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Wine lovers whose palace heads to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot know the 1855 Classification of Bordeauxrequested by Napoleon III, in which the 60 best reds in the region were classified and subdivided into five raw, or “growth”. This rating system has resisted the time test, and today the high -level members of this small group of Châteaus produce some of the most sought after wines on the planet. Many people can only have a temporary conscience of four other classifications that have been established thereafter: Crus classified by Graves, Grand Cru de Saint-Émilion, Crus Artisans and Bourgeois Cru de Médoc. The bourgeois vintage is an evolving list whose recent update gives wine drinkers a vision of an initiate to some of the best Bordeaux This money can buy, many at affordable prices which are generally not associated with the bottles of one of the best regions of wine in the world.
For fear that you did not think it is a hip game on the word overused candle,, The term “bourgeois vintage” dates back to the Middle Ages when the bourgeois (citizens) of town (City) Bordeaux obtained the best lands in the neighboring Medoc campaign. (Sidenot: while bourgeois has become “middle class”, candle is French for candles, and the use of Americans of the word to signify “high-end” or “fantasy” can be a confusion for French speakers.) Created in 1932 and updated every five years since 2010, the 2025 Cru bourgeois du Médoc has been revealed to a large fanfare at Wine Paris Trade Fair in the misman. The AOC includes eight names on Cabernet Sauvignon-Dominant left bank: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. The classification includes 170 castles, with a total of 120 recognized as raw bourgeois, 36 which are awarded raw bourgeous superior, and only 14 distinguished with the superior designation, an exceptional bourgeois cru. Due to the stricter requirements of this year, there were fewer applications and there was a net loss of 80 castles compared to the 250 in 2020.
With more than 6,000 wine establishments in 65 appellations, Bordeaux can be a confusing category for wine drinkers, especially in front of dozens of platforms of lookalikes on a shelf in store, so that the 2025 Cru bourgeois of Médoc helps to cut the fog and highlights the best of the best. It establishes a high quality level which includes the evaluation of the management of vineyards and cellar, harvesting practices, winemaking, traffic jam, labeling and storage processes, which are all evaluated for quality control. More importantly, a panel of sommeliersMWS, winegrowers, traders and main journalists of French wine (which all go through a verification process which includes the test of its palace for consistency) with blind taste the last five vintages of each wine. The jury is led by Philippe Faure-Brac, the best sommelier in the world which is president of the French Sommelier.
In an effort to attract young consumers who appreciate sustainability and transparency, producers must have environmental certifications which demonstrate a commitment to preserve resources and preserve the land. For those whose leisure time includes travel from wine countries, the levels of superior and exceptional exceptions also consider the overall experience of visitors to each castle, including public facilities and reception options. Armelle Cruse, owner of Château du Taillan (which obtained the exceptional status) and vice-president of the Bourgeois Crus Alliance, estimates that the update of the classification every five years is important because it challenges their vineyards and their quality of wine in order to rise to a higher level. Static classifications do not give an overview of how a cellar may have changed over time, so a more dynamic system is better for consumers, especially the one that is gaining weight in the tasting of recent vintages. “Classification is a quality guarantee for the consumer,” explains Cruse. “A bourgeois vintage has been tasted by professionals who certify the level of quality of wine.”
The base of the earth
Surprisingly, many of the best wines in the group sell around $ 50 per bottle, some for even less. Keep in mind that these wines were examined by some of the best experts in France. The head of the Faure-Brac jury explains that the blind tasting is crucial in the certification process because it guarantees impartiality and eliminates any bias or preconceived concepts based on the producer or the label. “It allows the jury to judge wine only on its merits, focusing only on its quality and characteristics,” he says. “It maintains the integrity of the classification and guarantees that only the best wines are selected.” And the tasting not only one but five vintages of each castle allows the jury to assess consistency and “helps to guarantee that the property produces not only quality wines in a single vintage, but also a high standard over time”. Each wine is evaluated by a meticulous collective tasting regime, assessing its balance, quality and consistency, and only 22% of the wines in the Médoc production area are included.
The wines we tasted in Paris were 2019 and 2020, which were both excellent vintages. The off -competition payments included Château La Branne, Château d'Arsac, Château Le Crock, Château Paveil de Luze, Château Mongravey and Château du Taillan. What really struck us at all levels is the combination of daring flavors and sweet spices with elegant tannins and well integrated acidity. Marguerite de Luze, owner of Château Paveil de Luze, does not believe that these wines must be cellular for additional maturity or saved for holidays and birthdays. “I think our wines are more accessible,” she says. “You don't have to wait for a special occasion; Without the weight of “pride”, it is easier to open a bottle. On the other side of the medal, Château La Branne Winegrower Vincent Videau thinks that despite the accent on woodability, its wine and other members of the classification will be graciously aged up to 15 years.
The vineyards winning the designation of the bourgeois vintage affix a special bottle to the bottle and include their classification level on the front label. So, even if you are working on a castle that you do not know, the stamp and the label can guide you to a large wine. In this spirit, the next time you travel a wine list or look for a wonderful Bordeaux To bring home, talk to your sommelier or look for the raw bourgeois designation on the label. You will be happy to have done it.
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