Grands Crus Classés Bordeaux — 57 Classified Estates of Excellence

The 1855 Classification is far more than the five Premiers Crus. The full list encompasses 61 estates divided into five tiers — and while the first growths receive the greatest attention, some of Bordeaux's most compelling and rewarding wines come from the other classified levels, particularly at the Deuxième and Troisième Cru level.

The Médoc Classification Beyond Premier Cru

Deuxièmes Crus — The Second Growths (14 estates)

The second growths include some of Bordeaux's most celebrated and consistently excellent wines. Several routinely perform at first-growth level in great vintages, making them extraordinary value relative to the Premiers Crus.

Key estates:

→    Château Léoville Las Cases (Saint-Julien) — perhaps the finest Deuxième Cru, producing wines of extraordinary concentration and longevity. The Grand Clos is effectively a first growth by any measure other than the 1855 classification.

→    Château Pichon Baron (Pauillac) — powerful, structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated. One of the most impressive wines in all of Pauillac after the three First Growths.

→    Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac) — more feminine and accessible than its neighbour, with a higher proportion of Merlot. Particularly fine in warmer vintages.

→    Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (Saint-Julien) — benchmark Saint-Julien, with the elegance and structure the appellation is famous for.

→    Château Cos d'Estournel (Saint-Estèphe) — the famous "pagoda" château, producing wines of extraordinary complexity and, in recent years, extraordinary longevity. The most distinctive architecture in the Médoc.

→    Château Montrose (Saint-Estèphe) — powerful, tannic, slow-developing. One of the longest-lived wines in Bordeaux.

→    Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Léoville Barton — two further Léoville estates in Saint-Julien, both producing wines of genuine first-growth quality in great vintages.

Troisièmes Crus — The Third Growths (14 estates)

The third growths include some remarkable estates that have significantly out-performed their classification in recent decades:

→    Château Palmer (Margaux) — routinely considered to perform at or above first-growth level. The wine's extraordinary perfume, silkiness, and complexity make it one of Bordeaux's most sought-after and expensive bottles outside the Premiers Crus. The biodynamic estate is managed with meticulous care.

→    Château Lagrange (Saint-Julien) — transformed by Japanese investment in the 1980s, now a very reliable and excellent-value Saint-Julien.

→    Château Calon-Ségur (Saint-Estèphe) — famous for the heart on the label (the Marquis de Ségur was said to prefer this estate to Lafite and Latour, which he also owned). Powerful and age-worthy.

Quatrièmes Crus — The Fourth Growths (10 estates)

→    Château Talbot (Saint-Julien) — reliable, well-made, consistent quality.

→    Château Beychevelle (Saint-Julien) — one of the most beautiful châteaux in Bordeaux. Accessible in style, excellent with food.

Cinquièmes Crus — The Fifth Growths (18 estates)

Some of the Médoc's best value in classified wine:

→    Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) — biodynamically farmed since 2010, now widely considered to perform at second-growth level. One of the most improved estates in Bordeaux over the past 20 years.

→    Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) — a perennial over-performer, consistently producing wine of fourth or even third-growth quality. A particular favourite among wine professionals.

→    Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac) — classic Pauillac character at fifth-growth prices. Excellent value.

→    Château Clerc Milon (Pauillac) — owned by the Rothschild family (Mouton), benefiting from the same quality standards.

The Saint-Émilion Classification

Saint-Émilion operates on a separate and periodically revised classification system:

Premiers Grands Crus Classés A — the elite tier:

→    Château Ausone — tiny estate (7ha) on the limestone plateau, producing extraordinary Merlot-Cabernet Franc of exceptional intensity and longevity

→    Château Cheval Blanc — famous for its unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc (typically 55-60%), producing one of Bordeaux's most complex and distinctive wines

→    Château Figeac — elevated in recent revisions, known for its higher Cabernet Sauvignon content relative to other right-bank estates

Premiers Grands Crus Classés B — approximately 10 estates including Château Angélus, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Canon, and others.

Grands Crus Classés — around 70 estates producing wines of significant quality.

Value Across the Classification

The classified growths offer a wide range of value propositions:

Our team can advise on which specific châteaux and vintages represent the best current value and drinking now versus those that benefit from further cellaring.