Food / Wine

The Great Wines of Bordeaux with recipes from Top Chefs of the World

By Patricia Connell
16/12/2010

Grand Crus Classés

The Great Wines of Bordeaux

with recipes from Top Chefs of the World

Par Dewey Markham Jr.

 

‘It’s the thought that counts’

Did you know that on 18^th April 1855, only 87 of the Médoc and Sauterne wines had been classified as being a ‘Grand Cru’? This classification was requested by Napoléon III on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition. Note only one Graves: Château Haut-Brion also received that great honour. This hierarchy says a lot more about the origins of the region and about the wine trade than simply about the châteaux themselves.

The responsibility for drawing up the list was given to the Bordeaux Trade Brokers by the Chamber of Commerce. The initial idea was to establish a classification based on many years of trade experience, which was the recognition for each estate of its Terroir and reputation. The classification was the confirmation of an existing market and the evolution over more than a century.

No one today would say that the judgement of the brokers of 1855 could be applied to what is currently happening in the Bordeaux region but their list is still valid. It has kept its promotional value, not only for the wines that are ‘Classés’ but also for those of the whole region. No other world region has a comparable list which is not only extremely prestigious but also reassuring and help novices in their first choice of quality wine. The Label “Grand Cru Classé” is legendary in terms of quality..

Both the list itself and the chateaux which are listed on it are have a mythical status which indicate the possibility of perfection in an imperfect world and through these wines which provide so much joy and satisfaction to all the wine lovers and oenophiles around the world, its concretisation.

 

Dewey Markham Jr, took this to another level by asking the top chefs from all around the world to put together a dish to accompany one of the Grands Crus Classés from the list below.

The result is a magnificent book which is both a feast for the eye and a real pleasure to read. It makes the perfect present for the discerning person.

Price: £26 www.Amazon.co.uk

 

The Grands Crus Classés 1855

First Growths (Premiers Crus)

•              Château Lafite, Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac

•              Château Latour, Pauillac

•              Château Margaux, Margaux

•              Château Haut-Brion, Pessac, Graves

•              Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

 

 Second Growths (Seconds Crus)

•              Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux

•              Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux

•              Léoville,

•              Château Léoville-Las Cases, St.-Julien

•              Château Léoville-Poyferré, St.-Julien

•              Château Léoville-Barton, St.-Julien

•              Vivens Durfort, Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux

•              Gruau-Laroze, Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien

•              Lascombe, Château Lascombes, Margaux

•              Brane, Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Pichon Longueville,

•              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)

•              Ducru Beau Caillou, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien

•              Cos Destournel, Château Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estèphe

•              Montrose, Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe

 

Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)

•              Kirwan, Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Château d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Lagrange, Château Lagrange, St.-Julien

•              Langoa, Château Langoa-Barton, St.-Julien

•              Giscours, Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)

•              St.-Exupéry, Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux

•              Boyd,

•              Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux

•              Palmer, Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Lalagune, Château La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)

•              Desmirail, Château Desmirail, Margaux

•              Dubignon,[Château Dubignon, Margaux

•              Calon, Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe

•              Ferrière, Château Ferrière, Margaux

•              Becker, Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux

 

Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)

•              St.-Pierre, Château Saint-Pierre, St.-Julien

•              Château Talbot, St.-Julien

•              Du-Luc, Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien

•              Duhart, Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac

•              Pouget-Lassale and Pouget, both Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Carnet, Château La Tour Carnet, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)

•              Rochet, Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe

•              Château de Beychevele, Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien

•              Le Prieuré, Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)

•              Marquis de Thermes, Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux

 

Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)

•              Canet, Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

•              Batailley,

•              Château Batailley, Pauillac

•              Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac

•              Grand Puy, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac

•              Artigues Arnaud, Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac

•              Lynch, Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

•              Lynch Moussas, Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac

•              Dauzac, Château Dauzac, Labarde (Margaux)

•              Darmailhac, Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac

•              Le Tertre, Château du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)

•              Haut Bages, Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac

•              Pédesclaux,  Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac

•              Coutenceau, Château Belgrave, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)

•              Camensac, Château de Camensac, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)

•              Cos Labory, Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe

•              Clerc Milon, Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac

•              Croizet-Bages, Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac

•              Cantemerle,Château Cantemerle, Macau (Haut-Médoc)

The White Wines of the Gironde

Barsac estates may be classified under Barsac or Sauternes.

 

Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur)

•              Yquem, Château d'Yquem, Sauternes

 

First Growths (Premier Crus)

•              Latour Blanche, Château La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)

•              Peyraguey,

•              Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)

•              Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)

•              Vigneau, Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)

•              Suduiraut,  Château Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)

•              Coutet, Château Coutet, Barsac

•              Climens, Château Climens, Barsac

•              Bayle, Château Guiraud, Sauternes

•              Rieusec,  Château Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)

•              Rabeaud,

•              Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)

•              Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)

 

Second Growths (Deuxième Crus)

•              Mìrat,  Château de Myrat, Barsac

•              Doisy,

•              Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac

•              Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac

•              Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac

•              Pexoto, now part of Château Rabaud-Promis

•              D’arche, now Château d'Arche, Sauternes

•              Filhot, now Château Filhot, Sauternes

•              Broustet Nérac,

•              Château Broustet, Barsac

•              Château Nairac, Barsac

•              Caillou, Château Caillou, Barsac

•              Suau, Château Suau, Barsac

•              Malle,  Château de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)

•              Romer,

•              Château Romer, Fargues (Sauternes)

•              Château Romer du Hayot, Fargues (Sauternes)

•              Lamothe,

•              Château Lamothe, Sauternes

•              Château Lamothe-Guignard, Sauternes