Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux Complete Guide, Best Wines, Vineyards

Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

dAgassac Haut-Médoc
Arnauld Haut-Médoc
Belle-Vue Haut-Médoc
Cambon La Pelouse Haut-Médoc
Charmail Haut-Médoc
Malescasse Haut-Médoc
de Malleret Haut-Médoc
du Taillan Haut-Médoc
Lestage Listrac
dArsac Margaux
Paveil de Luze Margaux
Le Boscq St. Estèphe
Le Crock St. Estèphe
Lilian Ladouys St. Estèphe

Cru Bourgeois Supérieur

Balac Haut-Médoc
Beaumont Haut-Médoc
Bel Air Gloria Haut-Médoc
Bernadotte Haut-Médoc
Bibian Haut-Médoc
du Cartillon Haut-Médoc
Cissac Haut-Médoc
Clement Pichon Haut-Médoc
Dillon Haut-Médoc
Doyac Haut-Médoc
Fontesteau Haut-Médoc
Labat Haut-Médoc
Lamothe Bergeron Haut-Médoc
Larose Perganson Haut-Médoc
Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Médoc
Lestage Simon Haut-Médoc
Meyre Haut-Médoc
du Moulin Rouge Haut-Médoc
Paloumey Haut-Médoc
Peyrabon Haut-Médoc
Peyrat-Fourthon Haut-Médoc
Pontoise Cabarrus Haut-Médoc
Ramage La Batisse Haut-Médoc
du Retout Haut-Médoc
Reysson Haut-Médoc
Cap Léon Veyrin Listrac
Fonréaud Listrac
Fourcas Borie Listrac
Reverdi Listrac
Saransot Dupre Listrac
Biston-Brillette Moulis
Caroline Moulis
Lalaudey Moulis
La Mouline Moulis
Deyrem VaLentin Margaux
Mongravey Margaux
La Tour de Mons Margaux
de Côme St. Estèphe
Laffitte Carcasset St. Estèphe
Petit-Bocq St. Estèphe
Sérilhan St. Estèphe
Tour des Termes St. Estèphe

