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 There is no single comprehensive classification system that ranks Bordeaux's 57 appellations and thousands of wines. Over the years, the estates of several Bordeaux appellations such as Médoc, Sauternes & Barsac, Graves and Saint-Emilion have been classified based on criteria of consistent quality, type of terroir, wine-growing expertise, production levels and of course how the wine actually tastes. A classification is a list of outstanding wines. It provides the consumer, the ultimate judge, with a reliable, yet non-exhaustive reference of the resources of a particular vineyard. Look for "cru classé" or "grand cru classé" on the label.
For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, the World's Fair of the day, Napoléon III requested a classification system for Bordeaux wines ? France's best ? which were to be on display. It was established by brokers in the wine industry who ranked the wines according to a château's reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Red wines that made the list all came from the Médoc region with the exception of the Château Haut-Brion from Graves which was famous enough to be included. The wines were ranked descending from first to fifth growths, called "crus".
For white wines, only sweet whites from Sauternes and Barsac were ranked from first great growth to second growth. Within each category, châteaux are ranked in order of quality. In the more than 100 years since the 1855 classification, there has been only one change, when Château Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard in 1973. Today, many people critique the 1855 classification for numerous reasons: some because the great châteaux of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, among others, are not included; others because châteaux ownership and vineyard holdings are always changing.
1. The Official Classification Of 1855
The red wine classification includes 60 châteaux from the Médoc and 1 from the Graves. The châteaux are divided into five categories called growths or "crus" (i.e. premier cru = first growth, deuxième cru = second growth, etc.).
FIRST GROWTHS (PREMIERS CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
- Château Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Latour (Pauillac)
- Château Haut-Brion Pessac (Graves)
- Château Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
SECOND GROWTHS (DEUXIEMES CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château Rausan-Ségla (Margaux)
- Château Rauzan-Gassies (Margaux)
- Château Léoville-Las Cases (Saint-Julien)
- Château Léoville-Poyferré (Saint-Julien)
- Château Léoville-Barton (Saint-Julien)
- Château Durfort-Vivens (Margaux)
- Château Gruaud-Larose (Saint-Julien)
- Château Lascombes (Margaux)
- Château Brane-Cantenac Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron (Pauillac)
- Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac)
- Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (Saint-Julien)
- Château Cos d'Estournel (Saint-EstEphe)
- Château Montrose (Saint-EstEphe)
THIRD GROWTHS (TROISIEMES CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château Kirwan Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château d'Issan Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château Lagrange (Saint-Julien)
- Château Langoa-Barton (Saint-Julien)
- Château Giscours Labarde (Margaux)
- Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry (Margaux)
- Château Boyd-Cantenac Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château Cantenac-Brown Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château Palmer Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château La Lagune Ludon (Haut-Médoc)
- Château Desmirail (Margaux)
- Château Calon-Ségur (Saint-EstEphe)
- Château FerriEre (Margaux)
- Château Marquis d'Alesme-Becker (Margaux)
FOURTH GROWTHS (QUATRIEMES CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien)
- Château Talbot (Saint-Julien)
- Château Branaire-Ducru (Saint-Julien)
- Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild (Pauillac)
- Château Pouget Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château La Tour-Carnet Saint-Laurent (Haut Médoc)
- Château Lafon-Rochet (Saint-EstEphe)
- Château Beychevelle (Saint-Julien)
- Château Prieuré-Lichine Cantenac (Margaux)
- Château Marquis-de-Terme (Margaux)
FIFTH GROWTHS (CINQUIEMES CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac)
- Château Batailley (Pauillac)
- Château Haut-Batailley (Pauillac)
- Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac)
- Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse (Pauillac)
- Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac)
- Château Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac)
- Château Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
- Château D'Armailhac (Pauillac)
- Château du Tertre Arsac (Margaux)
- Château Haut-Bages-Libéral (Pauillac)
- Château Pédesclaux (Pauillac)
- Château Belgrave Saint-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château de Camensac Saint-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château Cos-Labory (Saint-EstEphe)
- Château Clerc-Milon (Pauillac)
- Château Croizet-Bages (Pauillac)
- Château Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Médoc)
2. 1855 Classification Of Sauternes And Barsac (Sweet Whites):
The sweet white wine classification includes 26 châteaux. The châteaux are divided into two categories called growths or "crus".
