Classification of the Bordeaux Wines
You wil visiting mostly Classified Growths during wine tours with The Bordeaux Wine Experience. This page is an introduction to the 1855 classification and it's origins as well as to the classifications of the Graves, saint Emilion and Pomerol regions.
| 1855 Classification | Medoc | Sauternes | Graves | Classified Growths in the Graves |
| Saint Emilion |Pomerol | Top |
The origins
The idea of cru first appeared in the seventeenth century. Already clearly identified in 1750, the crus' hierarchy was confirmed in 1855 by a classification which has remained famous (revised in 1973 for the First Crus Classés) and which today still counts as the final authority. This classification was founded on consistency in quality. This explains why it has resisted changing habits and the passing of men. Right at the start, the Crus Classés claimed recognition as wines whose renown and reputation for high quality were such that they served as a reference for prices and a basis for the prices of the other crus.
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The 1855 Classification
Established with a view to presenting the wines of Gironde in the context of the Universal Exhibition organized by the Imperial Government under Napoleon III, the task of drawing up the classification was entrusted by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to the Federation of Business Brokers with the Bordeaux Bourse. Its job was to make official "a classification based on the experience of long years" whose elements were taken from the best sources, backed up by résumés of quotations from the records department in the broker’s offices. On April 18, 1855 , the Brokers' Federation handed in its findings. Far from being a résumé of the situation at any given moment, it reflected "the apex of an evolution for over more than a century". Intended to cover all red wines in the Gironde , this classification retained only wines from the Médoc and one cru from the Graves region.
The Federation was to specify later that it did not strive to "assign a degree of superiority to any of those featuring in each class or group: they are considered as being of equal merit". Only two changes were ever made: the addition of Cantemerle (originally omitted by oversight) in the 1850's, and the promotion of Mouton Rothschild to First Growth in 1973. The classification assumed alink between quality and price, and that assumption has proved essentially correct. Altough some estates perform better than the rankings suggest, and vice versa, it is remarkable how well the classification overall has stood the test of time.
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Origins | Classification | Today |
| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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| THE CLASSIFIED GROWTHS OF THE MEDOC IN 1855 |
PREMIERS CRUS (Firsts Growths)
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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SECONDS CRUS (Second Growths)
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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TROISIEMES CRUS (Third Growths)
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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QUATRIEMES CRUS (Fourth Growths)
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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CINQUIEMES CRUS (Fifth Growths)
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| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Origins | Classification | Today |
| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Origins | Classification | Today |
| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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Today
Today there are 60 Médoc Châteaux in this classification which was drawn up at the request of Napoleon III. In 1973, the title of First Cru Classé or Classified Growth was confirmed for Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton-Rothschild and Haut Brion (the only cru in the Graves to be classified in 1855, which explains the number of 61 Crus Classés often occurring in texts) and also attributed to Mouton Rothschild. 14 Châteaux are classified in the second group, 14 in the third, 10 in the fourth and 18 in the fifth.
All the Crus Classés practice a rigorous selection and bottle only wines which are worthy of the prestigious label they bear. Their proprietors take total responsibility for the creation and aging of each vintage and for bottling exclusively at the château.
Representing 3,000 hectares of vineyards and 20% of all Médoc wines, the Crus Classés account for an important percentage in the wine-export market.
Contrary to a widespread belief, the majority belong to French families of whom certain have owned their château for many generations. Huge international fortunes and large financial groups are also proud to be owners of Crus Classés.
The Classified Growths (The Grands Crus Classés)
A.O.C. |
NUMBER OF PROPERTIES |
% PRODUCTION |
TOTAL MEDOC |
60 |
20 |
Haut Médoc |
5 |
7 |
St-Estèphe |
5 |
19 |
Pauillac |
18 |
81 |
St-Julien |
11 |
80 |
Margaux |
21 |
59 |
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Origins | Classification | Today |
| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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Classified Growths in the Graves 1959
Sixteen well established chateaux all located in the communal appellation of Pessac-Léognan have for the passed fifty years benefited from the Classified Growths of Graves label.
It is hard to believe that the Graves region, the birthplace of the Bordeaux wines, had to wait until the 20 th century to gain an official classification (including Château Haut Brion which was classified in 1855).