Cru Bourgeois

Les Anguilleys Médoc
d’Argan Médoc
l’Argenteyre Médoc
Beauvillage Médoc
Begadanet Médoc
Bellegrave Médoc
Bellerive Médoc
Bellevue Médoc
de Bensse Médoc
Bessan Ségur Médoc
Blaignan Médoc
Bois Mondont Saint Germain Médoc
Le Bourdieu Médoc
Bournac Médoc
des Brousteras Médoc
des Cabans Médoc
Campillot Médoc
Cangruey Médoc
Carcanieux Médoc
La Chandellière Médoc
Chantemerle Médoc
La Clare Médoc
Clément Saint Jean Médoc
Côtes de Blaignan Médoc
de La Croix Médoc
Escot Médoc
d’Escurac Médoc
l’Estran Médoc
Fontis Médoc
La France Delhomme Médoc
Gémeillan Médoc
La Gorce Médoc
La Gorre Médoc
La Grange de Bessan Médoc
Les Granges de Civrac Médoc
des Granges d’Or Médoc
Gravat Médoc
La Gravette Lacombe Médoc
Grivière Médoc
Haut Bana Médoc
Haut Barrail Médoc
Haut Canteloup Médoc
Haut Maurac Médoc
Haut Myles Médoc
Haut Queyran Médoc
Hourbanon Médoc
Labadie Médoc
Lacombe Noaillac Médoc
Ladignac Médoc
Lalande d’Auvion Médoc
Lassus Médoc
Les Lattes Médoc
Leboscq Médoc
Lestruelle Médoc
Loirac Médoc
Maison Blanche Médoc
Mareil Médoc
Mazails Médoc
Méric Médoc
Les Moines Médoc
Moulin de Bel Air Médoc
Moulin de Canhaut Médoc
Moulin de l’Abbaye Médoc
Moulin de Taffard Médoc
Les Mourlanes Médoc
Nouret Médoc
de Panigon Médoc
Patache dAux Médoc
du Périer Médoc
Pey de Pont Médoc
La Pirouette Médoc
Plagnac Médoc
Pontet Barrail Médoc
Pontey Médoc
Ramafort Médoc
La Raze Beauvallet Médoc
La Ribaud Médoc
Ricaudet Médoc
La Roque de By Médoc
Roquegrave Médoc
Rousseau de Sipian Médoc
Saint Aubin Médoc
Saint Bonnet Médoc
Saint Christoly Médoc
Saint Christophe Médoc
Segue Longue Monnier Médoc
Le Temple Médoc
Tour Castillon Médoc
Tour Prignac Médoc
Tour Saint Bonnet Médoc
Tour Saint Vincent Médoc
des Tourelles Médoc
de Tourteyron Médoc
Les Tresquots Médoc
Les Trois Manoirs Médoc
Troussas Médoc
La Valière Médoc
Vernous Médoc
Le Vieux Fort Médoc
Vieux Robin Médoc
Le Vieux Sérestin Médoc
d’Arcins Haut-Médoc
d’Aurilhac Haut-Médoc
Barateau Haut-Médoc
Barreyres Haut-Médoc
Bellegrave du Poujeau Haut-Médoc
Beyzac Haut-Médoc
Clos La Bohème Haut-Médoc
Le Bourdieu Vertheuil Haut-Médoc
de Braude Haut-Médoc
de Cartujac Haut-Médoc
Corconnac Haut-Médoc
Croix du Trale Haut-Médoc
Dasvin Bel Air Haut-Médoc
Devise d’Ardilley Haut-Médoc
Duthil Haut-Médoc
La Fon du Berger Haut-Médoc
Fonpiqueyre Haut-Médoc
de Gironville Haut-Médoc
Grand Clapeau Olivier Haut-Médoc
Grand Médoc Haut-Médoc
Grandis Haut-Médoc
d’Hanteillan Haut-Médoc
Haut Beyzac Haut-Médoc
Haut Logat Haut-Médoc
Haut Madrac Haut-Médoc
Laborde Haut-Médoc
Lacour Jacquet Haut-Médoc
Lamothe-Cissac Haut-Médoc
Landat Haut-Médoc
La Lauzette Declercq Haut-Médoc
Liversan Haut-Médoc
Magnol Haut-Médoc
Martin Haut-Médoc
Maucamps Haut-Médoc
Maurac Haut-Médoc
Miqueu Haut-Médoc
Le Monteil d’Arsac Haut-Médoc
Moulin de Blanchon Haut-Médoc
Moulin des Moines Haut-Médoc
Muret Haut-Médoc
Peyredon Lagravette Haut-Médoc
Prieuré de Beyzac Haut-Médoc
Puy Castéra Haut-Médoc
du Raux Haut-Médoc
Rollin Haut-Médoc
Saint Ahon Haut-Médoc
Saint Paul Haut-Médoc
Senilhac Haut-Médoc
La Tonnelle Haut-Médoc
Tour du Haut Moulin Haut-Médoc
Tour Saint Joseph Haut-Médoc
Tourteran Haut-Médoc
Victoria Haut-Médoc
Vieux Landat Haut-Médoc
de Villambis Haut-Médoc
Capdet Listrac-Médoc
Donissan Listrac
l’Ermitage Listrac
Lafon Listrac
Lalande Listrac
Liouner Listrac
Semeillan-Mazeau Listrac
Vieux Moulin Listrac
Chemin Royal Moulis
Duplessis Moulis
Guitignan Moulis
Myon de l’Enclos Moulis
Pomeys Moulis
Bellevue de Tayac Margaux
La Fortune Margaux
Pontac Lynch Margaux
Plantey Pauillac
La Commanderie St. Estephe
Coutelin Merville St. Estephe
Picard St. Estephe
Plantier Rose St. Estephe
Saint Pierre de Corbian St. Estephe
Tour de Pez St. Estephe
Tour Saint Fort St. Estephe

Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux Wine Today

For wine lovers seeking well-priced, Left Bank Bordeaux wine that provides style, character, and quality for a fair price, it’s important to know the Cru Bourgeois classified wines. Being Left Bank wines, most Cru Bourgeois are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. However, over the past few decades, many estates have added more Merlot to their blend, in an effort to soften the wines.

