Bordeaux Premier Grands Crus Classés 1855
Discover our exceptional collection of Bordeaux Premier Grands Crus Classés 1855.
The story of the 1er cru classé wines dates back to 1855, when Napoleon III requested an official classification of Bordeaux estates for the Paris Universal Exhibition. This ranking was based on both the reputation of the wines and their market value at the time, with brokers categorising them into First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Growths.
For red wines, the Official Classification of 1855 recognised 60 Médoc estates and one from Pessac-Léognan. Among them, only five were awarded the ultimate distinction of Premier Cru Classé: Château Lafite-Rothschild (often called the Premier des Premiers) and Château Latour in Pauillac, Château Margaux in Margaux, and Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan.
For sweet whites, the classification included 27 properties across Sauternes and Barsac. At the very top stood Château d’Yquem, the only estate ever elevated to the title of Premier Cru Supérieur, followed by 11 Premier Crus.
Since its creation, this hierarchy has remained almost untouched. The only exception came in 1973, when Château Mouton-Rothschild, also in Pauillac, was elevated from Second to Premier Grand Cru Classé status under Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s leadership.
Today, these 1er cru classé wines remain icons of prestige and excellence, embodying the timeless greatness of Bordeaux’s finest terroirs.
The Story
The story of the 1er cru classé wines dates back to 1855, when Napoleon III requested an official classification of Bordeaux estates for the Paris Universal Exhibition. This ranking was based on both the reputation of the wines and their market value at the time, with brokers categorising them into First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Growths.
For red wines, the Official Classification of 1855 recognised 60 Médoc estates and one from Pessac-Léognan. Among them, only five were awarded the ultimate distinction of Premier Cru Classé: Château Lafite-Rothschild (often called the Premier des Premiers) and Château Latour in Pauillac, Château Margaux in Margaux, and Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan.
For sweet whites, the classification included 27 properties across Sauternes and Barsac. At the very top stood Château d’Yquem, the only estate ever elevated to the title of Premier Cru Supérieur, followed by 11 Premier Crus.
Since its creation, this hierarchy has remained almost untouched. The only exception came in 1973, when Château Mouton-Rothschild, also in Pauillac, was elevated from Second to Premier Grand Cru Classé status under Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s leadership.
Today, these 1er cru classé wines remain icons of prestige and excellence, embodying the timeless greatness of Bordeaux’s finest terroirs.
Frequently asked question about Bordeaux Classification
The five Bordeaux Premier Cru Classé wines from the historic 1855 Classification are the ultimate symbols of prestige and excellence. Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, and Château Mouton-Rothschild embody the finest Bordeaux terroirs, each offering a unique style—elegance, power, refinement, complexity, and innovation. Today, these legendary Bordeaux 1er Cru Classé wines are benchmarks for collectors and wine lovers in Singapore and worldwide, representing heritage, rarity, and timeless quality.
In Bordeaux, Premier Grand Cru Classé (often shortened to Premier Cru Classé or First Growth) is the highest rank in the famous 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines.
The term literally means “First Great Classified Growth.” It was created in 1855 when Napoleon III ordered a ranking of Bordeaux’s top châteaux for the Paris Universal Exhibition. The classification was based on the reputation of each estate and the market price of its wines at the time—both seen as reflections of quality.
For red wines, only five estates hold this prestigious title today: Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, and Château Mouton-Rothschild (added in 1973). For sweet wines, the sole estate recognised as Premier Cru Supérieur is Château d’Yquem in Sauternes.
Being classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé signals global prestige, exceptional quality, and the ability to produce wines with remarkable elegance, depth, and long aging potential—making them some of the most sought-after wines in the world.
When comparing Grand Cru vs Premier Cru, the answer depends on the region. In Bordeaux, the famous 1855 Classification ranks estates as Grand Cru Classé, with the very top tier called Premier Grand Cru Classé (First Growths)—including icons like Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Margaux. Here, Premier Cru Classé is better than Grand Cru Classé, representing the most prestigious Bordeaux wines. In Burgundy, however, the system is different: Grand Cru vineyards are the highest quality, while Premier Cru vineyards rank just below. Understanding this distinction helps wine lovers and collectors choose between the finest Bordeaux 1er Cru Classé wines and Burgundy Grand Crus.