Deep Dive Into The Bordeaux Classification System (Criteria, Chateaus, Best Wines)

by Hunter Robillard

The renowned Bordeaux wine region has 57 appellations and six classification systems, including the most important one - the 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves.

Which are the six classification systems? What do they mean in the Bordeaux wine world, and which are the Chateaux that come under each?Let's explore all these classifications, including the list of chateaus under each class, and the best wines.

Quick Facts About the Bordeaux Classification System

How are the wines in Bordeaux classified?

There are six classification systems in Bordeaux:

The 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves
1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac
The 1959 Graves Classification
The 1955 Classification of Saint-Emilion
The Cru Artisans du Medoc Classification
The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc Classification

What was the first wine classification in Bordeaux?

The 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves was the first wine classification in the region.

Thomas Jefferson visited the Bordeaux region in 1787 and was the first person to classify the wines in Medoc.

But the first official classification — The 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves — came about when Napoleon III requested each wine region to create a classification to present at the Exposition Universelle de Paris.

The 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves is also the most important one in the wine region.

What are the Bordeaux wine classification categories?

The 1855 Classification includes only Left Bank wines classified into five categories:

Premier Cru
Deuxiemes Cru
Troisiemes Cru
Quatrieme Cru
Cinquiemes Cru

What is the difference between Grand Cru and Grand Cru Classe?

They both refer to the highest-quality wines in the classification.

Grand Cru can mean different things. If the wine is from Medoc, Grand Cru means it was included in the 1855 classification. If the wine is from Saint Emilion, the vineyard is classified as Grand Cru.

Grand Cru Classe refers to the first level of the Saint Emilion Classification.

What are the main grape varietals in Bordeaux?

For red wine:

For white wine:

Now, let’s take a closer look at the six Bordeaux classifications.

The 1855 Classification of Medoc & Graves (Chateaus, Best Wines)

The criteria for this historic classification include the wines’ prices and reputation of the Chateaux in the wine industry.

The 1855 Bordeaux classification contains only red wine crus classes (classified growths) from the Medoc and one Graves red cru from Pessac Leognan.

There are 61 Bordeaux chateaux in total: Five Premiers Crus (1st Growth), 14 Deuxiemes Crus (2nd Growths), 14 Troisemes Crus (3rd Growths), 10 Quatriemes Crus (4th Growths), and 18 Cinquiemes Crus (5th Growths).

Here’s where the Chateaux rank and some of the best wines:

First Growth (Premier Cru)

Second Growth (Deuxlemes Cru)

Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases
Chateau Leoville Poyferre
Chateau Leoville Barton
Chateau Durfort-Vivens
Chateau Gruaud-Larose
Chateau Lascombes
Chateau Brane-Cantenac
Chateau Pichon-Longueville (Baron)
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Chateau Montrose
Chateau Cos d'Estournel

Third Growth (Troisiemes Cru)

Chateau Kirwan
Chateau d'Issan
Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Langoa-Barton
Chateau Giscours
Chateau Malescot St-Exupery
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac
Chateau Cantenac-Brown
Chateau Palmer
Chateau La Lagune
Chateau Desmirail
Chateau Calon-Segur
Chateau Ferriere
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker

Fourth Growth (Quatriemes Cru)

Chateau Saint-Pierre
Chateau Talbot
Chateau Branaire-Ducru
Chateau Duhart-Milon-Rothschild
Chateau Pouget
Chateau La Tour Carnet
Chateau Lafon-Rochet
Chateau Beychevelle
Chateau Prieure-Lichine
Chateau Marquis de Terme

Fifth Growth (Cinquiemes Cru)

Chateau Pontet-Canet
Chateau Batailley
Chateau Haut-Batailley
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Chateau Lynch-Moussas
Chateau Dauzac
Chateau d'Armailhac
Chateau du Tertre
Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal
Chateau Pedesclaux
Chateau Belgrave
Chateau de Camensac
Chateau Cos Labory
Chateau Clerc-Milon
Chateau Croizet-Bages
Chateau Cantemerle