These wines deliver value, and very good wine drinking if you know which wines to look for. At their best, there are Cru Bourgeois estates that compete with much more expensive Bordeaux chateaux. In fact, in some cases, compete might not be a strong enough term. At their best, the top Cru Bourgeois wines can be better than some of the more famous, and more expensive 1855 Classified Growths!

Cru Bourgeois wines, ageability and drinkability…

Today there are also several Cru Bourgeois estates making quality Bordeaux wine that can age and develop complexities that experienced connoisseurs love to find in mature wines. And it is important to note that with climate change, you find more ripeness in the wines, than you did in the past.

But, many Cru Bourgeois classed wines can be rustic, or quite green and herbal, especially if the vintage is not a ripe year. But, with climate change, which has had an affect on the cooler terroirs, where many Cru Bourgeois are located, today’s warmer climate has helped the grapes achieve better levels of ripeness.

It is important to note that while the wines can age, and develop complexities and secondary nuances, most Cru Bourgeois can be enjoyed much earlier in life than the more expensive Left Bank wines, which is positive in today’s world.

While the wines reach maturity earlier than their more expensive cousins in the Medoc, they will not age as long in the majority of cases. Most of these wines are going to be at their best between 5 to 15 years after the vintage. Of course, as we mentioned, there are wines that can age for even longer periods of time. Moderate years will need to be consumed earlier.

The Best Vintages of Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005 and 2000. To read about vintages from the Cru Bourgeois vineyards and all the other Bordeaux appellations; Bordeaux Vintage Charts 1959 Through Today

Generally speaking, the top vintages for the Cru Bourgeois wines mirror the Left Bank as you can see from the vintages list above. Cru Bourgeois wines are more vintage dependent than the better terroirs in the Medoc. This is especially true in difficult vintages. In those years, Cru Bourgeois wines that require owners with the ability, knowledge and financial ability to get the most from their vineyard. When you discover those wines, you can be in for a treat that won’t break the bank! But for financial reasons, that does not always happen, as the wines are usually low in price to start with.

Cru Bourgeois wines tend to come from vineyards dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which are planted in the better gravel soils, located close to the major appellations. For many vineyards, Merlot is just as important as Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend for a large percentage of these wines.

The Top Ten Facts You Need To Know About Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux Wines

#1 Over 25% of all wines from the Medoc are Crus Bourgeois classified Bordeaux wines.

#2 The first classification of Crus Bourgeois wines took place in 1932.

#3 In the first Crus Bourgeois classification in 1932, 444 chateaus was classified.

#4 Today, there are only 250 Crus Bourgeois classified estates.

#5 The Medoc has more Crus Bourgeois classified wines than any other Bordeaux appellation.

#6 The classification of Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux wines is the only classification that is renewed every 5 years.

#7 Over 2,500,000 cases of Bordeaux wine are produced from all the Cru Bourgeois estates per year!

#8 Merlot is just as important to the blends as Cabernet Sauvignon for many Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines.

#9 The Medoc and Haut Medoc combined is where you find the majority of Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines.

#10 The classification of Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines is the only classification that was ever based solely on the results of blind tastings.

Cru Bourgeois vineyards and appellations

It is instructive to get a good look and an understanding of where the Crus Bourgeois chateaux are situated in the Left Bank in the current Classification.

114 come from the Medoc. 88 are located in Haut Medoc. 14 come from St. Estephe. 13 are in Listrac. 8 are placed in Moulis, 7 are in Margaux and only 1 vineyard is in Pauillac. This is a drastic change to where the chateaux were located in previous classifications. As you can see, today, there are no estates in St. Julien, and only 1 in Pauillac. This marks a huge change in the makeup of the estates in the Cru Bourgeois classification.

Previous classifications were quite different with a much larger concentration of vineyards in St. Estephe for example. There are several reasons for all the changes. Consolidation is a big factor. Over the years, numerous vineyards have been purchased by neighboring properties, and integrated into other vineyards, so that they no longer exist. Plus, you have estates that for various, personal reasons do not want to be classified.

