🏷️ Cru Artisan

Cru Artisan is a title for small family estates of the Médoc in Bordeaux, France. The name means "craftsman cru". It is similar to the better-known title "Cru Bourgeois".

The title groups small estates where the family itself grows the grapes and makes the wine. These are not châteaux with large acreage but small plots where the owner works himself. The title is given after an inspection and shows that the wine is made on the spot, in a craft way. Such estates stand apart from the 1855 classification, which gave the top places to famous châteaux.

Cru Artisan belongs to French wines and is part of the Bordeaux classification system alongside Cru Bourgeois. For the buyer, the title hints that the wine is made by a small family producer. Such wines often cost less than famous châteaux but reflect local character. They are made mostly from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, like other Médoc wines. The title helps small estates make themselves known. It is not a guarantee of quality but a sign of a craft approach and the owner's personal responsibility for the wine.