GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS EN 1855 MÉDOC & SAUTERNES
The history of this classification
At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris, Emperor Napoleon III asked each wine region to establish a classification.
The turning point
The Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1705, began that process for the Gironde.
Criteria
Reputation of the wines and their transaction prices
Special labeling
This classification included only red wines from the Médoc, the Sauternes and Barsac sweet white wines, and one Graves red cru.
THE CATEGORIES
For reds:
60 crus from the Médoc and 1 cru from Pessac-Léognan (Château Haut-Brion) based on five categories: 5 Premiers Crus, 14 Deuxièmes Crus, 14 Troisièmes Crus, 10 Quatrièmes Crus, 18 Cinquièmes Crus.
For sweet whites:
27 crus of the Sauternes and Barsac appellations: 1 Premier Cru Supérieur, 11 Premiers Crus, 15 Deuxièmes Crus.
Sole revision:
In 1973, the promotion of Château Mouton Rothschild from the rank of Deuxième Grands Cru Classé to that of Premier Grand Cru Classé (Médoc).
PREMIERS CRUS
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac, AOC Pessac-Léognan
Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Latour, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Margaux, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
DEUXIÈMES CRUS
Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Cos-d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Lascombes, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Léoville-Barton, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Léoville-Las-Cases, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Léoville-Poyferré, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe
Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron-de-Pichon, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux, AOC Margaux
TROISIÈMES CRUS
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe
Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Desmirail, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Ferrière, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Giscours, Labarde, AOC Margaux
Château d’Issan, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Kirwan, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château La Lagune, Ludon, AOC Haut-Médoc
Château Langoa-Barton, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Marquis-d’Alesme, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Palmer, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
QUATRIÈMES CRUS
Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe
Château Marquis-de-Terme, Margaux, AOC Margaux
Château Pouget, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac, AOC Margaux
Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château Talbot, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, AOC Saint-Julien
Château La Tour-Carnet, Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc, AOC Haut-Médoc
CINQUIÈMES CRUS
Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Belgrave, Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc, AOC Haut-Médoc
Château Camensac, Saint-Laurent-de-Médoc, AOC Haut-Médoc
Château Cantemerle, Macau, AOC Haut-Médoc
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Cos-Labory, Saint-Estèphe, AOC Saint-Estèphe
Château Croizet-Bages, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Dauzac, Labarde, AOC Margaux
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, AOC Pauillac
Château du Tertre, Arsac, AOC Margaux
For sweet white wines, the classification has 26 Sauternes and Barsac crus, distributed as follows:
PREMIER CRU SUPÉRIEUR
Château d’Yquem, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
PREMIERS CRUS
Château Climens, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
Château Coutet, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Guiraud, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
Château Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
Château Rieussec, Fargues-de-Langon, AOC Sauternes
Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
Château Suduiraut, Preignac, AOC Sauternes
Château La Tour-Blanche, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
DEUXIÈMES CRUS
Château d’Arche, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château Broustet, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Caillou, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Filhot, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château Lamothe (Despujols), Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château Lamothe-Guignard, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château de Malle, Preignac, AOC Sauternes
Château de Myrat, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Nairac, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château Romer-du-Hayot, Fargues-de-Langon, AOC Sauternes
Château Romer, Fargues-de-Langon, AOC Sauternes
Château Suau, Barsac, AOC Barsac
The Sauternes and Barsac crus classés also have significant economic importance, as they cover 45% of the surface area of their appellation and are responsible for 30% of its production.
LES CRUS CLASSÉS DE GRAVES
The history of this classification
In 1953, at the request of the Syndicat de défense de l’appellation des Graves, the Institut national des appellations d’origine (INAO) established this classification.
Criteria
By municipality and wine type (red or white).
Special labeling
Only one classification level, no hierarchy; this classification is not subject to revision.
16 Crus, all of which belong to the AOC Pessac-Léognan: 7 red, 3 white, 6 red and white.
Château Haut-Brion, did you know that this is the only Bordeaux wine to be classified twice? It appeared in both the Graves classification and the Grands Crus Classés en 1855.
