🏷️ Grand cru classé
The title of a château included in one of the Bordeaux classifications.
Grand cru classé is a title of a château that has been placed in one of the Bordeaux classifications. The word classé means classified. The title does not name a wine itself, but describes the status of the estate.
Bordeaux has several classifications. The best known is the 1855 classification for the Médoc and Sauternes. Saint-Émilion has its own classification, and Graves has another. Each works by its own rules, and the title grand cru classé means different things in different places. So it matters which classification is meant.
In the Saint-Émilion classification, châteaux can be added to the list and removed from it, as the ratings are reviewed every few years. The 1855 classification was changed only once.
On a label such a title helps to understand the level of the château. But the taste of a wine depends on the vintage, grapes and the estate's work, so the title does not guarantee a good bottle every year.
What it includes
How it connects to Wine
🏷️ Grand cru classé ← similar ← 🏷️ Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 → kind of → 🏷️ Wine classifications → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🏷️ Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
- Where it applies
- 🗺️ French wine
- Similar and different
- 🏷️ Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, 🏷️ Saint-Émilion classification
Frequently asked questions
What does grand cru classé mean?
A title of a Bordeaux château included in one of the official classifications.
Which classifications exist in Bordeaux?
The 1855 classification (Médoc and Sauternes), the Saint-Émilion classification and the Graves classification.
Does the title guarantee good wine?
No. It describes the status of the château, while taste depends on the vintage and the estate's work.
Similar
🏷️ Graves classification · 🏷️ Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 · 🏷️ Cru Bourgeois · 🏷️ Saint-Émilion classification · 🏷️ VDQS · 🏷️ Cru Artisan
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.