Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc80 haFounded 1572Mentzelopoulos familyWinemaker Philippe BascaulesMargaux AOC
Premier Cru Classe Bordeaux at Margaux AOC, estate founded 1572, now owned by the Mentzelopoulos family. Cabernet-dominant blends with 18 to 24 months in new oak barrel ageing.
Tasting: By appointment only, Monday to Friday; closed weekends, August, public holidays and harvest. Tasting for professionals only.
Signature wines: chateau-margaux-grand-vin, pavillon-rouge-du-chateau-margaux, pavillon-blanc-du-chateau-margaux
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2016), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot112 haFounded 1234Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite); Saskia de Rothschild, chairWinemaker Eric KohlerECOCERTPauillac AOC
First-growth Pauillac estate with 112 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines. Owned by the Rothschild family; fully organic since 2024 with Saskia de Rothschild at the helm.
Tasting: Currently closed for renovations until 2026. Alternative visits at Chateau Duhart-Milon.
Signature wines: lafite-rothschild, carruades-de-lafite
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2003), Wine Spectator 100 (1996)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot78 haFounded 1331Groupe Artemis (Francois Pinault)Winemaker Helene GeninPauillac AOC
First-growth Pauillac estate with 78 hectares at the southeastern tip of Pauillac commune. Owned by Groupe Artemis since 1993; withdrew from en primeur system in 2012.
Tasting: By appointment only for professionals; visiting restricted.
Signature wines: latour-grand-vin, les-forts-de-latour, pauillac-de-latour
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2010), Wine Advocate 100 (2003)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification; elevated from 2nd growth in 1973)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot83 haFounded 1853Rothschild family (Camille, Philippe, and Julien Sereys de Rothschild)Winemaker Jean-Emmanuel DanjoyPauillac AOC
Pauillac first-growth elevated from second in 1973, famous for its artist-label series. 83 hectares planted 81% Cabernet Sauvignon; Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy is technical director since 2020.
Tasting: Visits by appointment; museum of wine in art open to visitors.
Signature wines: mouton-rothschild, le-petit-mouton, aile-dargent
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (1982), Wine Advocate 98 (2016)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification); Cru Classe de GravesCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc51 haFounded 1521Domaine Clarence DillonWinemaker Jean-Philippe DelmasPessac-Léognan AOC
The only non-Medoc first-growth in the 1855 classification, estate since 1521 in Pessac. Merlot-driven blends from iron-rich gravelly soils; Domaine Clarence Dillon owner.
Tasting: Visits by appointment only for professionals.
Signature wines: chateau-haut-brion-rouge, haut-brion-blanc, le-clarence-de-haut-brion
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2009), Wine Advocate 100 (1989)
Cinquieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot90 haFounded 1939Cazes family (Jean-Charles Cazes)Winemaker Jean-Charles CazesPauillac AOC
Pauillac fifth growth that consistently overdelivers, with 90 hectares planted 67% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cazes-family owned since 1939; 18 months in 75% new oak barrels.
Tasting: Visits, tastings and accommodation at Chateau Cordeillan-Bages; village dining at Cafe Lavinal in Bages.
Signature wines: lynch-bages, echo-de-lynch-bages
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2010), Wine Advocate 97 (2016)
Deuxieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot73 haFounded 1694AXA MillesimesWinemaker Alexandra LebosséPauillac AOC
Pauillac second growth of 73 hectares owned by AXA Millesimes. Alexandra Lebossé winemaker since 2017; produces grand vin, Les Griffons second wine, and a white from 2022.
Tasting: Visits available; contact chateau for details.
Signature wines: pichon-baron, les-griffons-de-pichon-baron
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2016)
Deuxieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot89 haFounded 1694Louis Roederer ChampagneWinemaker Nicolas Glumineau (CEO and winemaker since 2012)Pauillac AOC
Pauillac second growth adjacent to Chateau Latour. 89 hectares with unusually high 32% Merlot for Left Bank; Louis Roederer Champagne owner since 2006.
