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); 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)
Premier Cru Superieur (1855 Sauternes classification)Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc100 haFounded 1593LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton)Winemaker Sandrine GarbaySauternes AOC
The only Sauternes Premier Cru Superieur, producing botrytised Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc of extraordinary longevity. LVMH-owned; Sandrine Garbay winemaker; average 10 hl/ha yield.
Tasting: Tours and tastings available by appointment; booking through official site.
Signature wines: chateau-dyquem, y-de-yquem
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2001), Wine Spectator 100 (2001)
Deuxieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon91 haFounded 1810Michel ReybierWinemaker Michel Reybier (owner-managed since 2017)ECOCERTSaint-Estephe AOC
Saint-Estephe second growth with 91 hectares, famous for pagoda-adorned winery. Fully organic since 2024; Michel Reybier owner; produces red, second wine, and a white Sauvignon-Semillon blend.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available through La Maison d'Estournel hotel.
Signature wines: cos-destournel-rouge, les-pagodes-de-cos, cos-destournel-blanc
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2003), James Suckling 100 (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)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 Sauternes classification)Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle93 haFounded 1790Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)Winemaker Stephane BiarnèsSauternes AOC
Sauternes Premier Cru adjacent to d'Yquem, owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild since 1984. 93 hectares of Semillon-dominant botrytised dessert wine production.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-rieussec-sauternes, r-de-rieussec
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2001), Wine Spectator 98 (2009)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 Sauternes classification)Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle18 haFounded 1618Silvio Denz (Lalique)Winemaker Mathieu ChardonSauternes AOC
Sauternes Premier Cru within a fairytale 1618 castle; 18 hectares of enclosed vineyard. Lalique luxury hotel with two-Michelin-starred restaurant and 350,000-bottle cellar.
Tasting: Lalique hotel with two Michelin-starred restaurant; open to hotel guests.
Signature wines: chateau-lafaurie-peyraguey, la-chapelle-de-lafaurie-peyraguey
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2017), Decanter 97 (2019)
Bordeaux AOC and Entre-Deux-Mers AOCSemillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot40 haFounded 1999Gavin and Angela QuinneyWinemaker Gavin QuinneyEntre-Deux-Mers AOC
English-owned Entre-Deux-Mers estate known for crisp whites and reliable Bordeaux reds. 40 hectares; farmhouse accommodation; award-winning wines at accessible price points.
Tasting: Farmhouse accommodation; vineyard visits; winery tours by arrangement.
Signature wines: bauduc-bordeaux-superieur, bauduc-les-trois-hectares-rouge, bauduc-les-trois-hectares-blanc, bauduc-sauvignon-blanc
Scores: Decanter 91 (2020), Wine Spectator 89 (2021)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon, Sauvignon BlancWalk-ins welcomeBordeaux city centre
CIVB-affiliated Bordeaux Wine School city tasting bar next to the tourist office. Guided flights through appellations with bilingual sommeliers; retail purchasing available.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon, Sauvignon BlancWalk-ins welcomeBordeaux city centre
Bordeaux's iconic spiral-staircase wine tower with 15,000 references. Daily by-the-glass tastings span Medoc, Pessac-Leognan, Sauternes; vertical flights from EUR 35.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, MuscadelleWalk-ins welcomeBacalan, Bordeaux
The 8th-floor Belvedere tasting bar at the Cite du Vin offers 360-degree Garonne panorama with rotating global wine flights, including a strong Bordeaux selections by the glass.
Semillon, Sauvignon BlancAppointment onlySauternes AOC
Guided estate tours at the world's most revered sweet wine estate. Visits include the botrytised vineyard parcels, historic chai and structured tasting of Yquem plus Y (dry white).
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon GrisAppointment onlyPessac-Leognan AOC
The tasting salon at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, combining Graves Cru Classe red and white flights with access to the Caudalie spa estate grounds. Premier Cuvee and white vertical programmes available.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, SemillonWalk-ins welcomePessac
Neighbourhood wine shop and tasting bar in Pessac specialising in Pessac-Leognan Crus Classes at cellar-door prices. Regular Saturday producer tastings and bottle retail.
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, MuscadelleWhite Bordeaux blend
English-owned Gavin Quinney's benchmark Entre-Deux-Mers blanc: citrussy, grassy Sauvignon Blanc-led with a Semillon mid-palate weight. Decanter 91 points 2020. Excellent value for classic Bordeaux blanc.