The foundation of vineyards in the Graves goes way back to ancient times. Vines were grown south on the outskirts of Bordeaux and expanded progressively towards the south to from the Graves area, named after the type of soil.
However it was only in 1953, that the authentic history of the Graves terroir was recognized by an official classification. The Romans made no mistake when they planted the first vines in the north of the region, where geology and micro climate are favorable to making elegant, typically complex red wines, as well as great white wines. This excellent wine growing area with an asserted character highly deserved the classification.
The Classified Growths of Graves cover a surface area of around 500 hectares and represent about 10% of the Graves region.
United by a common history and terroir, the Classified Growths of Graves form a local family, steeped in tradition, and sharing a common passion for quality and hospitality. Continuous research and energetic efforts makes the Graves an outstanding appellation.
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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Crus Classés de Graves 1959 Classification
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| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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Saint Emilion Classification of 1954
(revised in 1986, 1996 and 2006)
Saint Emilion is divided into two appellations:
-Saint Emilion
-Saint Emilion Grand Cru
The latter category includes Grands Crus Classés and Premier Grands Crus Classés. The Premier Grands Crus Classés are subdivided in A's and B's. These A's are usually considered to be on the same level as the First Growths of the Médoc.
The wines of Saint Emilion were first classified in 1954. This classification was supposed to be very much alive. Contrary to the 1855 Classification in the Médoc, the Saint Emilion classification was supposed to be revised every 10 years. As this is France this of course didn't happen. The first time the system was revised was in 1986. Since then it had been revised every 10 years as planned. The latest revision dates from September 2006 and shows the classification as follows:
PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS A
| Château Ausone | Château Cheval Blanc |
PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS B
| Château Angélus Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot Château Belair Château Canon Château Figeac |
Château La Gaffelière Château Magdelaine Château Pavie Château Pavie-Macquin Château Troplong-Mondot Château Trottevieille Clos Fourtet |
GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS
| Château Balestard la Tonnelle Château Bellefont-Belcier Château Bergat Château Berliquet Château Cadet Piola Château Canon la Gaffelière Château Cap de Mourlin Château Chauvin Château Corbin Château Corbin Michotte Château Dassault Château Destieux Château Fleur-Cardinale Château Fonplégade |
Château Fonroque |
Château Laroque Château Laroze Château Le Prieuré Château Les Grandes Murailles Château Matras Château Monbousquet Château Moulin du Cadet Château Pavie-Decesse Château Ripeau Château Saint-Georges-Côte-Pavie Château Soutard Clos de l’Oratoire Clos des Jacobins Clos Saint-Martin Couvent des Jacobins |
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Origins | Classification | Today |
| Graves | Sauternes |Classified Growths in the Graves | Saint Emilion | Pomerol |
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Pomerol
Despite their world-famous reputation, there is no classification in the Pomerol. The present situation is as follows: The Syndicat de Pomerol refuses to be classified, because, in their own words, an "appellation with more than 1,000 years behind it, is recognition enough".
Even without an official classification, there are several properties that have distinguished themselves based on the consistent quality they have achieved over many years. The soils of Pomerol range from a gravel and clay mixture found in the eastern part of the commune to a lighter soil with more sand in the west. The plateau of Pomerol is a gravel deposit on the east side of Pomerol where most of the famous and well known Châteaus are located. Within this gravel deposit you will find clay in quantities that range from a mixture with the gravel to actual pockets of almost pure clay.
Pomerol estates tend to be much smaller in size. There are only about 1800 acres of vineyards in Pomerol. These vineyards are spread among the roughly 150 estates that produce an average of 1000 to 4000 cases each. The wines listed below are a personal classification by influential wine critic Robert Parker.
Exceptional
Château Clinet
Château La Conseillante
Château L’Eglise-Clinet
Château L’Evangile
Château La Fleur de Gay
Château Lafleur
Château Petrus
Château Le Pin
Château Trotanoy
Excellent
Château Le Bon Pasteur
Château Certan de May
Château Clos L’Eglise
Château La Croix du Casse
Château La Fleur-Petrus
Château Gazin
Château Latour a Pomerol
Château Nenin
Château Petit Village
Vieux Chateau Certan
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Wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region, France
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