Official Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855

Definition - What does Official Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855 mean?

The Official Wine Classification of 1855 was ordered by Emperor Napoleon III to showcase the best wines of Bordeaux at the Exposition Universelle de Paris.

Wine brokers made a list according to the wines' prices, which reflected their quality at this time. They were ranked in order from first (Premiers crus) to fifth growths (Cinquiemes Crus), including wines from the sub-region of Medoc except one, Chateau Haut Brion of Graves.

WineFrog explains Official Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855

The original list was to rank the chateaus (wine estates) according to their quality within the individual classifications. Following the criticism received upon public receipt of the list, the Chamber of Commerce adapted the list of each classification to be ordered alphabetically. The original 1855 Classification list included the following estates:

Premiers Crus (First Growth)

  • Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
  • Chateau Latour, Pauillac
  • Chateau Margaux, Margaux
  • Chateau Haut-Brion, Graves (since 1986, Pessac-Leognan)

Deuxiemes Crus (Second Growth)

  • Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (now in the 1st growth category since 1973), Pauillac
  • Chateau Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
  • Chateau Leovill Poyferre, St. Julien
  • Chateau Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
  • Chateau Lascombes, Margaux
  • Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac
  • Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, St. Julien
  • Chateau Montrose, St. Estephe

Troisiemes Crus (Third Growth)

  • Chateau d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
  • Chateau Langoa Barton, St. Julien
  • Chateau Malescot-St. Exupery, Margaux
  • Chateau Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
  • Chateau La Lagune, Ludon (Haut Medoc)
  • Chateau Calon-Segur, St. Estephe
  • Chateau Marquis-d'Alesme-Becker, Margaux

Quatriemes Crus (Fourth Growth)

  • Chateau Talbot, St. Julien
  • Chateau Duhart-Milon Rothschild, Pauillac
  • Chateau La Tour Carnet, St. Laurent (Haut Medoc)
  • Chateau Beychevelle, St. Julien
  • Chateau Marquis de Terme, Margaux

Cinquiemes Crus (Fifth Growths)

  • Chateau Batailley, Pauillac
  • Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
  • Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
  • Chateau Mouton-Baronne-Phillipe (Chateau d'Armailhac after 1989), Pauillac
  • Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal, Pauillac
  • Chateau Belgrave, St. Laurent (Haut Medoc)
  • Chateau Cos-Labory, St. Estephe
  • Chateau Croizet-Bages, Pauillac

Sauternes and Barsac

Grand Premier Cru

  • Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes

Premiers Crus

  • Chateau La Tour Blanche Bommes (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Saturnes)
  • Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
  • Chateau de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Coutet, Barsac
  • Chateau Climens, Barsac
  • Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes
  • Chateau Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)

Deuxiemes Crus

  • Chateau Myrat (Chateau de Myrat), Barsac
  • Chateau Doisy-Daene, Barsac
  • Chateau Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac
  • Chateau Doisy-Vedrines, Barsac
  • Chateau d'Arche, Sauternes
  • Chateau Filhot, Sauternes
  • Chateau Broustet, Barsac
  • Chateau Nairac, Barsac
  • Chateau Caillou, Barsac
  • Chateau Suau, Barsac
  • Chateau de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Romer, Fargues (Sauternes)
  • Chateau Lamothe (Sauternes)