Best Wines from Medoc & Graves (First to Fifth Growths)

1869 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France ($385,608)
1899 Chateau Latour, Pauillac, France ($18,638)
1865 Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe, France ($6,012)
1893 Chateau Montrose, Saint-Estephe, France ($3,411)
1959 Chateau Kirwan, Margaux, France ($474)
1961 Chateau Palmer, Margaux, France ($4,209)
1928 Chateau Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien, France ($1,131)
1904 Chateau Beychevelle, Saint-Julien, France ($2,046)
1897 Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, France ($5,642)
1949 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France ($1,000)

1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac

This classification includes sweet white wine. It was created simultaneously with its Medoc & Graves counterpart and follows the same criteria.

The listing comprises 1 Premier Cru Superieur, 11 Premiers Crus, and 15 Deuxiemes Crus.

First Great Growth (Premier Cru Superieur)

Chateau d'Yquem

First Growth (Premier Cru)

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Chateau Clos Haut-Peyrageuy
Chateau de Rayne Vigneau
Chateau Suduiraut
Chateau Coutet
Chateau Climens
Chateau Guiraud
Chateau Rabaud-Promis
Chateau Sigalas Rabaud
Chateau Rieussec

Second Growth (Deuxiemes Cru)

Chateau de Myrat
Chateau Doisy-Daene
Chateau Doisy Dubroca
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines
Chateau d'Arche
Chateau Filhot
Chateau Broustet
Chateau Nairac
Chateau Caillou
Chateau Suau
Chateau de Malle
Chateau Romer du Hayot
Chateau Lamothe Despujols
Chateau Lamothe Guignard

Best Wines

1847 Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, France ($111,442)
1929 Chateau Climens, Sauternes - Barsac, France ($2,141)
1921 Chateau Coutet, Sauternes - Barsac, France ($1,287)
1918 Chateau de Myrat, Sauternes - Barsac, France ($2,695)
1891 Chateau Filhot, Sauternes, France ($3,121)

The 1959 Graves Classification

This ranking was created in 1953 by the Institut national des appellations d’origine (INAO). According to the Graves Classification the Chateaux are categorized based on the municipality and the wine type.

This is the only classification that includes both red wine and white wine.

Here’s a look at the Chateaux and best wines:

Chateau Bouscaut
Chateau Bouscaut Blanc
Chateau Carbonnieux
Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc
Chateau Couhins
Chateau Couhins-Lurton
Chateau de Fieuzal
Chateau Haut-Bailly
Chateau Haut Brion
Chateau Haut Brion Blanc
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion
Chateau La Tour Haut Brion
Chateau La Tour-Martillac
Chateau La Tour-Martillac Blanc
Chateau Laville Haut Brion
Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere
Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere Blanc
Chateau d'Olivier
Chateau d'Olivier Blanc
Chateau Pape-Clement
Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte
Domaine de Chevalier
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc

Best Grand Cru Classe de Graves Wines

1925 Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac-Leognan, France ($1,301)
1900 Chateau Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Leognan, France ($3,060)

The 1955 Saint-Emilion Classification

The INAO began classifying the crus of the Saint-Emilion appellation in 1954.

The classification is revised every 10 years—the next one is due in 2022. The terroir, selling price, wine, and estate, are part of the criteria for this classification.

There are three levels of classification:

Premier Grand Cru Classe A

Premier Grand Cru Classe B

Chateau Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
Chateau Belair-Monange
Chateau Canon
Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere
Chateau Figeac
Chateau La Gaffeliere
Chateau Pavie Macquin
Chateau Troplong-Mondot
Chateau Trottevieille
Chateau Larcis Ducasse
Chateau Valandraud
Clos Fourtet
La Mondotte

