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Jane Anson

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    1855 Classification

    

    The 1855 classification was the first of its kind in the world (Bordeaux wines had been loosely ranked before this, but not in such an official format), and established the region undoubtedly as one of the most reliable sources of fine wine in Europe (long before, of course, there was any suggestion that there could be fine wine from elsewhere).

    

    Its unchanging nature has often been a source on contention, with second growths who are said not to deserve their place, and fifths growths who regularly outdo them in price and quality. Attempts to rework it, though, have always been resisted (and who can blame them, when yoi look at Saint Emilion and the Cru Bourgeois). It is important to note that chateaux were accorded their place due to the price that they reached on the marketplace - and not just a price over the previous few years before 1855, but in some cases with records reaching back over a few hundred years.

    

    Serena Sutcliffe, when asked on the 1855 classification’s longevity, commented, 'Largely because [the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce] got a lot of it right. It was based on the combined opinions of brokers and négociants. They based their decisions on price history. You might say it’s a bit crass, but over a very long period, certain châteaux have always fetched higher prices than other châteaux because their wines offered more consistent quality. Interestingly, the high prices did correspond to the best positions in Bordeaux. And that’s why the classification has held for so long. There are some [estates] that one might demote because they’ve diluted their holds, and others that were left out because of absentee owners. But when you look at the classification overall, it holds up. Not many institutions can claim that after 150 years.'  

    ​

    First Growths
    Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
    Chateau Latour
    Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (promoted from Second Growth in 1973)
    Chateau Margaux
    Chateau Haut-Brion

    Second Growths
    Chateau Pichon-Baron de Longueville
    Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
    Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
    Chateau Gruaud-Larose
    Chateau Léoville-Las Cases
    Chateau Léoville-Barton
    Chateau Léoville-Poyferré
    Chateau Cos d'Estournel
    Chateau Montrose
    Chateau Brane-Cantenac
    Chateau Durfort-Vivens
    Chateau Lascombes
    Chateau Rauzan-Ségla
    Chateau Rauzan-Gassies  

    Third Growths
    Chateau Lagrange
    Chateau Langoa-Barton
    Chateau Boyd-Cantenac
    Chateau Cantenac-Brown
    Chateau Desmirail
    Chateau Ferrière
    Chateau Giscours
    Chateau d'Issan
    Chateau Kirwan
    Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry
    Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker
    Chateau Palmer
    Chateau Calon-Ségur
    Chateau La Lagune  

    Fourth Growths
    Chateau Duhart-Milon
    Chateau Marquis-de-Terme
    Chateau Pouget
    Chateau Prieuré-Lichine
    Chateau Beychevelle
    Chateau Branaire-Ducru
    Chateau St Pierre
    Chateau Talbot
    Chateau Lafon Rochet
    Chateau La Tour Carnet   

    Fifth Growths
    Chateau d'Armailhac
    Chateau Batailley
    Chateau Clerc-Milon
    Chateau Croizet-Bages
    Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse
    Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste
    Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral
    Chateau Haut-Batailley
    Chateau Lynch-Bages
    Chateau Lynch-Moussas
    Chateau Pédesclaux
    Chateau Pontet-Canet
    Chateau Dauzac
    Chateau du Tertre
    Chateau Cos-Labory
    Chateau Belgrave
    Chateau Camensac
    Chateau Cantemerle (promoted in 1856)
       
    At the time, the wines of Sauternes and Barsac were also classified, with Chateau Yquem being called Superieur First Growth, ranked above all the others in the region because it was sold far more expensively than the other wines, often ending up being supped by the Russian tsars.

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