Bordeaux Pt 11 - Classifications Flashcards
In Bordeaux, are the vineyards or the estates or the wines ranked?
The estates/chateaux are ranked except in Graves where the wine is ranked.
What are the classification systems in Bordeaux?
Classification of 1855;
Cru Bourgeois;
Cru Artisan;
Graves;
St. Emilion.
Is the Bordeaux 1855 classification part of the AOC system?
No it is separate. It was created to provide price points in the Bordeaux Commodities Market.
Which sub-regions are included in the Classification of 1855?
Medoc, Graves (Pessac-Leognan) and Sauternes.
Which other classifications exist in Medoc other than the 1855?
Cru Bourgeois and Cru Artisan.
How does the 1855 classification rank its chateaux?
It ranks chateaux from first through to fifth growth.
What is the basis of the 1855 Classification?
It reflects, by tiers, the price point at which the top wines in Bordeaux were selling in the 19th century.
What was the intention of the original Classification of 1855?
It was a reference guide for setting prices and/or paying taxes.
How many chateaux were ranked on the original 1855 document ?
87:
1 from Graves (Pessac-Leognan);
26 from Sauternes and Barsac;
60 from Medoc.
How many Medoc chateaux were ranked in the 1855 Classification FOR RED WINES?
60 initially from the Medoc. There was one added as it was left off in error (Cantemerle).
How many Chateaux are on the 1855 list for RED WINES today?
There are now 61. In 1973 Chateau Mouton Rothschild was promoted from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth.
How were sweet wines categorised in 1855?
They were placed into 3 categories:
Premier Cru Superieur;
Premier Cru;
Deuxieme Cru.
What is the only sweet wine chateaux that carries the Premiere Cru Superieur label?
Chateau d’Yquem. It was the most expensive wine in 1855.
How many chateaux are classified in Sauternes and Barsac today?
There are now 27. Chateaux which split maintain their status.
How many chateaux are in each of the growths of the1855 Classification?
1st Growth: 5 (incl.1 in Pessac Leognan);
2nd Growth: 14;
3rd Growth: 14;
4th Growth: 10;
5th Growth: 18.
How many chateaux are in each of the categories of Sauternes and Barsac of 1855?
1 Premiere Cru Superieur;
11 Premiere Crus;
15 Deuxieme Crus.
Which five chateaux are contained in the 1st growth?
Chateau Latour; Lafite Rothschild; Mouton Rothschild; Margaux; Haut-Brion.
Which communes contain the First growths?
Pauillac: Lafite, Latour, Mouton;
Margaux: Margaux;
Pessac-Leognan: Haut-Brion.
How were dry white wines and Right Bank wines classified in 1855?
They weren’t and this is due mainly to their lack of stature at that time.
Why was Cru Bourgeois introduced?
There were only a small % of MEDOC chateaux ranked in the 1855 Classification so it was introduced to reflect the other quality wines of the Medoc.
When was Cru Bourgeois first introduced?
In 1932 with 444 Chateaux. It was not officially recognised.
Why was the Cru Bourgeois list of 2003 short-lived?
It had 247 chateaux and those omitted complained and it was again stood down in 2007. The term “Cru Bourgeois” was banned.
How does Cru Bourgeois determine access to the classification? How often is it reviewed?
Chateaux are assessed on taste and other factors such as viticultural and environmental practices. It is awarded for five years.
When was the Cru Bourgeois status formally granted?
In 2020 on the 2018 vintage. This followed several years of standards being set and accepted.
