By Eamonn Egan, CEO - Cellar Link Auctions. Jan 2025
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The Grand Cru Classés of Bordeaux: History, Classifications, and Wineries
The Bordeaux region in France is celebrated worldwide as the pinnacle of fine wine production. Among its many contributions to the global wine industry, the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 stands as a hallmark of excellence, establishing a benchmark for quality and prestige that endures to this day.
The 1855 Bordeaux Wine Classification
The 1855 classification was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III to showcase France’s finest wines at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. The wines were ranked into five growths (“crû”), primarily based on their market price and reputation at the time. This classification focused exclusively on the wines of the Médoc (Left Bank), with the notable exception of Château Haut-Brion from Graves.
Since its inception, the classification has seen minimal changes, maintaining its historical integrity. The most notable amendment occurred in 1973, when Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a Second Growth to a First Growth status after years of lobbying.
Bordeaux’s Left Bank and Right Bank
The Bordeaux region is divided by the Gironde River into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. These areas differ in their soil composition, grape varieties, and wine styles:
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Left Bank (Médoc and Graves): Known for gravelly soils that favor Cabernet Sauvignon, producing structured and age-worthy wines.
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Right Bank (Saint-Émilion and Pomerol): Dominated by clay and limestone soils, ideal for Merlot and Cabernet Franc, yielding rich and approachable wines.
The 1855 classification focuses solely on the Left Bank, leaving the prestigious wines of the Right Bank, such as those from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, to their own distinct systems of classification.
The 1855 Classification: Wineries by Growth
Below is the list of wineries featured in the 1855 classification, grouped by their respective growths:
First Growth (“Premier Cru”):
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Château Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac Website
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Château Latour - Pauillac Website
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Château Haut-Brion - Pessac (Graves) Website
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Château Mouton Rothschild (elevated in 1973) - Pauillac Website
Second Growth (“Deuxième Cru”):
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Château Rausan-Ségla - Margaux Website
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Château Rauzan-Gassies - Margaux
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Château Léoville-Las Cases - Saint-Julien Website
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Château Léoville-Poyferré - Saint-Julien Website
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Château Léoville-Barton - Saint-Julien Website
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Château Durfort-Vivens - Margaux
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Château Gruaud-Larose - Saint-Julien Website
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Château Brane-Cantenac - Margaux Website
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Château Pichon Longueville Baron - Pauillac Website
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Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac Website
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Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - Saint-Julien Website
Third Growth (“Troisième Cru”):
- Château KIRWAN – Margaux
- Château d’ISSAN – Margaux
- Château LAGRANGE – Saint-Julien
- Château LANGOA BARTON – Saint-Julien
- Château GISCOURS – Margaux
- Château MALESCOT SAINT-EXUPÉRY – Margaux
- Château BOYD-CANTENAC – Margaux
- Château CANTENAC BROWN – Margaux
- Château PALMER – Margaux
- Château LA LAGUNE – Haut-Médoc
- Château DESMIRAIL – Margaux
- Château CALON SÉGUR – Saint-Estèphe
- Château FERRIÈRE – Margaux
- Château MARQUIS d’ALESME BECKER – Margaux
Fourth Growth ("QUATRIÈMES CRUS"):
- Château SAINT-PIERRE – Saint-Julien
- Château TALBOT – Saint-Julien
- Château BRANAIRE-DUCRU – Saint-Julien
- Château DUHART-MILON – Pauillac
- Château POUGET – Margaux
- Château LA TOUR CARNET – Haut-Médoc
- Château LAFON-ROCHET – Saint-Estèphe
- Château BEYCHEVELLE – Saint-Julien
- Château PRIEURÉ-LICHINE – Margaux
- Château MARQUIS de TERME – Margaux
Fifth Growth ("CINQUIÈMES CRUS"):
- Château PONTET-CANET – Pauillac
- Château BATAILLEY – Pauillac
- Château HAUT-BATAILLEY – Pauillac
- Château GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE – Pauillac
- Château GRAND-PUY DUCASSE – Pauillac
- Château LYNCH-BAGES – Pauillac
- Château LYNCH-MOUSSAS – Pauillac
- Château DAUZAC – Margaux
- Château d’ARMAILHAC – Pauillac
- Château du TERTRE – Margaux
- Château HAUT-BAGES LIBÉRAL – Pauillac
- Château PÉDESCLAUX – Pauillac
- Château BELGRAVE – Haut-Médoc
- Château de CAMENSAC – Haut-Médoc
- Château COS LABORY – Saint-Estèphe
- Château CLERC MILON – Pauillac
- Château CROIZET-BAGES – Pauillac
- Château CANTEMERLE – Haut-Médoc
Right Bank Classification:
Although not part of the 1855 classification, top Right Bank estates like Château Cheval Blanc (Saint-Émilion) and Château Pétrus (Pomerol) are iconic names that command global respect.
Brief Overview of Each Winery
Each château listed has a storied history, distinctive terroir, and unique winemaking philosophy. For example:
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Château Lafite Rothschild: Known for its finesse and longevity.
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Château Margaux: Elegance and aromatic complexity define its wines.
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Château Haut-Brion: The only Graves wine in the 1855 classification, praised for its smoky, earthy profile.
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Château Mouton Rothschild: Famous for its artist-designed labels and bold, opulent wines.
Visit their websites to learn more about their offerings, tours, and history.
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