1842 vintage tasting

Exceptional tasting Château Gruaud Larose 1842 !

Look at this color !
The wine stayed in the private cellar of the Chateau all this time, so the storage is a very important factor.
Unfortunately they don't still have precise informations about the correct blend but the truffle notes can indicate than Merlot where used.

Very light orange color, still alcoholic, light acidity, some truffle notes in the nose, no more structure, but amazing to drink this 170 years old wine.

I feel little bit younger now, may be it is the secret.

A big thank to the Chateau for sharing this exceptional tasting.

Chateau Chasse Spleen

Today visited Chateau Chasse Spleen.

Located in Moulis appellation this one is one of my favorite. We had the 05 for X-mas diner and it was perfect after one our of decantation.

It's a family property run by Bernadette Villars from 1976 and now by her daughter.
The chateau is not included in the 1855 classification but listed as cru Bourgeois exceptionel in recognition of excellent quality.

As some famous winery they also do a small production of white wine (Blanc de Chasse Spleen)

Red is made from a blend of Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot, deep red color, generous in mouth and soft tanins. Should be pair with red meat in sauce or strong cheese.

Discover this nice property during on day wine tour in Bordeaux choose the Medoc area.

For more information visit the Chasse Spleen website

Medoc & Sauternes

We are happy to inform you about our new tour : Medoc & Sauternes, red and sweet wines.

This tour will give you the opportunity to experience wines from Margaux, Pauillac,St Julien, Pessac Leognan and of course Sauternes.

It is all the diversity of the Bordeaux vineyard Terroirs that you will taste.
The Chateaux visited are all Grand Crus Classes and produce different style of wines.
We have also plan lunches in some of the best local gourmet restaurant to taste at the French gastronomy.

More about this wine tour on our website : Bordeaux Wine Trip

Some information about the Medoc wines : http://www.medoc-wines.com/accueil.aspx
 and Sauternes : http://www.sauternes-barsac.com/z/index.php

Medoc Wine Tour

Located on left bank of the Gironde, the Medoc is a long wavy strip of land, known for its famous wines : Margaux, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe and prestigious Chateaux : Margaux, Palmer, Latour, Mouton Rothschild ...Grands Crus Classes 1855, Crus Bourgeois or "artisans" vintages, come and meet men and women who make these wines of exceptions.

we have created a spacial  Medoc Wine Tour dedicated to Grand Cru Classe 1855.

A guided tour will make you discover terroir, appellation, vat room, ageing cellar and all the winemaking process from the grape to the glass.

A commented wine tasting of different vintage will close the visits.Medoc it is also forest, water, gastronomy and a wonderful architectural heritage testifying to its richness and past.

Bordered by wonderful residences and fields, discover the famous “Chateau wine road” which curves through all the Medoc like an open air museum.


More information on Medoc wines

Cru Bourgeois Classification

The Cru Bourgeois classification been created in 1932 to complete the 1855 classification. It is available only for the Medoc area.

This classification has been reviewed in 2003 but canceled in 2007 so it is still the 1932 list available today.

There is 3 levels in this classification :

Cru Bourgeois exceptionnel
Cru Bourgeois supérieur
Cru Bourgeois

See the list of the Chateaus classified

1855 Classification

It exists many classifications depending mainly on the Appellation where the wine is produced.

The most famous is the 1855 classification. This one is available only for :

St Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, Margaux, Haut Medoc, Pessac, Barsac & Sauternes.

The classification was created to promote the most famous Bordeaux wines at the Paris Universal Exhibition. 78 Chateaus are included in this classification and has been selected by wine merchants and based on many years of trade experience. This classification is made with 5 levels (1 -> 5) and has never been reviewed from this time except in 1973 Mouton Rothschild second has moved to first.

Today, on the bottle, the label refer to this classification with the sentence "Grand Cru Classe 1855" but don't specify the level.

