Chateau Cantenac Brown, Grand Cru Classé from 1855, in Margaux was founded 200 years ago by a Scottish John Lewis Brown. Recognizable by its spectacular Tudor-style chateau, Cantenac Brown is still family owned today and has announced the construction of a new, unique winery made entirely of raw earth.
Château Cantenac Brown is a Grand Cru Classé of 1855 but do you know what this prestigious denomination means? The Bordeaux vineyard has been the subject of various prior classifications. However, the first official classification dates back to 1855. Together, let’s discover the history of this classification and let’s set off to discover its prestige, recognized throughout the world.
History of the Bordeaux Wine official classification of 1855
In 1855, Napoleon III decided to organize a universal exhibition in Paris. As a result, committees of experts were formed to select products to be exhibited there. The objective was simple: to showcase France’s heritage and offer the world the best that our country has to offer.
Thus, on April 6, 1855, the Bordeaux Wine Brokers’ Union received a letter from the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce requesting the development of a wine classification. Two criteria are taken into account to reference the most prestigious wines of the region: notoriety and the price of the latest transactions.
A few days later, the Bordeaux wine brokers’ union sent the Chamber of Commerce a classification of the most prestigious wines of Bordeaux; a classification that is still a reference today.
The organization of the Grands Crus Classés of 1855
Today there are 61 Grands Crus classés of 1855 red wines spread over five levels: five first growths (premiers crus), fourteen second growths (second crus), fourteen third growths (troisième Crus), ten fourths growth (quatrième) Crus, and eighteen fifth growths (cinquième crus). These wines are located in five Medoc appellations: Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux and Haut-Médoc. Finally, only one of the wines in the 1855 classification comes from the Graves region.
Of course, the 1855 classification of great growths was no exception for white wines. There are 27 crus divided into three levels: one superior first growth (premier cru supérieur), eleven first growths (premier crus), and fifteen second growths (second crus). The white wines within this classification are divided between Sauternes and Barsac.
Today, the Grands Crus Classés of 1855 are the marker of a history, a prestige and a know-how that contribute to the influence of Bordeaux and French wines on the greatest tables around the world. The Conseil des Grands Crus de 1855 brings together the different châteaux and develops collaborations to facilitate their influence.
Château Cantenac Brown : Grand Cru Classé of 1855
Château Cantenac Brown is a Grand Cru Classé of 1855. This denomination, which you can find on the label of Château Cantenac Brown, is a guarantee of quality and consistency through the centuries. The 1855 Classification imposes on us the rigour of being up to it and of offering a high quality wine every day. It will then join the greatest tables, the glasses of amateurs and will delight all its tasters.
To know more about the great classified growths of 1855
The classification of the great growths of 1855 is one of the most prestigious in the world. In this sense, it is also an object of fascination for which literature and works of art are not lacking. Thus, to learn more about the Bordeaux Wine official classification of 1855, you can read: Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés 1855: Wine Châteaux of the Médoc and Sauternes written by Franck Ferrand and Hugh Johnson at Flammarion editions.
In addition, the 1855 Grands Crus Classés are also the subject of posters by great artists. You can thus find a poster by Yann Arthus Bertrand, Carl Laubin or Philippe Starck.
Of course, to really discover the 1855 Grands Crus Classés, nothing beats tasting. You can thus discover the wines of Château Cantenac Brown as well as book your visit of the Château.