Bordeaux
The city of Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is a city, a region, and a wine. Composed of numerous districts, Bordeaux produces a variety of red and white wines. Usually a blend, red Bordeaux is primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and to a lesser degree Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. White Bordeaux is made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron
Inside the cellar of Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
The vineyard of Chateau Calon Segur.
The 1855 Bordeaux Classification
In 1855, at the behest of Napoleon III, negotiants of France’s wine industry devised a classification system for ranking the Chateaux of Bordeaux. With one exception, all of the chateaux hail from the Medoc, Bordeaux’s premier wine producing region. The Medoc is further subdivided into various appellations. Of the thousands of chateaux, only 61 made it into the classification system, a hierarchical ranking of five levels known as “growths.” They are, from highest to lowest, first through fifth growth.
FIRST GROWTHS
Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Latour, Pauillac
Château Margaux, Margaux
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
SECOND GROWTHS
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
Château Léoville-Las Cases, St.-Julien
Château Léoville-Poyferré, St.-Julien
Château Léoville Barton, St.-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien
Château Lascombes, Lascombes
Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
Château Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estèphe
Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe
THIRD GROWTHS
Château Kirwan, Margaux
Château d'Issan, Margaux
Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
Château Giscours, Margaux
Château Malescot St. Exupery, Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown, Margaux
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Palmer, Margaux
Château La Lagune, Haut-Medoc
Château Desmirail, Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe
Château Ferriere, Margaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux
FOURTH GROWTHS
Château Saint-Pierre, St.-Julien
Château Talbot, St.-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Pouget, Margaux
Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc
Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe
Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien
Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux
FIFTH GROWTHS
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Bages-Liberal, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château Dauzac, Margaux
Château d'Armailhac , Pauillac
Château du Tertre, Margaux
Château Pedesclaux, Pauillac
Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc
Château de Camensac, Haut-Médoc
Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc
Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
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