Medoc & Graves

1st Premiers Crus

Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac

Château Latour, Pauillac

Château Margaux, Margaux

Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (Second cru en 1855, promu en premier cru en 1973)

Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Graves (Pessac jusqu'en 1986)

2nd Deuxièmes Crus

Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux

Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (anciennement Château Rausan-Ségla)

Château Léoville Barton, St.-Julien

Château Léoville Las Cases, St.-Julien

Château Léoville Poyferré, St.-Julien

Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux

Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien

Château Lascombes, Margaux

Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien

Château Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estèphe

Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe

3rd Troisièmes Crus

Château Kirwan, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château d'Issan, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château Lagrange, St.-Julien

Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien

Château Giscours, Margaux (Labarde-Margaux)

Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux

Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux

Château Cantenac Brown, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château Palmer, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc (Ludon)

Château Desmirail, Margaux

Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe

Château Ferrière, Margaux

Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux

4th Quatrièmes Crus

Château Saint-Pierre, St.-Julien

Château Talbot, St.-Julien

Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien

Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac

Château Pouget, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc (St.-Laurent)

Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe

Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien

Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux (Cantenac-Margaux)

Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux

5th Cinquièmes Crus

Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

Château Batailley, Pauillac

Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac

Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac

Château Dauzac Margaux (Labarde)

Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac (anciennement Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe)

Château du Tertre, Margaux (Arsac)

Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Pauillac

Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac

Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc (St.-Laurent)

Château de Camensac, Haut-Médoc (St.-Laurent) (anciennement Château Camensac)

Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe

Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac

Château Croizet-Bages, Pauillac

Château Cantemerle , Haut-Médoc (Macau)

Sauternes & Barsac

1st A Premier Cru Supérieur

Château d'Yquem, Sauternes

1st B Premiers Crus

château La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)

Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes) (château Clos Haut-Peyraguey)

Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)

Château Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)

Château Coutet, Barsac

Château Climens, Barsac

Château Guiraud, Sauternes

Château Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)

Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)

Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes)

2nd Deuxièmes Crus

Château Myrat, Barsac (château de Myrat)

Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac

Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac

Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac

Château d'Arche, Sauternes

Château Filhot, Sauternes

Château Broustet Barsac

Château Nairac, Barsac

Château Caillou, Barsac

Château Suau, Barsac

Château de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)

Château Romer, Fargues (Sauternes)

Château Romer du Hayot, Fargues (Sauternes)

Château Lamothe, Sauternes

Château Lamothe Guignard, Sauternes

More information on Cru Classe 1855 

Appellation

What are the mains Bordeaux vineyard appellation ?

There is more than 30 different appellations in the Bordeaux vineyard.

An appellation is related to a geographic part : the name of a village (St Emilion, Margaux, Sauternes ...) or the name of an area (Medoc, Entre 2 mers, cotes de Blaye ...).

The vineyard is separated in the middle by the Gironde river.
We call the right bank the right side of this river and the the left bank the left side.

On the Right bank : St Emilion, Pomerol, Blaye, Fronsac ...

On the Left Bank you find : Medoc, Graves, Sauternes ....

The Gironde river splits in 2 others rivers, the Dordogne & the Garonne and in the middle of these it is the "Entre 2 mers" appellation.

Have a look on the Bordeaux vineyard map

Medoc :
The Medoc is a long wide band situated on the left bank. Most of the production is red wine & the mains appellations are :
-Margaux
-Pauillac
-St Estephe
-St Julien
-Listrac
-Moulis

Graves :The Grave is a small appellation close Bordeaux. They produce both red & white wines.
The most famous appellation is the Pessac Leognan.

Sauternes :The Sauternes production is sweet white wine. It is a very small appellation but very famous.

Entre 2 mers :
This appellation is less known but they product very special dry white wine which goes very well with fish & sea food.

St Emilion :The village and the vineyard are listed as human world heritage by the UNESCO. The production is mainly red wine. Situated close the Dordogne valley, the landscape is made of plateau and small hill.

Pomerol :
Close St Emilion there is the Pomerol appellation. The production is red wine made with more than 90% of Merlot.
May be the smallest vineyard but one of the most famous with it Star "Petrus".
Note that we don't say Chateau" we just say Petrus !
Arround St Emilion
Puisseguin, Montagne, Lalande de Pomerol, Fronsac, Lussac ....

Arround Blaye
Cote de Blaye, Cote de Bourg