Grand Cru Classe

Chateau l'Arrosee
Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle
Chateau Barde-Haut
Chateau Bellefont-Belcier
Chateau Bellevue
Chateau Bergat
Chateau Berliquet
Chateau Cadet-Bon
Chateau Cadet Piola
Chateau Cap de Mourlin
Chateau Chauvin
Chateau Clos de Sarpe
Chateau Corbin
Chateau Cote de Baleau
Chateau Dassault
Chateau Destieux
Chateau Faugeres
Chateau Faurie de Souchard
Chateau de Ferrand
Chateau Fleur Cardinale
Chateau Fombrauge
Chateau Fonplegade
Chateau Fonroque
Chateau Franc Mayne
Chateau Grand Mayne
Chateau Grand-Pontet
Chateau Les Grandes Murailles
Chateau Guadet
Chateau Grand Corbin
Chateau Corbin-Despagne
Chateau Haute Sarpe
Chateau Jean Faure
Chateau La Clotte
Chateau La Clusiere
Chateau La Commanderie
Chateau La Couspaude
Chateau La Dominique
Chateau La Fleur Morange
Chateau La Marzelle
Chateau La Serre
Chateau La Tour Figeac
Chateau Le Chatelet
Chateau Le Prieure
Chateau Laniote
Chateau Larmande
Chateau Laroque
Chateau Laroze
Chateau Matras
Chateau Moulin du Cadet
Chateau Pavie Decesse
Chateau Peby Faugeres
Chateau Petit Faurie de Soutard
Chateau de Pressac
Chateau Quinault l'Enclos
Chateau Ripeau
Chateau Rochebelle
Chateau Saint-Georges Cote Pavie
Chateau Sansonnet
Chateau Soutard
Chateau Tertre Daugay
Chateau Villemaurine
Chateau Yon Figeac
Clos des Jacobins
Clos de l'Oratoire
Clos La Madeleine
Clos Saint-Martin
Couvent des Jacobins

Best Wines (Premier Grand Cru Classé and Grand Cru)

1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($8,324)
1849 Chateau Ausone, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($11,167)
1947 Clos Fourtet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($1,601)
1920 Chateau Belair-Monange, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($1,255)
1945 Chateau Les Grandes Murailles, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($1,156)
1961 Chateau L'Arrosee, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($652)

The Cru Artisans du Medoc Classification

Cru Artisans are small artisan-owned wineries. The criteria include an evaluation of the wine quality and transactional value.

The classification was officially recognized in 2006 and is renewed every five years.

Here are a few of the 44 chateaux:

Château Andron
Château Béjac Romelys
Château Gadet Terrefort
Château Garance Haut Grenat
Château Haut Blaignan
Château Haut Brisey
Château Haut Couloumey
Château Haut Gravat
Château La Tessonnière
Château Les Graves de Loirac
And more

The Best Cru Artisans du Medoc Wines

1952 Chateau Andron-Blanquet, Saint-Estephe, France ($190)
2014 Chateau Linot, Saint-Estephe, France ($36)

The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc Classification

The Cru Bourgeois classification applies to the Chateaux in the Medoc appellation.

The term Cru Bourgeois was coined in the Middle Ages when the Bordeaux citizens (bourgeois) started amassing the best lands in the region.

In 1932, the Bordeaux wine merchants were listed in the Crus Bourgeois classification. And, in 2020, The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc revamped it.

There are 249 chateaux in three categories:

Cru Bourgeois (179 chateaux)
Cru Bourgeois Supérieur (56 chateaux)
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (14 chateaux)

The evaluation is done based on a blind tasting of five vintages.

The Best Cru Bourgeois du Medoc Wines

1939 Chateau Duplessis, Moulis-en-Medoc, Cru Bourgeois ($351)
2007 Chateau Mongravey, Margaux, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur ($350)
1946 Chateau Le Crock, Saint-Estephe, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel ($449)

Invest in Incredible Bordeaux Wine

The Bordeaux classification helps you determine which wines or appellations are of exceptional quality. Some of the fourth growth and lower category wines may be as investment-worthy as the top ones.

Ready to add a bottle of outstanding Bordeaux wine to your portfolio?