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.
Signature wines: chateau-chasse-spleen, l-heritage-de-chasse-spleen
Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2016), Decanter 93 (2019)
Address: Chateau Chasse-Spleen, 33480 Moulis-en-Medoc, France, Bordeaux
Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois that many consider above its classification. 85 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines; Jean Gautreau's uncompromising quality standard since 1969.
Tasting: Cellar visits available by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-sociando-mallet, la-demoiselle-de-sociando-mallet
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2016), Decanter 94 (2018)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
