Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
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For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, 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. Brokers from the wine industry 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.
The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus). All of the red wines that made it on the list came from the Médoc region except for the Château Haut-Brion from Graves. The white wines, then of much less importance than red wine, were limited to the sweet varieties of Sauternes and Barsac and were ranked only from first great growth to second growth.
Within each category, the various vineyards are ranked in order of quality and only once since the 1855 classification has there been a change, when in 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard. Interestingly, since it is a classification of chateaux, the actual vineyards owned by some wineries have expanded and shrunk without any reclassification. Determining an up-to-date classification is favorite parlor game, especially among French wine enthusiasts.
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The 1855 List
The Official Classification of 1855
(Modern names given in brackets)
Premiers Crus (First Growths)
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac
Chateau Latour, Pauillac
Chateau Margaux, Margaux
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac, Graves (Pessac-Leognan since 1986)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac (promoted to first growth in 1973)
Chateau Rausan-Segla, Margaux (Chateau Rauzan-Segla)
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 (Margaux)
Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac (Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Lalande)
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estephe
Chateau Montrose, St.-Estephe
Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)
Chateau Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Lagrange, St.-Julien
Chateau Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
Chateau Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Malescot St. Exupery, Margaux
Chateau Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Chateau Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Desmirail, Margaux
Chateau Calon-Segur, St.-Estephe
Chateau Ferriere, Margaux
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux
Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)
Chateau St.-Pierre, St.-Julien
Chateau Talbot, St.-Julien
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
Chateau Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Chateau Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau La Tour Carnet, St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estephe
Chateau Beychevelle, St.-Julien
Chateau Prieure-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Marquis de Terme, Margaux
Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)
Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Chateau Batailley, Pauillac
Chateau Haut-Batailley, 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 d'Armailhac)
Chateau du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal, Pauillac
Chateau Pedesclaux, Pauillac
Chateau Belgrave St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Camensac, St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc) (Chateau de Camensac)
Chateau Cos Labory, St.-Estephe
Chateau Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Chateau Croizet Bages, Pauillac
Chateau Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Medoc)
Sauternes and Barsac
(Modern names given in brackets)
Great First Growth (Grand Premier Cru)
Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes
First Growths (Premiers Crus)
Chateau La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)
Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes) (Chateau Clos Haut-Peyraguey)
Chateau de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)
Chateau Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)
Chateau Coutet, Barsac
Chateau Climens, Barsac
Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes
Chateau Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)
Chateau Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)
Chateau Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)
Chateau Myrat, Barsac (Chateau de Myrat)
Chateau Doisy Daene, Barsac
Chateau Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines, Barsac
Chateau D'Arche, Sauternes
Chateau Filhot, Sauternes
Chateau Broustet Barsac
Chateau Nairac, Barsac
Chateau Caillou, Barsac
Chateau Suau, Barsac
Chateau de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)
Chateau Romer, Fargues (Sauternes) (Chateau Romer du Hayot)
Chateau Lamothe, Sauternes
See also
fr:Classification officielle des vins de Bordeaux de 1855 nl:Bordeauxwijn (classificatie 1855)
Categories: Wine | Appellations | Bordeaux | 1855