THE CHATEAUX:
Château Bouscaut, Cadaujac, rouge et blanc
Château Carbonnieux, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Domaine de Chevalier, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château Couhins, Villenave-d’Ornon, blanc
Château Couhins-Lurton, Villenave-d’Ornon, blanc
Château de Fieuzal, Léognan, rouge
Château Haut-Bailly, Léognan, rouge
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac (également Premier Cru classé en 1855), rouge
Château Latour-Martillac, Martillac, rouge et blanc
Château Laville-Haut-Brion, Talence, blanc
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion, Talence, rouge
Château Olivier, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château Pape-Clément, Pessac, rouge
Château Smith-Haut-Lafite, Martillac, rouge
Château La Tour-Haut-Brion, Talence, rouge
www.crus-classes-de-graves.com
THE SAINT-EMILION CLASSIFICATION
82 crus in the AOC Saint-Émilion classification
The history of this classification
Starting in 1954, at the request of the Syndicat de défense de l’appellation Saint-Émilion, the Institut national des appellations d’origine (INAO) began the classification of crus of this appellation
Special labeling
The decree states that the INAO must revise the classification every ten years. Six classifications have been established since 1954.
Criteria
The sixth and final classification, published on September 6, 2012, resulted from a new procedure, entirely under the authority of the INAO, with the assistance of the Ministries of Agriculture and Consumption.
THE CATEGORIES
The 2012 classification names 82 estates: 64 Grands Crus classés and 18 Premiers Grands Crus classés
PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS
Château Angélus (A)
Château Ausone (A)
Château Beau-Séjour (héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot
Château Bél Air-Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon la Gaffelière
Château Cheval Blanc (A)
Château Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Château la Gaffelière
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie (A)
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trottevieille
Château Valandraud
GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS
Château l’Arrosée
Château Balestard la Tonnelle
Château Barde-Haut
Château Bellefont-Belcier
Château Bellevue
Château Berliquet
Château Cadet-Bon
Château Cap de Mourlin
Château le Chatelet
Château Chauvin
Château Clos de Sarpe
Château la Clotte
Château la Commanderie
Château Corbin
Château Côte de Baleau
Château la Couspaude
Château Dassault
Château Destieux
Château la Dominique
Château Faugères
Château Faurie de Souchard
Château de Ferrand
Château Fleur Cardinale
Château La Fleur Morange Mathilde
Château Fombrauge
Château Fonplégade
Château Fonroque
Château Franc Mayne
Château Grand Corbin
Château Grand Corbin-Despagne
Château Grand Mayne
Château les Grandes Murailles
Château Grand-Pontet
Château Guadet
Château Haut Sarpe
Clos des Jacobins
Couvent des Jacobins
Château Jean Faure
Château Laniote
Château Larmande
Château Laroque
Château Laroze Clos la Madeleine
Château la Marzelle
Château Monbousquet
Château Moulin du Cadet
Clos de l’Oratoire
Château Pavie Decesse
Château Peby Faugères
Château Petit Faurie de Soutard
Château de Pressac
Château le Prieuré
Château Quinault l’Enclos
Château Ripeau
Château Rochebelle
Château Saint-Georges-Cote-Pavie
Clos Saint-Martin
Château Sansonnet
Château la Serre
Château Soutard
Château Tertre Daugay
Château la Tour Figeac
Château Villemaurine
Château Yon-Fig
www.vins-saint-emilion.com
THE CRUS BOURGEOIS CLASSIFICATION
AOC Crus Bourgeois du Médoc
The history of this classification.
The term Cru Bourgeois became established through sheer use, as it dates back to the Middle Ages, when the citizens (bourgeois), residents of the “burgh” (bourg) of Bordeaux, acquire the region’s best lands and were subsequently granted this designation.
The turning point
In 1932, the Crus Bourgeois were grouped in a list established by the Bordeaux wine merchants, under the aegis of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce of and the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture.
Criteria
The quality and value of red wines produced in one of the eight Médoc appellations: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estèphe.
Special labeling
An evolving classification: Since 2010, the official selection has been published annually in September.
THE CHOSEN ESTATES
Each year, between 240 and 260 properties, often family-owned, form the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois, accounting for more than 40% of the Médoc’s production.
THE CRUS ARTISANS CLASSIFICATION
36 AOC Crus Artisans du Médoc
The history of this classification.
In the Médoc, the term “Crus Artisans” has officially existed for over 150 years: these small wineries often belonged to craftsmen, such as coopers, wheelwrights, and blacksmiths.
The turning point
This distinction found new life in 1989 with the founding of the Syndicat des Crus artisans du Médoc. They are “autonomous, small- and medium-sized estates at which the manager is actively involved in the operations of his/her vineyard, produces AOC wines, and sells the production that is bottled at the château.”
Criteria
The quality and value of wines produced on small properties in one of the eight Médoc appellations: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estèphe.
Special labeling
In 1994, European regulations reintroduced this designation and authorized a “Cru Artisan” mention on the wine’s main label.
