The 1855 Bordeaux Classification
Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III for the Paris Universal Exhibition, the 1855 Classification ranked Médoc red wines and Sauternes sweet wines based on the prices they fetched at the time:
- Premiers Crus (First Growths) — Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton Rothschild (promoted in 1973)
- Deuxièmes Crus through Cinquièmes Crus — 56 additional châteaux ranked second through fifth growth
Remarkably, the 1855 ranking has been amended only once in over 160 years (Mouton's promotion), making it both revered and criticised for its rigidity. Many fifth growths now produce wine rivalling seconds or thirds.
Other French Classifications
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé — uniquely, this classification is re-evaluated roughly every ten years. The 2022 revision dropped Château Ausone and Cheval Blanc (who withdrew) and promoted new estates
- Graves Classification (1959) — ranks 16 estates in Pessac-Léognan for red, white, or both
- Burgundy Cru System — vineyard-based rather than estate-based; plots are ranked as Regional, Village, Premier Cru, or Grand Cru
- Alsace Grand Cru — 51 designated vineyard sites allowed to carry the Grand Cru label
Investment and Market Impact
A Cru Classé designation significantly influences market value. First Growth Bordeaux routinely trades as an alternative asset class, with bottles appreciating over decades. The classification acts as a quality guarantee for collectors, even though modern winemaking has narrowed quality gaps between tiers.