First Growth

First Growth is the English term for Premier Cru, the highest rank in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux’s red-wine estates. Five red Médoc or Graves estates hold this rank: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion and Château Mouton Rothschild, which was promoted from Second Growth to First Growth in 1973.

The 1855 red-wine First Growths

• Château Lafite Rothschild: Pauillac.
• Château Latour: Pauillac.
• Château Margaux: Margaux.
• Château Haut-Brion: Pessac-Léognan, historically Graves.
• Château Mouton Rothschild: Pauillac; promoted in 1973.

First Growth and Sauternes

The 1855 Classification also ranks sweet-wine estates in Sauternes and Barsac separately. Château d’Yquem holds the unique rank of Premier Cru Supérieur in that classification. It is not one of the five red-wine First Growths listed above.

First Growth versus other classifications

First Growth refers specifically to the top rank in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. It should not be confused with Premier Cru in Burgundy, Saint-Émilion’s classification or the Cru Classé designation used in other French regions.

Example: a Château Margaux wine labelled with the 1855 Premier Cru status is a First Growth Bordeaux.

Chef’s tip: the First Growth status is an historical classification, not a guarantee that every vintage will taste the same or be the best choice for every dish. Vintage, storage, maturity and the wine’s current structure all matter.