Crédit photo : Julien Abellan

The Crus Bourgeois Classification in Bordeaux: A Rich History

To grasp the origins of the Crus Bourgeois, a journey back in time is necessary. In the Middle Ages, the city of Bordeaux was under English control. Wine merchants enjoyed an exemption from duties on their local sales, as well as on the export of their precious nectars. This privilege quickly enabled them to amass considerable wealth. These merchants became known as “bourgeois” to the populace. They used their fortune to purchase the most renowned vineyards of Médoc from the 15th century. Thus, a new nickname for these parcels emerged: “the Crus of the Bourgeois.” Century after century, a classification of these crus gradually took place. However, it wasn’t until 1858 that a work by M. d’Armailhac established a first hierarchy of 248 Crus Bourgeois. This classification evolved over the years, leading to the establishment of a reference classification in 1932, regulated by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture. The foundation stones of the Crus Bourgeois we know today were laid…

The Crus Bourgeois Classification, A Mark of Excellence in Its Own Right

Today, the Médoc Crus Bourgeois classification is revised every five years. It includes three hierarchical levels (Crus Bourgeois, Crus Bourgeois Supérieurs, Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels), reflecting the diversity of our wine region. For all these Bordeaux red wines, the “Cru Bourgeois” label is a guarantee of quality, directly indicated near the appellation on the bottle’s label. It is indeed based on a rigorous and objective set of specifications, verified by an independent control body. The different criteria considered can be summarized into three main categories:

• The quality of the wines, proven through blind tastings;
• The consistency of the wines, judged according to the aging potential of the vintages;
• Respect for the environment, attested by the High Environmental Value (HVE) certification of the selected Châteaux.

From these requirements stem rich and sincere wines, perfectly embodying their terroir…

Crédit photo : Julien Abellan

Haut-Médoc, One of the 8 AOCs of Bordeaux Distinguished by the Crus Bourgeois

Since its last revision in 2020, the list of Médoc Crus Bourgeois includes 249 Châteaux, spread across seven Bordeaux appellations: AOC Médoc, of course, but also AOC Listrac-Médoc, AOC Moulis-en-Médoc, AOC Margaux, AOC Saint-Estèphe, AOC Pauillac, and finally, AOC Haut-Médoc.

Located at the gates of Bordeaux, the Haut-Médoc appellation stretches along the left bank of the Gironde over more than 4 hectares. There, its vines benefit from the protective embrace of a temperate oceanic climate. Their roots delve into soils of incredible variety, ranging from deep gravel to clay-limestone.

With its landscapes dotted with renowned wine properties, Haut-Médoc produces particularly complex and delicate Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It thus embodies the very essence of Bordeaux wine, its history, and its elegance…

Château Victoria: A Confidential Cru Bourgeois of Haut-Médoc

Since the official beginnings of the Crus Bourgeois in 1932, Château Victoria has always been honored by this excellence classification. Our Estate is nestled in the heart of the Médoc natural park, a few kilometers from Saint-Estèphe. Its uniqueness lies in its terroir: particularly fine gravel soils laid on a highly filtering limestone plateau. It’s here, under a particularly mild microclimate, that our oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive. Our Château Victoria Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois cuvée is the pure reflection of this superb environment, nurtured with respect for the HVE 3 certification rules. A meticulous parcel-based vinification and a 12-month barrel aging reveal the refined personality of its blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot: its assertive yet smooth palate, draped in notes of black fruits, spices, cocoa, and tobacco, is designed for aging, as well as for pairing with characterful dishes…

Château Le Bourdieu Vertheuil: A Historic Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois

Another Cru Bourgeois of Haut-Médoc, another fascinating wine heritage… It was 11th-century monks who planted the first vines of Bourdieu Vertheuil: in its slightly sandy clay-limestone soil, the plant transcends itself. In 1936, the Château was thus recognized by the Crus Bourgeois classification. Since 1989, the vines and vinification of its unique cuvée have been carefully overseen by the same team as that of Château Victoria: constant care, parcel by parcel, that magnifies the fruits of its remarkable terroir. The 2016 vintage of Château Le Bourdieu Vertheuil thus reveals captivating aromas of violet, cherry, and pepper at the tasting, carried by a beautiful roundness and a long grilled finish…

Now that you are acquainted with the main secrets of the Haut-Médoc wines classified as Crus Bourgeois, all that remains is to taste them to fully appreciate their delicious elegance. And in the meantime, why not continue your exploration by (re)discovering other Bordeaux wine appellations?

Haut-Médoc AOC is a Bordeaux appellation, highly regarded for its aging potential.

On the left bank of the Gironde, south of Médoc, the Haut-Médoc AOC has exceptional gravel soils, enhanced by clay-limestone soils. There, the neighboring ocean and estuary naturally regulate temperature variations, shaping a hospitable microclimate: with its rays the sun fully envelops elegant merlot (majority grape variety) and structured cabernet Sauvignon, as well as petit verdot and cabernet franc (to a lesser extent).

