Home » Food & Drink » Wine » Best Chateaux In Bordeaux by classification.

Best Chateaux In Bordeaux by classification.

© Audra Ligumsky

Bordeaux in 1855 started a classification that is Based on the red wines of the Medoc and the white wines of Sauternes. There are 61 "crus classes" divided into five categories. In 1973 there was one change in the history of the classifications. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was promoted from being a second growth to a first. The red first growths (premiers crus) are:

Chateaux Haut-Brion- AC Pessac-Leognan.

Chateaux Lafite----- AC Pauillac.

Chateaux Latour----- AC Pauillac.

Chateaux Margaux---- AC Margaux.

Chateaux Mouton-Rothschild- AC Pauillac.

In 1855 the sweet wines of Sauternes were classified. Chateau d'Yquem was classified as the premier grand cru classe'.

Chateau d'Yquem------Premier Grand Cru.

Saint-Emilion.

The classification in Saint Emilion changes every ten years. There are eleven Chateaux classified as premier grand cru classe. There are two that are considered above the rest:

Ausone ------- Premier Grand Cru.
Cheval Blanc - Premier Grand Cru.

Graves.

In 1959 all wines listed, (red and a separate list for white) in Graves were simply called Cru Classe.

There is a estimated three thousand individual chateaux's in Bordeaux. Most vineyards in Bordeaux are known for there chateaux name. A chateaux can be anything from a castle to a small house sitting on a unknown size of vineyard plots. Bordeaux is the largest wine producing area in France and has been used as a model for wine makers around the world for there wine making technique. The most important appellation is AC Bordeaux rouge. When you realize the vast competition in this region you must tip your hat to the chateaux that make it to the top.

The copyright of the article Best Chateaux In Bordeaux by classification. in Wine is owned by . Permission to republish Best Chateaux In Bordeaux by classification. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.