There are several classifications in the Bordeaux region. The most famous of them all will undoubtedly be the 1855 classification but there are also classifications for Graves and Saint-Emilion grand crus. Let’s delve into the world of Bordeaux classifications together!
The 1855 Bordeaux classification
The Saint-Émilion classification
The Graves classification
Médoc’s Cru Bourgeois
The 1855 classification of wines from Médoc and Graves
On the occasion of the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1855, Napoléon III asked the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to classify its wines. Bordeaux courtiers listed properties on the criteria such as reputation, the beauty of the château and the sales price of their wine.
The classification exclusively included wines from the left bank of the Garonne river – essentially Médoc and Sauternes with one Pessac-Léognan – and no wine from the right bank, which fell under Libourne at the time.
Red wine classification
The red wine classification is divided into five categories. The properties all happen to be located in Médoc, except for one that is situated in Graves – Château Haut-Brion.
| Premier Crus (5) | |
| Château Margaux, Margaux | |
| Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac | |
| Château Latour, Pauillac | |
| Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (went from deuxième cru to premier cru in 1973) | |
| Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (Graves until 1986) | |
| Deuxième Crus (14) | Troisième Crus (14) |
| Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux | Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc |
| Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux | Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux |
| Château Lascombes, Margaux | Château Cantenac Brown, Margaux |
| Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux | Château Desmirail, Margaux |
| Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux | Château Ferrière, Margaux |
| Château Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac | Château Giscours, Margaux |
| Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac | Château d’Issan, Margaux |
| Château Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe | Château Kirwan, Margaux |
| Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe | Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux |
| Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien | Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Margaux |
| Château Gruaud Larose, Saint-Julien | Château Palmer, Margaux |
| Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien | Château Calon-Ségur, Saint-Estèphe |
| Château Léoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien | Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien |
| Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien | Château Langoa Barton, Saint-Julien |
| Quatrième Crus (10) | Cinquième Crus (18) |
| Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc | Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc |
| Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux | Château Camensac, Haut-Médoc |
| Château Pouget, Margaux | Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc |
| Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux | Château Dauzac, Margaux |
| Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac | Château du Tertre, Margaux |
| Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe | Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac |
| Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien | Château Batailley, Pauillac |
| Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien | Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac |
| Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien | Château Croizet-Bages, Pauillac |
| Château Talbot, Saint-Julien | Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac |
| Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac | |
| Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Pauillac | |
| Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac | |
| Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac | |
| Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac | |
| Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac | |
| Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac | |
| Château Cos Labory, Saint-Estèphe |
Only two changes have ever been made to this classification:
- Château Cantemerle became a cinquième cru in September 1855
- Château Mouton-Rothschild moved up from being a deuxième cru to a premier cru in June 1973
Alongside these changes, some châteaux have changed the spelling of their names (Château Beychevelle as we know it today was spelt Beychevele originally) or their names entirely over time (Château Lafon-Rochet was originally Château Rochet for example).
Certain events also added properties to the list. When it was first drawn up, there were only 57 and now there are 61. This can be attributed to the fact that Château Léoville was split into three properties (Léoville Barton, Léoville Las Cases and Léoville Poyferré), while Château Pichon Longueville was divided into two (Comtesse and Baron).
White wine classification (sweet)
The white wine classification is entirely constructed of sweet wines from the Barsac and Sauternes appellation. It is divided into three categories: premier cru supérieur (1), premiers crus (11), deuxièmes crus (15).
| Premier Cru Supérieur (1) | |
| Château d’Yquem, Sauternes | |
| Premier Crus (11) | Deuxième Crus (15) |
| Château Climens, Barsac | Château Broustet, Barsac |
| Château Coutet, Barsac | Château Caillou, Barsac |
| Château Rabaud-Promis, Sauternes | Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac |
| Château Guiraud, Sauternes | Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac |
| Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Sauternes | Château d’Arche, Sauternes |
| Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes | Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac |
| Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes | Château de Myrat, Sauternes |
| Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Sauternes | Château Nairac, Barsac |
| Château Rieussec, Sauternes | Château Suau, Barsac |
| Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Sauternes | Château Filhot, Sauternes |
| Château Suduiraut, Sauternes | Château Lamothe, Sauternes |
| Château Lamothe Guignard, Sauternes | |
| Château de Malle, Sauternes | |
| Château Romer, Sauternes | |
| Château Romer du Hayot, Sauternes |
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru classification
Moving over to the Right Bank, this classification managed by the National Institute of Designations of Origin (Institut national des appellations d’origines (INAO)) has existed since 1955 following a request of the syndicate defending the Saint-Emilion grand cru appellation. Revised every 10 years, it’s the only one of Bordeaux’s classifications that perpetually evolves.
