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.
How many chateaux are currently in the Cru Bourgeois classification?
249
How many levels in the Cru Bourgeois Classification?
There are three:
Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels;
Crus Bourgeois Superieur;
Crus Bourgeois.
How often are Cru Bourgeois rankings reviewed?
Every 5 years.
What is the Crus Artisans classification?
It recognises “boutique” wineries of quality that are entirely responsible for their own red wine production from vineyard to barrel to bottle.
When was Cru Artisan introduced? How many are classified?
Introduced in 2018 for 36 Medoc wineries.
When was Graves classification introduced?
In 1953 and revised in 1959. It remains unchanged since.
Why is the Graves classification different from the others in Bordeaux?
It is the only one which ranks the wine not the estates.
How many categories are there in the Graves Classification?
One only. They can be called Crus Classes de Graves or Grands Crus Classes de Graves.
How many wines and estates are ranked in Graves?
22 wines from 16 estates:
6 estates for Red and White;
3 estates for White wine only;
7 estates for Red only
In which part of Graves are all of the Crus Classes located?
Pessac-Leognan
When was St Emilion classification established?
In 1955 and intended to be reviewed every 10 years.
What are the levels in the St Emilion classification?
St Emilion Premiers Grand Cru Classés ‘A’;
St Emilion Premiers Grand Cru Classés ‘B’;
St Emilion Grand Cru Classés.
Which is the only 1855 Premiere Cru outside of the Medoc?
Chateau Haut Brion in Pessac-Leognan AOC.
How are chateaux graded for Classé status in St. Emilion?
Quality and condition of winery and equipment;
Standing of the estate in the marketplace;
Quality of the wine;
Efforts to create a welcoming environment for visitors.
Must be a Grand Cru AOC first.
Is a St. Emilion Grand Cru a classification?
No it is an AOC
Which is the only Chateau to be promoted from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth in the 1855 rankings?
Mouton Rothschild in 1973