Cru Bourgeois Wine and Food Pairing Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines are quite easy to pair with food. Lamb, beef, veal, pork, stews, braised dishes, roasts, grilled meat or game, and earthy dishes with mushrooms are perfect.

Hard and soft cheese is also great for wine and food matches. Plus, because Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines do not normally need much, if any aging, you can buy a bottle today, and open it tonight if you wish!

History of Cru Bourgeois Classifications

Unofficially, a type of Crus Bourgeois Classification has been in existence since at least 1850, when Cocks and Feret created three categories for the wines, Cru Bourgeois Classification, Cru Bourgeois Superieur, Bon Cru Bourgeois and Crus Bourgeois. However, when the official 1855 Classification of the Medoc took place, several of those chateaux felt slighted for not being included in what was to become a historic document. This gave birth to what we know of as the Classification of Cru Bourgeois wines.

When the 1932 Crus Bourgeois Classification was initially created, a massive array of producers were included, 444 in total! 99 were classed as Cru Bourgeois Superieur and 18 were granted the title of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

However, unlike the 1855 classification of the Medoc, the Cru Bourgeois classification was never certified by the French Government. Eventually, that lack of certification led to a continuing reclassification of the Cru Bourgeois chateau and vineyards. It took until 1962 before an official syndicate of Crus Bourgeois wines was even established.

Over the years, due to the constantly changing Cru Bourgeois Classifications, some unsuccessful applicants sued, saying the selection procedure was biased, with conflicts of interest. That led to lawsuits being filed. Classified estate’s sued because chateaux that were not from the Medoc began using the term Cru Bourgeois, as did wineries that were not Cru Bourgeois. The court ruled in the applicants favor.

Crus Bourgeois, the birth of the modern era.

In 2002, a tasting took place and wines were submitted from all estates wishing to be classed as Cru Bourgeois. The wines to be tasted were from a 5 year period, covering 1994 to 1999. The results produce three levels of Crus Bourgeois wines to be classified; Cru Bourgeois, Crus Bourgeois Superieur and Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnel. The new rules stated that this new classification would be revised every ten years and was to be certified by the French Government.

In 2003, the results were announced with 247 chateaux earning the Crus Bourgeois Classification. There were multiple reasons the number of classified wines declined in the new classification.

First, several vineyards were purchased by larger estates and merged out of existence. Also, some wines did not apply to be classified, for example, Chateau Sociando Mallet.

The classification process also found 77 wines that were deemed not worthy of the classification based on blind tastings. Those estates were demoted and removed from the classification.

One property displayed their sense of humor their indignity over being dropped from the Crus Bourgeois Classification. Chateau Lafon, owned by Remy Fauchey changed the name of their estate to Chateau L’Inclassable, which is translated to Uncategorized, making a strong comment on their lack of classified status.

However, like the ever-changing classification in St. Emilion, there were chateau that were not happy with the results. Some sued, while others simply removed the Crus Bourgeois classification off their wine labels. After the lawsuits were adjudicated, the judges ruled that the classification was not valid.

The court found that there were conflicts of interest, and the blind tasting panel was not considered to be competent. From that point forward, events rapidly changed into what we have today with the Crus Bourgeois classification.

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Medoc came up with a new Crus Bourgeois Classification system in 2008, that would be continually updated, making it the most current, living classification for wines, as it would be updated every year. Along with yearly reviews, the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois discontinued the previous levels in their classification.

The terms Crus Bourgeois Superieur and Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnel were stopped. Another important factor within the new system of classifying the wines is that today, it is the specific wine that is classified, not the chateau or vineyard. That is a big part of the reason the classification is renewed every year.

Due to that decision, numerous estates that were previously part of the Crus Bourgeois classification declined to participate in the future classifications saying; “That the updated system lacks the prestige and charm of the original Crus Bourgeois classification, therefore, they resign.”

Potensac, Haut Marbuzet, Phelan Segur, Poujeaux, Sociando Mallet, and other chateaux that were undeniably the top Crus Bourgeois producers are still no longer part of the classification of Crus Bourgeois.

Their logic was perfectly reasonable. Why should they bear the same level of classification as other estates that made wines under their level of quality that also sold for half the price or even less? So, what happened is that several of the top estates that were formally classified as Crus Bourgeois refused to participate in the new classification.

