Bordeaux Classification of 1855
Bordeaux Classification
The Bordeaux Classification of 1855 was developed when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world. For this request, wine brokers created this classification system from which the wines of Bordeaux were ranked. At the time, the classification only included the top wine makers of the Medoc region (roughly pronounced me-duck); with the except of Chateau Haut Brion (pronounced O Bree-ohn) from the Graves region. The rating was largely based on the price that the wines were bringing in the market and the consistency of the quality of the wines year after year. The classification was ultimately divided into five (5) classifications. These classifications are known as "Growths". The only change in this original classification of 1855 has been in 1973 when the powerful Philippe de Rothschild's Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from a 2nd Growth to 1st growth status. Saint-Emilion was omitted from the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux. But in 1955, at the request of the Syndicate de Defense de Saint Emillion (a wine growers union) a classification was established for this growth of red wines. The Saint-Emilion classification is revised every ten years. Changes occured in 1969, 1979, 1984, and 2006.
Today, some Chateaus are now producing wines that deserve a higher classification and others deserve a lower rating; however, the original classification of 1855 has stayed in tact. One large, notable exception is Chateau Petrus which has been an extremely popular and expensive wine; however was not awarded a classification in 1855. There are many more Chateaus than were included in the five (5) classifications. The classified chateaus are responsible for nearly 1/4 of of the wine production in the Medoc.
Today, a familiar name in wine, Robert M. Parker Jr. argues that the archaic classification "Should be regarded by both the wine connoiseur and the novice as informational items of historical significance only."
Here is the Bordeaux Classification of 1855:
First Growths (Premiers or 1er Crus)
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
Chateau Latour, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
Chateau Margaux, Commune de Margaux
Chateau Haut-Brion, Commune de Pessac, Graves
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
Second Growths (Deuximes Crus)
Chateau Rausan-Segla, Margaux
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
Chateau Leoville Las Cases, St.Julien
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, St.Julien
Chateau Leoville Barton, St.Julien
Chateau Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
Chateau Gruaud-Larose, St.Julien
Chateau Lascombes, Margaux
Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.Julien
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estephe
Chateau Montrose, St.Estephe
Third Growths (Troisieme Crus)
Chateau Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau Lagrange, St.Julien
Chateau Langoa Barton, St.Julien
Chateau Giscours, Labarde-Margaux
Chateau Malescot St. Exupery, Margaux
Chateau Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Chateau Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau La Lagune, Ludon
Chateau Desmirail, Margaux
Chateau Calon-Segur, St.Estephe
Chateau Ferriere, Margaux
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux
Fourth Growths (Quatrimes Crus)
Chateau St.-Pierre, St.Julien
Chateau Talbot, St.Julien
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, St.Julien
Chateau Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Chateau Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau La Tour Carnet, St.Laurent
Chateau Lafon-Rochet, St.Estephe
Chateau Beychevelle, St.Julien
Chateau Prieure-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux
Chateau Marquis de Terme, Margaux
Fifth Growths (Cinquimes Crus)
Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Chateau Batailley, Pauillac
Chateau Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal, Pauillac
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Chateau Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Chateau Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
Chateau Mouton-Baronne-Philippe, Pauillac
Chateau du Tertre, Arsac
Chateau Pedesclaux, Pauillac
Chateau Belgrave St.Laurent
Chateau Camensac, St.Laurent
Chateau Cos Labory, St.Estephe
Chateau Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Chateau Croizet Bages, Pauillac
Chateau Cantemerle Macau
Clos L'Eglise (Pomerol):
- Clos L'Eglise was not included but is considered an exceptional wine
Chateau Greysac (Medoc):
- Chateau Greysac was not is also an exceptional that was not included
Chateau Petrus:
- Chateau Petrus is yet another well respected and exceptional wine not included
Chateau d'Yquem (Sauternes):
- Chateau d'Yquem is the only white wine considered a Premiere Grande Cru
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Bordeaux Classification Message Board
Posted on: 04-19-2008
Rating: Negative
Would rather you had typed the information yourself rather than lift the list and the Noteworthy additions from www.cellarnotes.net where I put this information in 1999. You have used copyrighted content without permission.
Dan Miller
Cellarnotes.net
Posted on: 04-19-2008
Rating: Positive
Actually Danny,
This article was written from scratch. Although I appreciate you trying to take credit for our article and yelling copyright. True noble you are.
This article was typed and not “lifted” as you suggest. We even still have all of the original iterations of the article as we made changes. It would be difficult and time consuming to produce eight variations of an article that we simply “lifted”.
You can also find nearly the exact same verbiage within multiple books, many places online, and even on some wine tasting cards I have. Did all of these sources steal from you too?
If you claim that it sounds similar to something you have written that is probably because 95% of the information is factual and based upon what happened in history.
I can assure you that the article was typed from scratch. I know this because I typed it. We do not employ copying and pasting as a means of content population. We have legal counsel; we understand why that should not be done.