FIRST GREAT GROWTH (PREMIER CRU SUPERIEUR) COMMUNE
- Château d'Yquem Sauternes
FIRST GROWTHS (PREMIERS CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château La Tour-Blanche (Bommes)
- Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey (Bommes)
- Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey (Bommes)
- Château de Rayne-Vigneau (Bommes)
- Château Suduiraut (Preignac)
- Château Coutet (Barsac)
- Château Climens (Barsac)
- Château Guiraud (Sauternes)
- Château Rieussec (Fargues)
- Château Rabaud-Promis (Bommes)
- Château Sigalas-Rabaud (Bommes)
SECOND GROWTHS (DEUXIEMES CRUS) COMMUNE
- Château de Myrat (Barsac)
- Château Doisy-Daëne (Barsac)
- Château Doisy-Dubroca (Barsac)
- Château Doisy-Védrines (Barsac)
- Château d'Arche (Sauternes)
- Château Filhot (Sauternes)
- Château Broustet (Barsac)
- Château Nairac (Barsac)
- Château Caillou (Barsac)
- Château Suau (Barsac)
- Château de Malle (Preignac)
- Château Romer-du-Hayot (Fargues)
- Château Lamothe-Despujols (Sauternes)
- Château Lamothe-Guignard (Sauternes)
3. 1954 Classification Of Saint Emilion Wines (Reds):
These wines were classified into two categories:
- "Premier Grand Cru Classé" (13 châteaux)
- "Grand Cru Classé" (55 châteaux)
The Saint Emilion classification is revised and updated approximately every ten years. The last revision was in 1996.
In 1954, further to a request from the "Syndicat de Défense des Vins de Saint-Emilion", the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) established a classification of wines from this appellation.
The law stipulates that every ten years the INAO should revise this classification which attaches great importance to the high quality of the terroir.
Only wines from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation are eligible top become an official Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé.The 1969, 1979, 1984 and 1996 revisions slightly altered the original classification.
The current classification includes 13 Premier Grand Crus Classés and 55 Grand Crus Classés, with a combined area of 860 hectares (2,124 acres) under wine.
FIRST GREAT GROWTH CATEGORY A
- Château Ausone
- Château Cheval Blanc
FIRST GREAT GROWTH CATEGORY B
- Château Angélus
- Château Beau-SéJour BéCot
- Château BeauséJour (Duffau-Lagarosse)
- Château Belair
- Château Canon
- Château Figeac
- Château La Gaffeliere
- Château Magdelaine
- Château Pavie
- Château Trottevieille
- Clos Fourtet
GREAT GROWTHS
- Château Balestard La Tonelle
- Château Bellevue
- Château Bergat
- Château Berliquet
- Château Cadet Bon
- Château Cadet-Piola
- Château Canon La Gaffeliere
- Château Cap De Mourlin
- Château Chauvin
- Château Clos Des Jacobins
- Château Corbin
- Château Corbin-Michotte
- Château Curé Bon
- Château Dassault
- Château Faurie-De-Sauchard
- Château FonpléGade
- Château Fonroque
- Château Franc Mayne
- Château Grand Mayne
- Château Grand Pontet
- Château Guadet Saint-Julien
- Château Haut Corbin
- Château Haut Sarpe Saint-Christophe Des Bardes
- Château L'arroséE
- Château La Clotte
- Château La Clusiere
- Château La Couspaude
- Château La Dominique
- Château La Serre
- Château La Tour Du Pin-Figeac (Giraud-Belivier)
- Château La Tour Du Pin-Figeac (J.M. Moueix)
- Château La Tour Figeac
- Château Lamarzelle
- Château Laniote
- Château Larcis Ducasse Saint-Laurent Des Combes
- Château Larmande
- Château Laroque Saint-Christophe Des Bardes
- Château Laroze
- Château Le Prieuré
- Château Les Grandes Murailles
- Château Matras
- Château Moulin Du Cadet
- Château Pavie Decesse
- Château Pavie Macquin
- Château Petite Faurie De Soutard
- Château Ripeau
- Château Saint-George CÔTe Pavie
- Château Soutard
- Château Tertre Daugay
- Château Troplong-Mondot
- Château Villemaurine
- Château Yon-Figeac
- Clos De L'oratoire
- Clos Saint-Martin
- Couvent Des Jacobins
4. 1959 Graves Classification
A total of 16 châteaux including 13 red and 9 dry white wines. This classification does not further rank estates within the classification; all are entitled to the name, "cru classé" or classified growth.
The red and white wines of the Graves region were first classified in 1953, but the classification only became official with the 1959 ranking. Within each category, the Châteaux are not ordered by quality.
CLASSIFIED RED WINES OF GRAVES COMMUNE
- Château Bouscaut (Cadaujac)
- Château Haut-Bailly (Léognan)
- Château Carbonnieux (Léognan)
- Domaine de Chevalier (Léognan)
- Château de Fieuzal (Léognan)
- Château d'Olivier (Léognan)
- Château Malartic-Lagravière (Léognan)
- Château La Tour-Martillac (Martillac)
- Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte (Martillac)
- Château Haut-Brion (Pessac)
- Château La Mission-Haut-Brion (Talence)
- Château Pape-Clément (Pessac)
- Château Latour-Haut-Brion (Talence)
CLASSIFIED WHITE WINES OF GRAVES COMMUNE
- Château Bouscaut (Cadaujac)
- Château Carbonnieux (Léognan)
- Château Domaine de Chevalier (Léognan)
- Château d'Olivier (Léognan)
- Château Malartic Lagravière (Léognan)
- Château La Tour-Martillac (Martillac)
- Château Laville-Haut-Brion (Talence)
- Château Couhins-Lurton (Villenave d'Ornan)
- Château Couhins (Villenave d'Ornan)
- Château Haut-Brion (Pessac) (added in 1960)
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