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The Wines
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Bordeaux wines
are so delicious and rewarding to get to
know, it's worth it to spend some time understanding them. It's
simple, really. A good red Bordeaux is essentially a
"Cabernet-Merlot" in a tuxedo. This varies by
appellation,
but they're usually a blend. Blending varietals could also include
Cabernet Franc, Malbec or small amounts of Petit Verdot.
Left bank wines (as you face
the mouth of the river)
have higher concentrations of Cabernet Sauvignon, right
bank wines have more Merlot...
There are
also wonderful dry white wines (usually a blend of
Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc). And for a liquid gold
experience, enjoy the white dessert wines of Sauternes. They are rich,
thick and complex. Across the river from there, you can
also find rewarding counterparts in Sainte Croix du Mont
and Cadillac.
BORDEAUX WINE
CLASSIFICATIONS
BORDEAUX 1855
CLASSIFICATION
In 1855 the leading brokers of
Bordeaux created a rating system that identified the top
wines. The châteaux that made it into this
exclusive list were from the Médoc, Sauternes and
Barsac. And Château Haut-Brion from Graves was included
because of its popularity.
The five rank levels were based on
the market values of the wines. Sauternes and
Barsac received two tiers. Château d'Yquem was
recognized as above the rest. The classification
system remains virtually the same as in
1855.
The ongoing pursuit of excellence
in Bordeaux has led to the emergence of an informal new
group called "Super-Seconds" which are châteaux that
produce wines of such quality that they rival those off
the First Growths. They include Palmer, two
Pichons, Lynch-Bages, Léoville-Las-Cases and Barton,
Ducru-Beaucaillou, Cos, and
Montrose.
Premier Crus Classés (First
Growths)
Château
Lafite-Rothschild,
Pauillac
Château
Latour, Pauillac
Château
Margaux,
Margaux
Château
Haut-Brion, Pessac, Graves
Château
Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac (since 1973)
Deuxièmes Crus Classés
(Second Growths)
Château
Rauzan-Ségla,
Margaux
Château
Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
Château
Léoville-Las-Cases, St. Julien
Château
Léoville-Poyferré, St. Julien
Château
Léoville-Barton, St. Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens,
Margaux
Château Lascombes, Margaux
Château
Gruaud-Larose, St. Julien
Château Brane-Cantenac,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron,
Pauillac
Château Pichon Lalande, Pauillac
Château
Ducru-Beaucaillou, St. Julien
Château Cos
d'Estournel, St. Estèphe
Château Montrose, St.
Estèphe
Troisièmes Crus Classés
(Third Growths)
Château Giscours,
Labarde-Margaux
Château Kirwan,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château d'Issan,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château Lagrange, St.
Julien
Château Langoa-Barton, St. Julien
Château
Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château
Palmer,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château La Lagune,
Ludon-Haut-Médoc
Château Desmirail, Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur, St. Estèphe
Château
Ferrière, Margaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme-Beker,
Margaux
Château Boyd-Cantenac,
Cantenac-Margaux
Quatrièmes Crus Classés
(Fourth Growths)
Château St.Pierre, St.
Julien
Château Branaire, St. Julien
Château
Talbot, St. Julien
Château Duhart-Milon,
Pauillac
Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux
Château
La Tour-Carnet, St. Laurent-Haut-Médoc
Château
Lafon-Rochet, St. Estèphe
Château Beychevelle, St.
Julien
Château Prieuré-Lichine,
Cantenac-Margaux
Château Marquis-de-Terme,
Margaux
Cinquièmes Crus Classés
(Fifth Growths)
Château Pontet-Canet,
Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château
Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château
Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley,
Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château
Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château Dauzac,
Labarde-Margaux
Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe (now
d'Armailhacq), Pauillac
Château du Tertre,
Arsac-Margaux
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral,
Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
Château
Belgrave, St. Laurent-Haut-Médoc
Château de Camensac,
St. Laurent-Haut-Médoc
Château Cos Labory, St.
Estèphe
Château Clerc-Milon-Rothschild,
Pauillac
Château Croizet-Bages, Pauillac
Château
Cantemerle, Macau-Haut-Médoc
Cru
Bourgeois
The Crus Bourgeois are those
châteaux in the Médoc that are ranked as not having
quite the quality of the châteaux of the 1855
Classification. This system identifies the
châteaux that produce wines of proper local character
and quality, but not necessarily with the finesse of
their more lofty counterparts.
There are three categories: Cru
Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Cru Grand Bourgeois and Cru
Bourgeois, but only the latter designation is acceptable
on the label.
SAUTERNES-BARSAC
Premier Cru Supérieur
(Superior First Growth
)
Château
d'Yquem
Premier Crus
Classés (First Growths
)
Château Guiraud
Clos
Haut-Peyraguey
Château La Tour Blanche
Château
Coutet
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Château
Climens
Château de Rayne Vigneau
Château
Suduiraut
Château Sigalas Rabaud
Château
Rieussec
Château Rabaud-Promis
Deuxièmes Crus
Classés (Second Growths
)
Château d'Arche
Château
Suau
Château Filhot
Château Broustet
Château
Lamothe Guignard
Château Caillou
Château de
Myrat
Château Nairac
Château
Doisy-Védrines
Château de Malle
Château
Doisy-Daëne
Château Romer
GRAVES
CLASSIFICATION
A one tier
classification. Château Haut-Brion also appears on this
list. Historical note:
Haut-Brion was founded by the de Pontac
family, but was lost to one of Napoleon's ministers.
All the wines
are graded together and alphabetically.
Classified Red Wines of
Graves
Château Bouscaut,
Cadaujac
Château Haut-Bailly, Léognan
Château
Carbonnieux, Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier,
Léognan
Château de Fieuzal, Léognan
Château
Olivier, Léognan
Malartic-Lagravière,
Léognan
Château La Tour-Martillac,
Martillac
Château Smith-Haute-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
Château Bouscaut,
Cadaujac
Château Carbonnieux, Léognan
Domaine de
Chevalier, Léognan
Château Olivier,
Léognan
Malartic-Lagravière, Léognan
Château La
Tour-Martillac, Martillac
Château Laville-Haut Brion,
Talence
Château Couhins-Lurton, Vilenave
d`Ornan
Château Couhins, Vilenave d`Ornan
Château
Haut-Brion, Pessac (added in 1960)
ST. EMILION 1995
CLASSIFICATION
Initially created in 1995, this
system is regularly amended.
The Classifications
:
There are two main
classifications:
- Premier Grands Cru Classés
(A & B)
- Grands Cru Classés
There is also a "Grand
Cru" that is awarded to properties below Grand
Cru Classés status - over 500 Châteaux
The St. Emilion list is revised
every 10 years. The last change was in 2006.
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 Cru Classés
(to list of the
more than 50 properties)
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT
PÉTRUS
Pomerol has no classification system. But Château
Pétrus from this appellation is popularly
recognized as
a First Growth in quality.
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