Of course they were right about the loss of prestige. The new classification did not award differing levels of quality. Perforce, chateaux that had earned the level of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel were not separated from the other producers, who made lesser quality wine.

This new system led to the refusal of the top chateaux to participate with The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois. So far, they have not rejoined the Crus Bourgeois.

Instead, they created their own competing organization, Les Exceptionnels. All of the former classified Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel joined this new group, with the exception of two chateaux; Chateau Haut-Marbuzet, who no longer wants to be part of either classification, and Chateau Phelan Segur.

The decision of Chateau Phelan Segur was understandable, because the owner of Phelan Segur at the time, Thierry Gardinier, was the director of the Alliance Cru Bourgeois, which would have made that a clear conflict of interest. It is interesting to note, that today, under new ownership, Phelan Segur is not a member of the Alliance Cru Bourgeois.

Cru Bourgeois Classification Today The 2010 Crus Bourgeois Classification was released in September 2012. The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois made significant changes in those results. As you now know, for the first time, all Crus Bourgeois chateaux were equal in ranking.

The previous classification of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel was no longer being used. The new system had all chateaux and wines considered equals and instead of a multi-tiered classification. The marketplace did not care for the new classification, let alone understand it. Neither did several of the producers.

How was the removal of the different levels of classification perceived by the Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois producers? The estates that held the ranking of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel were furious to lose their position of status. Of course, everyone else was thrilled to be thought of as being at the same level of class as the top estates.

Did consumers care? In America, no, it didn’t matter. The only true classification that works in America, and frankly with most of the wine buying world is the marketplace.

How many chateaux are in the Cru Bourgeois Classification?

The number of Cru Bourgeois classified estates continues evolving. For the 2009 classification, 246 estates were included in the Cru Bourgeois Classification. That quickly grew to 260 chateaux with the 2010 Classification. For the 2011 vintage, 256 wineries were included.

With the 2012 Cru Bourgeois Classification, The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Medoc awarded Cru Bourgeois status to 267 chateaux.

The continued growth among the Cru Bourgeois producers took a step back with the difficult 2013 vintage, as only 251 estates were classified. In 2020, 250 chateaux were classified.

Chateaux included in the Cru Bourgeois are spread among the different appellations with the majority of estates coming from the Medoc, followed by the Haut Medoc, Medoc and then St. Estephe, Moulis, Listrac, Margaux, and Pauillac. There were no Cru Bourgeois chateau from the Saint Julien appellation included in the classification as 2015.

The forward-thinking Frederic de Luze, the influential, president of the Alliance Crus Bourgeois and the owner of Chateau Paveil de Luze in the Margaux appellation really sparked much of the innovation and modernization of the Cru Bourgeois classification before he passed away.

Frederic de Luze was replaced in 2016 by Olivier Cuvelier, whose family owns Chateau Le Crock in Saint Estephe, as well as Chateau Leoville Poyferre in Saint Julien. Cuvelier was replaced by Franck Bijon, Managing Director of Larose Vineyards.

In late 2015, things changed again for the Cru Bourgeois classification, and in my opinion, for the better. Starting with the 2018 vintage, which was released in 2020, chateaux were classified into two different levels of quality, Cru Bourgeois and Cru Bourgeois Superieur.

Plus, instead of reclassifying their wines every year, the new classification would remain in place for 5 years. This was a positive step for the new “Classement des Crus Bourgeois du Medoc” as it gained favor with the wine-buying public. Another development for the better was a change in the rules for earning classification status.

Blind tasting’s which takes place shortly after bottling, about 18 months after the vintage will only be used to measure 50% of the score. Things like the terroir, the chateau, and promotional efforts could also be considered.

Bureau Veritas, an independent entity, was chosen to evaluate the chateaux, looking at everything from their grounds, vineyards and cellars. The agency also oversees the blind tastings submitted to a jury of Bordeaux professionals.

Early results show that Cru Bourgeois Classified estates are able to sell their wine for slightly more than wines with only their appellation listed on the label. All of that factored into the vote taken in 2015, supporting the changes for the new Cru Bourgeois classification of 2020.