Since its creation, seven versions have been published with the latest one being released in 2022. It also marked the introduction of a new procedure which was not to everyone’s taste as Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc, followed by Château Angélus and Château La Gaffelière (classé B) decided not to put their wine up for contention and leave the classification.
The 2022 list contained 85 grand crus classé, of which two are premier grand crus classé A and 12 are premier grand crus classé B.
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A (2)
Château Pavie
Premier Grands Cru Classé B (12)
Château Beau-Sejour Becot
Château Beausejour Heritiers Duffau Lagarrosse
Château Belair Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon La Gaffeliere
Château Larcis Ducasse
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trottevieille
Château Valandraud
Clos Fourtet, La Mondotte
Grand Cru Classé
| Château Badette | Château La Fleur Morange |
| Château Balestard La Tonnelle | Château La Marzelle |
| Château Barde-Haut | Château La Serre |
| Château Bellefont-Belcier | Château La Tour Figeac |
| Château Bellevue | Château Laniote |
| Château Berliquet | Château Larmande |
| Château Boutisse | Château Laroque |
| Château Cadet-Bon | Château Laroze |
| Château Cap de Mourlin | Château Le Chatelet |
| Château Chauvin | Château Le Prieure |
| Château Clos de Sarpe | Château Lassegue |
| Château Corbin | Château Mangot |
| Château Corbin Michotte | Château Monbousquet |
| Château Cote de Baleau | Château Montlabert |
| Château Croix de Labrie | Château Montlisse |
| Château Dassault | Château Moulin Du Cadet |
| Château de Ferrand | Château Peby Faugeres |
| Château de Pressac | Château Petit Faurie de Soutard |
| Château Destieux | Château Ripeau |
| Château Faugeres | Château Rochebelle |
| Château Fleur Cardinale | Château Rol Valentin |
| Château Fombrauge | Château Saint-Georges (Cote Pavie) |
| Château Fonplegade | Château Sansonnet |
| Château Fonroque | Château Soutard |
| Château Franc Mayne | Château Tour Baladoz |
| Château Grand Corbin | Château Tour Saint Christophe |
| Château Grand Corbin-Despagne | Château Villemaurine |
| Château Grand Mayne | Château Yon-Figeac |
| Château Guadet | Clos Badon Thunevin |
| Château Haut-Sarpe | Clos de L’Oratoire |
| Château Jean Faure | Clos des Jacobins |
| Château La Commanderie | Clos Dubreuil |
| Château La Confession | Clos Saint-Julien |
| Château La Couspaude | Clos Saint-Martin |
| Château La Croizille | Couvent des Jacobins |
| Château La Dominique |
The Graves classification
Only Haut-Biron and Sauternes wines feature in the 1855 classification so the region of Graves decided to create its own classification to rectify this. Drawn up in 1953 and revised by the INAO in 1959, it lists 16 grand cru classé bringing together red and white wines. Some château are listed for just their red or white wine, while others are listed for both.
| Château Bouscaut | Red and white |
| Château Carbonnieux | Red and white |
| Domaine de Chevalier | Red and white |
| Château Latour-Martillac | Red and white |
| Château Malartic-Lagravière | Red and white |
| Château Olivier | Red and white |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte | Red |
| Château Couhins | White |
| Château Couhins-Lurton | White |
| Château Laville Haut-Brion | White |
| Château de Fieuzal | Red |
| Château Haut-Bailly | Red |
| Château Haut-Brion | Red |
| Château La Mission Haut-Brion | Red |
| Château Pape Clément | Red |
| Château la Tour Haut-Brion | Red |
The official Crus Bourgeois selection
Having first been mentioned in the 17th century, Crus Bourgeois wines gained their first classification in 1932, although it wasn’t entered in the records at the time. They had to wait until 1962 for a syndicate to created which could then officiate the classification and 2000 for it to be officially regulated. A few more complications followed before a “qualitative selection of Crus Bourgeois” were listed in 2009. Each year, a new selection is released in September.
In 2020, 249 châteaux were listed, split into three categories: Crus Bourgeois, Crus Bourgeois Supérieur and Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnel.
On the iDealwine website, you can find eight of the 14 Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnel: Château Belle-Vue, Château Charmail, Château Malescasse, Château du Taillan, Château Lestage, Château Le Crock and Château Lilian Ladouys.
So there you have it, all of Bordeaux’s classifications and it goes without saying, but you can find many of these châteaux’s wines on the iDealwine website during the pre-sale En Primeur campaign every spring.
Also on the iDealwine blog:
Bordeaux | What is a second wine?
Right Bank vs Left Bank, what’s the difference?
The differences between Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations
