The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines that 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.
Châteaux of BordeauxPauillac is home to three of the five Bordeaux's first growth wines (classification of 1855)
The wines were 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 superior first growth to second growth.
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 Cantemerle was added as a fifth growth (having either been originally omitted by oversight or added as an afterthought, depending on which of the conflicting accounts is correct) 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 Margaux that was absorbed into the estate Château Malescot St. Exupéry.[1]
A superficial change is that since 1855, when only five of the estates were styled with the word "château" in their name, most Bordeaux wine estates now use this nomenclature.[2]
CritiqueEdit
As a classification of châteaux, the actual vineyards owned by some wineries have expanded, shrunk and been divided without any reclassification, and considerable plots of valued terroir have changed ownership.[3] Indeed, it is a peculiarity of Bordeaux that as long as a vineyard parcel lies within the boundaries of the wine commune, it is eligible to be used by any chateau, independent of the quality of the parcel itself.[4]
Many wine critics have argued that the 1855 Classification became outdated and does not provide an accurate guide to the quality of the wines being made on each estate. Several proposals have been made for changes to the classification, and a bid for a revision was unsuccessfully attempted in 1960.[5]Alexis Lichine, a member of the 1960 revision panel, launched a campaign to implement changes that lasted over thirty years, in the process publishing several editions of his own unofficial classification and the Alexis Lichine's Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France,[6] in which he devoted a chapter to the subject. In support of his argument, Lichine cited the case of Chateau Lynch-Bages, the Pauillac Fifth Growth that, through good management and by patiently collecting the best parcels as they come on the market, makes wine that in his view are worthy of a much higher classification.[4] Conversely, poor management can result in a significant decline in quality, as the example of Chateau Margaux shows—the wines it made in the 1960s and 1970s are widely regarded as far below what's expected of a First Growth.[7][8] Other critics have followed a similar suit, including Robert Parker who published a top 100 Bordeaux estates in 1985 and L'histoire de la vigne & du vin (English: The History of Wine and the Vine) by Bernard and Henri Enjalbert in 1989, as well as efforts made by Clive Coates (MW) and David Peppercorn (MW).[1][9][10] Ultimately nothing has come of them; the likely negative impact on prices for any downgraded châteaux and the 1855 establishment's political muscle are considered among the reasons.[11]
In March 2009, the British wine exchange Liv-ex released The Liv-ex Bordeaux Classification, a modern re-calculation of the 1855 classification, with an aim to apply the original method to the contemporary economical context.[12][13]
Many of the leading estates from the Médoc appellation that were not included in the 1855 classification are classified as Cru Bourgeois, a classification system that has been updated on a regular basis since 1932, banned in 2007,[14] but reinstated in 2010.[15][16]
In French Les Grands Crus classés en 1855. The estates are listed with their commune (village), and their AOC in parentheses, if different from the commune. The 19th-century names appear as listed by the brokers on April 18, 1855, followed by the modern names, as the use of "second cru" for red wines and "deuxième cru" for white wines.[2]
a. ^ The only classified estate situated in Graves rather than Médoc. b. ^ Listed as Second Growth in 1855, elevated to First Growth in 1973. c. ^ Dissolved in 1960. d. ^ Added in 1856.
General
Stevenson, Tom (2005). The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia (4th ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 64–65. ISBN0-7566-1324-8.
Taber, George M. (2005). Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the historic 1976 Tasting that Revolutionized Wine. NY: Scribner. ISBN0-7432-9732-6
Footnotes
^ abPeppercorn, David (2003). Bordeaux. London: Mitchell Beazley. p. 83. ISBN1-84000-927-6.
^ abStevenson, Tom (2005). The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia (4th ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 64. ISBN0-7566-1324-8.
^Lichine, Alexis (1967). Alexis Lichine's Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits. London: Cassell & Company Ltd. pp. 144–148.
^ abLichine, Alexis (May 1989). Alexis Lichine's Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France. Alfred A Knopf.
^Prial, Frank J. The New York Times (1989-08-20). "The Battle of 1855". The New York Times.
^Alexis Lichine's Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France.
^Parker, Robert (2013). Bordeaux: A Consumer's Guide to the World's Finest Wines (Fourth revised ed.). Simon and Schuster. ISBN9781476727134. Prior to that [1978] is a succession of failures ... they are washed out, mediocre shells of what they could have been
^Jenster, Per V. (2008). The Business of Wine: A Global Perspective. Copenhagen Business School Press. p. 163. ISBN9788763002011.
^Prial, Frank J. The New York Times (1988-02-17). "Wine Talk". The New York Times.
^Prial, Frank J. The New York Times (1991-09-25). "Wine Talk". The New York Times.
^Goldberg, Howard G., Wine News. . Archived from the original on 2008-01-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Liv-ex Fine Wine Market blog (March 10, 2009). The Liv-ex Bordeaux Classification.
^Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (March 6, 2009). "Liv-ex creates new 1855 Classification".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Anson, Jane, Decanter.com (2007-07-10). . Archived from the original on December 27, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Anson, Jane, Decanter.com (2008-02-26). . Archived from the original on March 2, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (September 23, 2010). "Cru Bourgeois: new listing launched".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External linksEdit
October 24, 2023
bordeaux, wine, official, classification, 1855, resulted, from, 1855, exposition, universelle, paris, when, emperor, napoleon, requested, classification, system, france, best, bordeaux, wines, that, were, display, visitors, from, around, world, brokers, from, . The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France s best Bordeaux wines that were to be on display for visitors from around the world Brokers from the wine industry ranked the wines according to a chateau s reputation and trading price which at that time was directly related to quality Chateaux of BordeauxPauillac is home to three of the five Bordeaux s first growth wines classification of 1855 The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths crus All of the red wines that made it on the list came from the Medoc region except for one Chateau 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 superior first growth to second growth Contents 1 Changes to the classification 2 Critique 3 The Medoc Classification of 1855 3 1 The Red Wines of the Gironde 3 1 1 First Growths Premiers Crus 3 1 2 Second Growths Deuxiemes Crus 3 1 3 Third Growths Troisiemes Crus 3 1 4 Fourth Growths Quatriemes Crus 3 1 5 Fifth Growths Cinquiemes Crus 3 2 The White Wines of the Gironde 3 2 1 Superior First Growth Premier Cru Superieur 3 2 2 First Growths Premier Crus 3 2 3 Second Growths Deuxieme Crus 4 See also 5 Notes and references 6 External linksChanges to the classification EditWithin each category the various chateaux are ranked in order of quality and only twice since the 1855 classification has there been a change first when in 1856 Cantemerle was added as a fifth growth having either been originally omitted by oversight or added as an afterthought depending on which of the conflicting accounts is correct and more significantly in 1973 when Chateau 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 Chateau Dubignon a third growth from Margaux that was absorbed into the estate Chateau Malescot St Exupery 1 A superficial change is that since 1855 when only five of the estates were styled with the word chateau in their name most Bordeaux wine estates now use this nomenclature 2 Critique EditAs a classification of chateaux the actual vineyards owned by some wineries have expanded shrunk and been divided without any reclassification and considerable plots of valued terroir have changed ownership 3 Indeed it is a peculiarity of Bordeaux that as long as a vineyard parcel lies within the boundaries of the wine commune it is eligible to be used by any chateau independent of the quality of the parcel itself 4 Many wine critics have argued that the 1855 Classification became outdated and does not provide an accurate guide to the quality of the wines being made on each estate Several proposals have been made for changes to the classification and a bid for a revision was unsuccessfully attempted in 1960 5 Alexis Lichine a member of the 1960 revision panel launched a campaign to implement changes that lasted over thirty years in the process publishing several editions of his own unofficial classification and the Alexis Lichine s Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France 6 in which he devoted a chapter to the subject In support of his argument Lichine cited the case of Chateau Lynch Bages the Pauillac Fifth Growth that through good management and by patiently collecting the best parcels as they come on the market makes wine that in his view are worthy of a much higher classification 4 Conversely poor management can result in a significant decline in quality as the example of Chateau Margaux shows the wines it made in the 1960s and 1970s are widely regarded as far below what s expected of a First Growth 7 8 Other critics have followed a similar suit including Robert Parker who published a top 100 Bordeaux estates in 1985 and L histoire de la vigne amp du vin English The History of Wine and the Vine by Bernard and Henri Enjalbert in 1989 as well as efforts made by Clive Coates MW and David Peppercorn MW 1 9 10 Ultimately nothing has come of them the likely negative impact on prices for any downgraded chateaux and the 1855 establishment s political muscle are considered among the reasons 11 In March 2009 the British wine exchange Liv ex released The Liv ex Bordeaux Classification a modern re calculation of the 1855 classification with an aim to apply the original method to the contemporary economical context 12 13 Many of the leading estates from the Medoc appellation that were not included in the 1855 classification are classified as Cru Bourgeois a classification system that has been updated on a regular basis since 1932 banned in 2007 14 but reinstated in 2010 15 16 The Medoc Classification of 1855 Edit nbsp Chateau Lafite Rothschild nbsp Chateau Leoville Las Cases nbsp Chateau Leoville Barton nbsp Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse nbsp Chateau Cantemerle nbsp Chateau d Yquem nbsp Chateau Guiraud nbsp Chateau Doisy DaeneIn French Les Grands Crus classes en 1855 The estates are listed with their commune village and their AOC in parentheses if different from the commune The 19th century names appear as listed by the brokers on April 18 1855 followed by the modern names as the use of second cru for red wines and deuxieme cru for white wines 2 The Red Wines of the Gironde Edit First Growths Premiers Crus Edit Main article First growth Chateau Lafite now Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Chateau Latour Pauillac Chateau Margaux Margaux Haut Brion a now Chateau Haut Brion Pessac Graves Mouton b now Chateau Mouton Rothschild PauillacSecond Growths Deuxiemes Crus Edit Rauzan Segla now Chateau Rauzan Segla Margaux Rauzan Gassies now Chateau Rauzan Gassies Margaux Leoville now Chateau Leoville Las Cases St Julien Chateau Leoville Poyferre St Julien Chateau Leoville Barton St Julien Vivens Durfort now Chateau Durfort Vivens Margaux Gruaud Laroze now Chateau Gruaud Larose St Julien Lascombes now Chateau Lascombes Margaux Brane now Chateau Brane Cantenac Cantenac Margaux Margaux Pichon Longueville now Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac commonly known as Pichon Baron Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac commonly known as Pichon Lalande or Pichon Comtesse Ducru Beau Caillou now Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St Julien Cos Destournel now Chateau Cos d Estournel St Estephe Montrose now Chateau Montrose St EstepheThird Growths Troisiemes Crus Edit Kirwan now Chateau Kirwan Cantenac Margaux Margaux Chateau d Issan Cantenac Margaux Margaux Lagrange Chateau Lagrange St Julien Langoa now Chateau Langoa Barton St Julien Giscours now Chateau Giscours Labarde Margaux Margaux St Exupery now Chateau Malescot St Exupery Margaux Boyd now Chateau Cantenac Brown Cantenac Margaux Margaux Chateau Boyd Cantenac Margaux Palmer now Chateau Palmer Cantenac Margaux Margaux Lalagune now Chateau La Lagune Ludon Haut Medoc Desmirail now Chateau Desmirail Margaux Dubignon c later Chateau Dubignon Margaux Calon now Chateau Calon Segur St Estephe Ferriere now Chateau Ferriere Margaux Becker now Chateau Marquis d Alesme Becker MargauxFourth Growths Quatriemes Crus Edit St Pierre now Chateau Saint Pierre St Julien Talbot now Chateau Talbot St Julien Du Luc now Chateau Branaire Ducru St Julien Duhart now Chateau Duhart Milon Pauillac Pouget Lassale and Pouget both now Chateau Pouget Cantenac Margaux Margaux Carnet now Chateau La Tour Carnet St Laurent Haut Medoc Rochet now Chateau Lafon Rochet St Estephe Chateau de Beychevele now Chateau Beychevelle St Julien Le Prieure now Chateau Prieure Lichine Cantenac Margaux Margaux Marquis de Thermes now Chateau Marquis de Terme MargauxFifth Growths Cinquiemes Crus Edit Canet now Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac Batailley now Chateau Batailley Pauillac Chateau Haut Batailley Pauillac Grand Puy now Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac Artigues Arnaud now Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse Pauillac Lynch now Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac Lynch Moussas now Chateau Lynch Moussas Pauillac Dauzac now Chateau Dauzac Labarde Margaux Darmailhac now Chateau d Armailhac Pauillac Le Tertre now Chateau du