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Wine Official Classification of 1855.
For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best 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
The wines were then 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 one: 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.
Changes to the classification
Within each category, the various châteaux are ranked in order of quality and only twice since the 1855 classification has there been a change, first when in 1856 Château Cantemerle was added as a fifth growth and, more significantly, in 1973, when Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard after decades of intense lobbying by the powerful Philippe de Rothschild. A third, but less known "change", is the removal of Château Dubignon, a third growth from St.-Julien that was absorbed into the estate Château Malescot St. Exupéry.
Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
Classed Growths of Médoc
Premiers Crus
Lafite Rothschild • Latour • Margaux • Haut-Brion (Graves) • Mouton Rothschild(1973)
Seconds Crus
Rauzan-Ségla • Rauzan-Gassies • Léoville-Las Cases • Léoville-Poyferré • Léoville-Barton • Durfort-Vivens • Gruaud-Larose • Lascombes • Brane-Cantenac • Pichon Longueville Baron • Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande • Ducru-Beaucaillou • Cos d'Estournel • Montrose
Troisièmes Crus
Kirwan • d'Issan • Lagrange • Langoa-Barton • Giscours • Malescot St. Exupéry • Boyd-Cantenac • Cantenac-Brown • Palmer • La Lagune • Desmirail • Calon-Ségur • Ferrière • Marquis d'Alesme Becker
Quatrièmes Crus
Saint-Pierre • Talbot • Branaire-Ducru • Duhart-Milon-Rothschild • Pouget • La Tour Carnet • Lafon-Rochet • Beychevelle • Prieuré-Lichine • Marquis de Terme
Cinquièmes Crus
Pontet-Canet • Batailley • Haut-Batailley • Grand-Puy-Lacoste • Grand-Puy-Ducasse • Lynch-Bages • Lynch-Moussas • Dauzac • d'Armailhac • du Tertre • Haut-Bages-Libéral • Pédesclaux • Belgrave • de Camensac • Cos Labory • Clerc-Milon • Croizet Bages • Cantemerle (1856)
Classed Growths of Sauternes and Barsac
Premier Cru Supérieur
d'Yquem
Premiers Crus
La Tour Blanche • Lafaurie-Peyraguey • Clos Haut-Peyraguey • Rayne-Vigneau • Suduiraut • Coutet • Climens • Guiraud • Rieussec • Rabaud-Promis • Sigalas-Rabaud
Seconds Crus
de Myrat • Doisy Daëne • Doisy-Dubroca • Doisy-Védrines • d'Arche • Filhot • Broustet • Nairac • Caillou • Suau • de Malle • Romer du Hayot • Romer • Lamothe • Lamothe-Guignard
Right Bank
The Right Bank Hosts an array of super wines, although officially these wines have no classification some of these can rival the Premier Crus from the left bank. Pétrus, Château Pavie and Château Ausone to name just a few.
The area of Libournais encompassed much of what is referred to as the Right Bank. Named for its historical capital, Libourne, this area sits on the right bank of the Dordogne river and expands west past the convergence of the Isle river. Further west, after the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet, the region of Bourg and Blaye is found the right bank of the Garonne. The expression Right Bank typically refers to wines from the Pomerol and St-Emilion areas of Libournais.
Pomerol
The area of Pomerol was first cultivated by the Romans during their occupation of the area. Up until the early 20th century the area was known mostly for its white wine production. This area within Libournais doesn't have a distinct city center with several villages spread across an area about the same size as St.-Julien. The area overall has gravel based soil that is typical of Bordeaux with western and southern section having more sandy soil while the northern and eastern sections towards St.-Emilion having more clay composition.
The wines of Pomerol have a high composition of Merlot in their blends and are considered the gentlest and least tannic and acidic of Bordeaux wines. Cabernet Franc, known in this area as Bouchet is the second leading grape and helps to contribute to the dark, deep colouring that is typical of Pomerol wines. Due to the reduced tannins found in these wines they can typically be drunk much younger than other red Bordeaux. The châteaus in the area are not classified, with the winemakers seemingly disinclined to devise one, although Pétrus is often unofficially grouped with the First Growths of Bordeaux.
Saint-Émilion
The wine region of Saint-Émilion centers around the eponymous commune of the same name.There are several villages around the region that share the Saint-Émilion name, such as Montagne-Saint-Émilion and St-Georges-Saint-Émilion, and are permitted to label their wines under the same name. The area is bordered to the west by Pomerol. Merlot is the dominant grape in this area, followed by Cabernet Franc. The climate and damper, cool soils of the area makes it difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to fully ripen and as such is less often used. The wines take a little longer to mature then the ones in Pomerol but are still able to drink relatively young for a Bordeaux (4-8 years). In favourable vintages the wines have a good ageing potential.
Saint-Émilion wines were first classified in 1878 and have been continuously revised with the most recent revision occurring in 1996. Chateaux are divided into two First Growth classification-Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, which currently includes Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc, and Premiers Grands Crus Classés B which currently includes 13 châteaux such as Château Angélus and Château Figeac. Below the Premiers crus are the Grands Crus Classés which currently includes 55 châteaux. Estates can apply for classification by passing two tasting panels.
Bourg and Blaye
North of Libournais, this area sits on the Right Bank of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and is one of the oldest wine producing regions in Bordeaux, exporting wine long before the Médoc was even planted. Merlot is the main grape of the area followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The area around Bourg also has sizable Sauvignon blanc planting for sparkling wines and Ugni blanc for cognac.
A French phrase, which indicates the wine to which it is applied, has been produced under the strict supervision of the Institut d’Appellations d’Origine, and has been made from grapes grown in a specific region of France.
The first Appellation was set up in 1936 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Since then the system has been extended throughout France and now covers some 30% of total wine production, including the wines made in the west. The Institut d’Appellations d’Origine will initially measure and define the area to be included in the particular Appellation and thereafter has authority under French law, reinforced by EEC directives, to regulate the gra pe varieties that may be planted, the maximum amount of grapes produced, the method of pruning and often the precise wine-making techniques to be employed.
The Objectives of the system are:-
To maintain and enhance quality and to maintain the special characteristics of the wines of a particular area. Wine produced under the authority of the Institute d’Appellations d’Origine are entitled to display the term “Appellation Contrôlée” on their bottle labels as an indication that the content is wine of the best quality and from a limited supply. They also limit the amount of labels each vineyard is allocated to only enough for 177 cases of wine per acre of land, for each vintage. Any wine that may be left over after all the ‘labelled’ bottles are full is sold under a secondary label, or blended with another wine.
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