for the Emperor and Empress of Japan on 6 October 1994. Long championed by Gironde breeders proud of their pastoral tradition, the product gained official recognition with the granting of PGI status in 2004, guaranteeing the origin and husbandry methods of every lamb sold under this name.
Appearance
Characteristic pale flesh, white or slightly pink-tinged fat, of a firm consistency
Aroma
Gentle aromas, characteristic of an animal reared exclusively on mother's milk
Taste
Intense yet never strong lamb flavour, without excess — the meat sets itself distinctly apart both from blander milk-fed lambs and from traditional heavy lambs with their more pronounced taste
Texture
Remarkable tenderness, scarcely fibrous
Agneau de Pauillac is marketed as whole carcases, in cuts, or in consumer sales units. It comes from ewes of the Basco-Béarnaise, Tarasconnaise, Lacaune viande, or Blanche du Massif Central breeds, crossed with Charolais, Rouge de l'Ouest, Suffolk, or Berrichon du Cher rams. Unweaned, it is slaughtered between 40 and 80 days of life, for a carcase weight of 11 to 17 kg. The cuts sold wholesale under the PGI are the leg, culotte, baron, rack, forequarter, and shoulder.
The lamb is born and reared on the same farm as its dam, in a sheepfold, on mandatory straw bedding.
Each carcase bears a mark allowing it to be traced back to the flock of origin.
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Agneau de Pauillac is traditionally oven-roasted, lightly basted with duck fat in the Gascon custom, and served with lingot beans or cèpes de Bordeaux. Its delicate meat lends itself beautifully to simple preparations that preserve its finesse: leg of lamb with garlic, grilled chops, or rack roasted with garrigue herbs. The natural pairing with the great wines of Pauillac — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot — is a matter of course, their mellowed tannins highlighting the milky sweetness of the meat without overwhelming it.
Since: 2004
Area covered: Gironde département
Key requirements: Unweaned lamb, aged 40 to 80 days maximum; born and reared suckling its dam on the same farm; artificial suckling prohibited; cereal supplement permitted (≤ 45%), without animal meal or animal fats
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