Tertre Arsac Margaux Haut Bages now Chateau Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac Pedesclaux now Chateau Pedesclaux Pauillac Coutenceau now Chateau Belgrave St Laurent Haut Medoc Camensac now Chateau de Camensac St Laurent Haut Medoc Cos Labory now Chateau Cos Labory St Estephe Clerc Milon now Chateau Clerc Milon Pauillac Croizet Bages now Chateau Croizet Bages Pauillac Cantemerle d now Chateau Cantemerle Macau Haut Medoc The White Wines of the Gironde Edit Barsac estates may be labelled with the appellation Barsac or Sauternes Superior First Growth Premier Cru Superieur Edit Yquem now Chateau d Yquem SauternesFirst Growths Premier Crus Edit Latour Blanche now Chateau La Tour Blanche Bommes Sauternes Peyraguey now Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey Bommes Sauternes Chateau Clos Haut Peyraguey Bommes Sauternes Vigneau now Chateau de Rayne Vigneau Bommes Sauternes Suduiraut now Chateau Suduiraut Preignac Sauternes Coutet now Chateau Coutet Barsac Climens now Chateau Climens Barsac Bayle now Chateau Guiraud Sauternes Rieusec now Chateau Rieussec Fargues Sauternes Rabeaud now Chateau Rabaud Promis Bommes Sauternes Chateau Sigalas Rabaud Bommes Sauternes Second Growths Deuxieme Crus Edit Mirat now Chateau de Myrat Barsac Doisy now Chateau Doisy Daene Barsac Chateau Doisy Dubroca Barsac Chateau Doisy Vedrines Barsac Pexoto now part of Chateau Rabaud Promis D arche now Chateau d Arche Sauternes Filhot now Chateau Filhot Sauternes Broustet Nerac now Chateau Broustet Barsac Chateau Nairac Barsac Caillou now Chateau Caillou Barsac Suau now Chateau Suau Barsac Malle now Chateau de Malle Preignac Sauternes Romer now Chateau Romer Fargues Sauternes Chateau Romer du Hayot Fargues Sauternes Lamothe now Chateau Lamothe Sauternes Chateau Lamothe Guignard SauternesSee also EditClassification of Graves wine Classification of Saint Emilion wine Regional wine classification History of Bordeaux wine Bordeaux wine regions Judgment of ParisNotes and references Edita The only classified estate situated in Graves rather than Medoc b Listed as Second Growth in 1855 elevated to First Growth in 1973 c Dissolved in 1960 d Added in 1856 GeneralStevenson Tom 2005 The Sotheby s Wine Encyclopedia 4th ed London Dorling Kindersley pp 64 65 ISBN 0 7566 1324 8 Echikson Tom 2004 Noble rot NY Norton ISBN 0 8168 6825 5 Taber George M 2005 Judgment of Paris California vs France and the historic 1976 Tasting that Revolutionized Wine NY Scribner ISBN 0 7432 9732 6 Footnotes a b Peppercorn David 2003 Bordeaux London Mitchell Beazley p 83 ISBN 1 84000 927 6 a b Stevenson Tom 2005 The Sotheby s Wine Encyclopedia 4th ed London Dorling Kindersley pp 64 ISBN 0 7566 1324 8 Lichine Alexis 1967 Alexis Lichine s Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits London Cassell amp Company Ltd pp 144 148 a b Lichine Alexis May 1989 Alexis Lichine s Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France Alfred A Knopf Prial Frank J The New York Times 1989 08 20 The Battle of 1855 The New York Times Alexis Lichine s Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France Parker Robert 2013 Bordeaux A Consumer s Guide to the World s Finest Wines Fourth revised ed Simon and Schuster ISBN 9781476727134 Prior to that 1978 is a succession of failures they are washed out mediocre shells of what they could have been Jenster Per V 2008 The Business of Wine A Global Perspective Copenhagen Business School Press p 163 ISBN 9788763002011 Prial Frank J The New York Times 1988 02 17 Wine Talk The New York Times Prial Frank J The New York Times 1991 09 25 Wine Talk The New York Times Goldberg Howard G Wine News Dusting off the 1855 debate Archived from the original on 2008 01 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Liv ex Fine Wine Market blog March 10 2009 The Liv ex Bordeaux Classification Lechmere Adam Decanter com March 6 2009 Liv ex creates new 1855 Classification a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Anson Jane Decanter com 2007 07 10 Cru Bourgeois classification officially over Archived from the original on December 27 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Anson Jane Decanter com 2008 02 26 Cru Bourgeois revived Archived from the original on March 2 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Lechmere Adam Decanter com September 23 2010 Cru Bourgeois new listing launched a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link External links EditGreat Growths of 1855 official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 amp oldid 1179537064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
