What Does Bordeaux First Growth Mean?

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The 1855 Bordeaux Classification

In 1855, the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce took an unprecedented step that would transform the Medoc region’s fortunes. After much debate and disagreement, it was decided that the area would benefit from a formalized classification. The impetus was the upcoming Paris Exhibition – the Bordeaux establishment wanted to fly the flag and promote the region’s best wines to the Parisian elite. The brokers of Bordeaux – professionals who acted as advisers and intermediaries between properties and merchants – were duly summoned and told to devise a formal hierarchy. Their endeavors produced the now legendary 1855 framework, which classified certain properties as First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Growths.

In all, 61 Bordeaux chateaux were included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification, which has remained (almost) unchallenged. The brokers’ criteria were simplicity itself – a chateau’s place in the hierarchy was totally dependent upon the prices obtained for its wine. An objective assessment of wine quality hardly came into play; if your vintages could sell for a high price, you would be assured a lofty position in the world’s most famous wine ranking.

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First Growth / Premières Crus

In 1855, just four properties were classified as Premier Cru –

1. Chateau Lafite Rothschild / Pauillac
2. Chateau Margaux / Margaux
3. Chateau Latour / Pauillac
4. Chateau Haut-Brion / Pessac-Léognan (Graves)

The last estate was an anomaly; Haut-Brion is located south of Bordeaux in the Graves region and, therefore, was technically outside the classification’s remit. However, the brokers argued that no respectable hierarchy could omit this iconic winery, which had already cemented a formidable reputation across Europe and was fetching impressive prices for its wines. So Haut-Brion was included and, to this day, remains the only 1855 classification chateau situated outside of the Medoc.

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild Promotion

But even after more than 160 years, the 1855 Bordeaux classification is utterly intransigent and impervious to calls for change, amendments, and promotions/demotions. One notable exception has been the promotion of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild from Second Growth to Premier Cru. The effort required to achieve this change was monumental; the late owner, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, spent an inordinate amount of time and money convincing the authorities that Mouton was making Premier Cru-grade wine. The baron achieved what no other estate had managed in 1973 when the minister of agriculture, Jacques Chirac, finally agreed to elevate Mouton to the ranks of First Growth. Every Bordeaux aficionado can quote the baron’s triumphant response: “Premier je suis—second, je fus. Mouton ne change.”

Second Growths / Deuxièmes Crus

1. Château Brane-Cantenac / Margaux
2. Château Cos-d’Estournel / St.-Estèphe
3. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou / St.-Julien
4. Château Durfort-Vivens / Margaux
5. Château Gruaud-Larose / St.-Julien
6. Château Lascombes / Margaux
7. Château Léoville Barton / St.-Julien
8. Château Léoville Las Cases / St.-Julien
9. Château Léoville Poyferré / St.-Julien
10. Château Montrose / St.-Estèphe
11. Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to first-growth in 1973) / Pauillac
12. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Pichon Longueville Lalande) / Pauillac
13. Château Pichon-Longueville Baron / Pauillac
14. Château Rauzan-Gassies / Margaux
15. Château Rauzan-Ségla / Margaux

Third Growths / Troisièmes Crus

1. Château Boyd-Cantenac / Margaux
2. Château Calon-Ségur / St.-Estèphe
3. Château Cantenac-Brown / Margaux
4. Château d’Issan / Margaux
5. Château Desmirail / Margaux
6. Château Ferrière / Margaux
7. Château Giscours / Margaux
8. Château Kirwan / Margaux
9. Château La Lagune / Haut-Médoc
10. Château Lagrange / St.-Julien
11. Château Langoa Barton / St.-Julien
12. Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry / Margaux
13. Château Marquis-d’Alesme-Becker / Margaux
14. Château Palmer / Margaux

Fourth Growths / Quatrièmes Crus

1. Château Beychevelle / St.-Julien
2. Château Branaire-Ducru / St.-Julien
3. Château Duhart-Milon / Pauillac
4. Château Lafon-Rochet / St.-Estèphe
5. Château La Tour Carnet / Haut-Médoc
6. Château Marquis de Terme / Margaux
7. Château Pouget / Margaux
8. Château Prieuré-Lichine / Margaux
9. Château St.-Pierre / St.-Julien
10. Château Talbot / St.-Julien

Fifth-Growths/ Cinquièmes Crus

1. Château Batailley / Pauillac
2. Château Belgrave / Haut-Médoc
3. Château Camensac / Haut-Médoc
4. Château Cantemerle / Haut-Médoc
5. Château Clerc Milon / Pauillac
6. Château Cos Labory / St.-Estèphe
7. Château Croizet-Bages / Pauillac
8. Château Dauzac / Margaux
9. Château du Tertre / Margaux
10. Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse / Pauillac
11. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste / Pauillac
12. Château Haut-Bages Libéral / Pauillac
13. Château Haut-Batailley / Pauillac
14. Château Lynch Bages / Pauillac
15. Château Lynch-Moussas / Pauillac
16. Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe (renamed Château d’Armailhac in 1989) / Pauillac
17. Château Pédesclaux / Pauillac
18. Château Pontet-Canet / Pauillac