15/05/2026
How to Read Bordeaux Wine Labels: Understanding Classifications, Appellations, and the Story Behind the Bottle
Why Bordeaux Labels Matter
To most visitors, a Bordeaux label looks elegant but intimidating. A château name in flowing script, a year, a region, and a few unfamiliar French terms — Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, Grand Cru Classé, Mise en Bouteille au Château. It’s beautiful, yes, but mysterious.
And yet, everything you need to know about the wine’s identity — its origin, quality, and personality — is right there. Once you learn to read a Bordeaux label, you’re unlocking a story.
In French wine, 3ème Cru Classé translates to Third Growth (or Troisième Cru Classé). It refers to a highly prestigious ranking within the Bordeaux Official Classification of 1855. This system is the most famous wine ranking in the world. In 1855, Emperor Napoleon III ordered Bordeaux wine brokers to rank the region's top estates (Châteaux) based on market price and reputation.
They divided 61 elite red wine estates into five distinct tiers:
1er Cru Classé (Premier Cru / First Growth) — The absolute top tier
2ème Cru Classé (Deuxième Cru / Second Growth)
3ème Cru Classé (Troisième Cru / Third Growth)
4ème Cru Classé (Quatrième Cru / Fourth Growth)
5ème Cru Classé (Cinquième Cru / Fifth Growth)
60 châteaux from the Médoc and 1 from Graves were included in the list, which was divided into five levels.
Premier Cru (1. Grand Cru Classé) – First Growth
Deuxièmes Cru (2. Grand Cru Classé) – Second Growths
Troisième Cru (3. Grand Cru Classé) - Third Growths
Quatrième Cru (4. Grand Cru Classé) – Fourth Growths
Cinquième Cru (5. Grand Cru Classé) – Fifth Growths
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PAUILLAC CHATEAU PICHON BARON LONGUEVILLE 2eme Cru Classé 2021 / 13% 0.75
PAUILLAC GRAND VIN DE CHATEAU LATOUR Premier Grand Cru Classé 2012 / 13% 0.75
PESSAC-LÉOGNAN CHATEAU LA MISSION HAUT BRION Grand Cru Classé 2014 / 14.5% 0.75
PESSAC-LÉOGNAN CHATEAU HAUT BRION 1er Grand Cru Classé 2014 / 14.5% 0.75
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