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Bordeaux classification of 1855
For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world.
Brokers from the wine industry ranked the wines according to a château's reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus). All of the red wines that made it on the list came from the Médoc region except for one: Château Haut-Brion from Graves.
The white wines, then of much less importance than red wine, were limited to the sweet varieties of Sauternes and Barsac and were ranked only from first great growth to second grow.
Below is the complete Médoc Classification of 1855:
First Growths (Premiers or 1er Crus)
- Château Lafite Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Médoc (archaically Château de la Fite, Laffite, Lafitte)
- Château Latour, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Médoc (archaically La Tour de Segur)
- Château Margaux, Commune de Margaux (archaically Château Margau)
- Château Haut-Brion, Commune de Pessac, Graves (archaically Château Hautbrion, Houtbrion, Ho-Bryan, Obryan, Ho Bryen)
- The only Château situated in Graves rather than Médoc, and therefore the only Château on the list that is allowed to sell a dry white wine under the same name and appellation as the red wine.
- Château Mouton Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Médoc
- (reclassified from Second Growth status in 1973) (archaically Château Branne-Mouton)
Second Growths (officially Seconds Crus, sometimes written as Deuxièmes Crus)
- 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, Margaux
- Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauillac (commonly known as Pichon Baron)
- Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac (commonly known as Pichon Lalande or Pichon Comtesse)
- Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
- Château Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estèphe
- Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe
Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)
- Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
- Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
- Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux
- Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
- Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)
- Château Desmirail, Margaux
- Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe
- Château Ferrière, Margaux
- Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux
Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)
- Château Saint-Pierre, St.-Julien (archaically Serançan, divided as Saint-Pierre-Bontemps and Saint-Pierre-Sevaistre)
- Château Talbot, St.-Julien
- Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
- Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
- Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château La Tour Carnet, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe
- Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien
- Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux) (archaically Château La Prieuré, Prieuré-Cantenac)
- Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux
Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)
- Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
- Château Batailley, Pauillac
- Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
- Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac
- Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
- Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
- Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
- Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
- Château Dauzac, Labarde (Margaux)
- Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac (archaically Château Mouton-d'Armailhacq, Mouton-du-Baron Philippe)
- Château du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)
- Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
- Château Belgrave, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château de Camensac, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe
- Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
- Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
- Château Cantemerle, Macau (Haut-Médoc) (added in 1856)
Sauternes and Barsac
Barsac Châteaux may call themselves Barsac or Sauternes.
Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur)
- Château d'Yquem, Sauternes
First Growths (Premiers Crus)
- Château La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)
- Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
- Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
- Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)
- Château Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)
- Château Coutet, Barsac
- Château Climens, Barsac
- Château Guiraud, Sauternes
- Château Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)
- Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)
- Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)
- Château de Myrat, Barsac
- Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac
- Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac
- Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac
- Château d'Arche, Sauternes
- Château Filhot, Sauternes
- Château Broustet Barsac
- Château Nairac, Barsac
- Château Caillou, Barsac
- Château Suau, Barsac
- Château de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)
- Château Romer, Fargues (Sauternes)
- Château Romer du Hayot, Fargues (Sauternes)
- Château Lamothe, Sauternes
- Château Lamothe-Guignard, Sauternes
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