The exceptional land of this region gives rise to wines that are only enhanced by extensive aging. As these wines mature in the cellar, their once-firm structure and tannins soften, resulting in a delightful smoothness draped with complex and rich aromas.

In Vertheuil, the bottles of Château Victoria perfectly exemplify this red Bordeaux appellation. On just under 150 acres, its HVE 3 vineyard draws its character from fine gravel soils and limestone subsoil. Its merlot and cabernet sauvignon from mature vines showcase an impressive depth of flavor, just like in the Château Victoria cuvée. A wine for aging, this Haut-Médoc is also distinguished as a Bourgeois Cru, a classification created in 1932 and revised in 2020, bringing together red wines from the Médoc region that combine quality and affordability.

Côtes de Bourg AOC: emphasizing fruitiness and roundness above all else

Crossing the Gironde river, another fantastic appellation reveals itself: that of the Côtes de Bourg, whose vineyard is one of the oldest in Bordeaux.  Weather conditions here are milder than the rest of the right bank, thanks to the estuary’s influence.  Furthermore, the vines are nestled on hillsides and benefit from limestone and sandy-clay soils, both draining and capable of maintaining water on the surface.

Red wines are also highly esteemed in this region: crafted from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and even Malbec, they boast a delightful fruity bouquet, and their palate is warm, powerful, and round. With its 23 acres of organically farmed vineyard, Château Escalette gives pride of place to the purity of the fruit. The wine also bears the imprint of the estate, carved around merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and malbec vines. Nearby Château de Barbe offers a different but equally captivating version of the Côtes de Bourg appellation. As in its assemblages, Merlot dominates the 153-acre vineyard.  Its suppleness, attributed to late clayey soils, can be savored notably through the estate’s eponymous cuvée.

Bordeaux AOC: an appellation full of surprising nuances

Unlike the two previous appellations, Bordeaux AOC wines can be made in vineyards across the region. When you combine such diverse terroirs and characteristics, you get new and exciting aromas at each tasting.

Bordeaux red wines are often supple, pleasantly fruity, and lightly structured.  The grape varieties used are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenère. Château de Barbe dedicates 32 acres of its vineyard to producing Bordeaux AOC wines. Chapelle de Brivazac cuvée honors grapes grown on clay-sandy soils, bordering the Gironde River.  The assemblage exhibits a light and well-balanced structure, tinged with notes of cherry, thyme, and undergrowth.

In addition to the red wines, other areas, such as Château Gantonnet, create Bordeaux AOC whites, and rosés. On the Sainte-Radegonde hillside, the sandy-clay and limestone soils of its HVE3-certified vineyard are sprinkled with fine alluvium. These soils ensure effective drainage, maintain freshness, and nourish beautiful red and white grape varieties, reflecting the tradition of blending in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux Supérieur AOC: complex and assertive wines

Just like the wines of the Bordeaux appellation, those of the Bordeaux Supérieur AOC can come from any plot in the Bordeaux vineyard. However, its specifications impose more constraints on winegrowers, and only red and white wines are allowed in this appellation.

Red wine is still the most common.  The grape varieties allowed are identical to that of the Bordeaux appellation. However, the resulting wines are typically more robust and complex. Château Guillot, Bordeaux Supérieur Red Château Gantonnet, wonderfully illustrates this type of profile. The wine’s well-structured character, and woody accents, come from the Merlots and Cabernets cultivated on a heavy clay plateau with a limestone subsoil.

Each of these 4 Bordeaux appellations – Côtes de Bourg, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, and Bordeaux Supérieur – naturally abounds with many other facets that are sure to surprise you… Among them, the vintage remains a key factor. Now you can dive into the 2022 harvest at our Bordeaux Châteaux!

Here are our notes from the 2022 harvest in our Bordeaux vineyards: Château Gantonnet, Château Victoria, Château Escalette, and Château de Barbe.

Overall, annual weather conditions produced a very healthy crop. Winter rain built up the soil’s water supply, allowing the vines to cope well with water stress during the summer drought. The Château Escalette organically farmed vineyard seems to have tolerated the intense heat better, contributing to the vintage’s rapid growth starting at flowering. The harvest began two weeks early in good weather and lasted about a month for all the properties.

At Château Victoria, with such a warm year, it was quite intense to time the harvest for optimal ripeness and strike the right balance between sugar, acidity, and quality of tannins. Following the usual pattern, the merlot grapes were picked first, followed by the petit verdot and the cabernet. At Château de Barbe, the merlot grapes were harvested first, particularly the plot “in front of the wood,” located on the slopes. The malbec and the cabernet vines followed.

Of course, at Château Gantonnet, the white grape varieties opened this harvest season, followed by the merlot and the malbec vines. The juices of the whites and rosés are fruity and tart, and the reds’ tannins are already silky.

This year looks a bit like 2018 and suggests the wines will be concentrated, fruity, and stunningly decadent.

Record heat and an early harvest for a very promising 2022 vintage!