Tasting: Visits available by appointment.
Signature wines: pichon-lalande, reserve-de-la-comtesse
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2019), Decanter 97 (2020)
Cinquieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot81 haFounded 1975Alfred TesseronWinemaker Mathieu BessonnetDemeter CertifiedECOCERTPauillac AOC
Pauillac fifth growth leading Bordeaux biodynamics; 81 hectares certified Demeter since 2014 and Biodyvin since 2010. Tesseron family owners; Mathieu Bessonnet technical director since 2020.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available by appointment.
Signature wines: pontet-canet
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2010), Wine Advocate 100 (2012)
Deuxieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot97 haFounded 1826Delon familyWinemaker Dominique DepondSaint-Julien AOC
Saint-Julien second growth known as the 'super second' of the appellation. 97 hectares with the famous walled Grand Clos enclos; Delon family ownership.
Tasting: By appointment for professionals.
Signature wines: grand-vin-de-leoville-du-marquis-de-las-cases, clos-du-marquis, le-petit-lion-du-marquis-de-las-cases
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2010), Wine Spectator 99 (2016)
Cru Classe de Graves (1953 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc32 haFounded 1300Bernard MagrezWinemaker Frederic BonnetPessac-Léognan AOC
Pessac-Leognan Cru Classe de Graves with origins traced to 1300. 32 hectares; Bernard Magrez owner; truffle-enhanced restaurant and botanical gardens featuring a 1,000-year-old olive tree.
Tasting: Hotel and restaurant on-site; visits and tastings available.
Signature wines: pape-clement-rouge, pape-clement-blanc
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2016), James Suckling 97 (2018)
Cru Classe de Graves (1953 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris67 haFounded 1365Daniel and Florence CathiardWinemaker Fabien TeitgenECOCERTPessac-Léognan AOC
Pessac-Leognan Cru Classe de Graves owned by the Cathiards since 1990. 67 hectares including white wine production; Les Sources de Caudalie luxury spa resort on-site.
Tasting: Les Sources de Caudalie hotel with Vinothérapie Spa and Michelin-starred restaurant; open to hotel guests and visitors.
Signature wines: smith-haut-lafitte-rouge, smith-haut-lafitte-blanc
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2018), James Suckling 98 (2019)
Cru Bourgeois ExceptionnelCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot51 haFounded 1666Credit Agricole Assurances (Predica)Winemaker Sylvain BoivertSaint-Estephe AOC
Saint-Estephe Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel with 51 hectares and a former Celestine priory. Reliable, full-bodied Cabernet-dominant style representing excellent appellation value.
Tasting: Visits by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-meyney, prieur-de-meyney
Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2016), Decanter 93 (2018)
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (Moulis-en-Medoc AOC)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot100 haFounded 1863Celine Villars-FoubetWinemaker Jean-Pierre FoubetMoulis-en-Médoc AOC
Moulis-en-Medoc Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel with 100 hectares. Named for Baudelaire's 'chase away the blues'; Cabernet-dominant with excellent value-to-quality ratio.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available.
Signature wines: chateau-chasse-spleen, l-heritage-de-chasse-spleen
Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2016), Decanter 93 (2019)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit VerdotWalk-ins welcomePauillac
The Pauillac wine union tasting room on the Gironde quayside. Covers the appellation's full range from fifth-growth value to premier cru flights with printed tasting notes.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit VerdotAppointment onlyPauillac AOC
The world-renowned Museum of Wine in Art and the estate tasting room at Mouton Rothschild. Visits include the underground chai, label gallery, and tasting of current releases.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit VerdotRed Bordeaux blend
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel from a former Celestine priory estate; 51 hectares of typical Saint-Estephe clay soils produce robust, age-worthy Cabernet-dominant reds at under EUR 25. Decanter rates the 2018 at 93 points.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit VerdotRed Bordeaux blend
The second wine of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Chasse-Spleen; classic Moulis typicity with dark fruit and structured tannins at well under EUR 20. An intelligent entry point to the Medoc for value seekers.