All these love/hate threads recently about Bordeaux got me thinking about the 1855 Classification and how many of these wines I actually still buy (or stated better, can still afford to buy).
What struck me by looking back at the Classification - been years since I’ve actually done that - is that I have never even heard of a few, and some that I have heard of, I have not tried. Now bear in mind, Bordeaux is my wine of choice. Yes, I love some other regions, like Loire and Rhone, and dig me some Cali Zins, and more recently some syrahs, but by and large, my preference is Bordeaux. Even with the price escalations this past decade, I have been buying - Crus in good years like 2005, Classified Growths in years like 2001, 04 and 08. Picked up a few ringers in 03 and 05.
Below is the Classification, with my notations on those I have not heard of and those I have not tried. Would love to hear whether other Bdx lovers on this BB have tried all of the wines on the Classification, and if so, can comment on those I have notated. Curious if I am missing something, perhaps a sleeper or a bargain, among the Classification.
First Growths
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
Chateau Latour
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (promoted from Second Growth in 1973)
Chateau Margaux
Chateau Haut-Brion
Second Growths
Chateau Pichon-Baron de Longueville
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Chateau Gruaud-Larose
Chateau Léoville-Las Cases
Chateau Léoville-Barton
Chateau Léoville-Poyferré
Chateau Cos d’Estournel
Chateau Montrose
Chateau Brane-Cantenac - HAVE NOW HAD AND OWN SEVERAL VINTAGES
Chateau Durfort-Vivens - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau Lascombes
Chateau Rauzan-Ségla
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies - NEVER HAD
Third Growths
Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Langoa-Barton
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau Cantenac-Brown
Chateau Desmirail - NEVER HAD
Chateau Ferrière
Chateau Giscours
Chateau d’Issan
Chateau Kirwan
Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry
Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker - NEVER HAD
Chateau Palmer
Chateau Calon-Ségur
Chateau La Lagune
Fourth Growths
Chateau Duhart-Milon
Chateau Marquis-de-Terme - NEVER HAD
Chateau Pouget - NEVER HEARD OF
Chateau Prieuré-Lichine
Chateau Beychevelle
Chateau Branaire-Ducru
Chateau St Pierre
Chateau Talbot
Chateau Lafon Rochet
Chateau La Tour Carnet
Fifth Growths
Chateau d’Armailhac
Chateau Batailley
Chateau Clerc-Milon
Chateau Croizet-Bages - NEVER HAD
Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse - NEVER HAD
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral
Chateau Haut-Batailley
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Chateau Lynch-Moussas - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau Pédesclaux - NEVER HAD
Chateau Pontet-Canet
Chateau Dauzac - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau du Tertre - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau Cos-Labory
Chateau Belgrave - HAVE NOW HAD
Chateau Camensac
Chateau Cantemerle