Ten Iconic Bordeaux Châteaux to Discover

Located at the confluence of two great rivers, the Bordeaux vineyards are today renowned for their quality wines, specifically for their Classified Growths. Bordeaux wines are distinguished by their consistent quality, but also by the fact that most of them are blended wines.

To discover the richness of this vineyard, a visit to the Bordeaux wine estates during a wine tourism trip is a must. Would you like to discover some exceptional places? Some of the region's emblematic châteaux are worth a visit. Note that these properties are listed in the Bordeaux wine rankings. Before going into detail about these renowned Bordeaux wine châteaux, it is necessary to understand the concept of the Bordeaux wine classification.

Established on the basis of precise specifications and different criteria, these rankings are often used as references for the final consumers. There are currently different classifications:

• The 1855 classification: this classification was created on the initiative of Napoleon III on the occasion of the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition. It lists the red wines of the Médoc, the sweet white wines of Barsac and Sauternes, as well as a red wine of the Graves. This classification is divided into 5 categories for the Médoc, from Premier Cru to Cinquième cru, and into 3 categories for the sweet white wines, namely Premier Cru Supérieur, Premier Cru and Deuxième Cru.
• The Graves classification: this classification was created in 1959, bringing together 16 red and white wines without any hierarchy.
• The Saint-Émilion clssification: this classification was created in 1954 and is subdivided into three categories, namely the Grands Crus Classés, the Premiers Grands Crus Classés and the Premiers Grands Crus Classés A. A ten-yearly revision of this classification must be made to guarantee the quality of the wines listed.
• The Crus Bourgeois classification: this classification was created in 1932 and concerns red wines made in one of the eight Médoc appellations (Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Estèphe, Moulis and Listrac. The classification is made on three levels: "Cru Bourgeois", "Cru Bourgeois Supérieur" and "Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel".
• The Crus Artisans of Médoc classification: in existence for over 150 years, the Crus Artisans designation reappeared in 1989. Revised every five years, this classification concerns wines made on small properties located in one of the Médoc appellations. It should be noted that the great châteaux of Bordeaux owe their prestige and their place in these classifications to a certain number of criteria, notably the beauty of the châteaux, the reputation of the wines, the selling price of the wines, the quality of the wines and the values on which the productions are based.

Château d'Yquem is a very prestigious wine estate, the result of over 400 years of passion. Located in the Bordeaux vineyards, in the commune of Sauternes, this property produces wines that are highly prized by collectors. The estate has remained in the Lur-Saluces family since its creation and was bought by the LVMH Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy group, under the impetus of Bernard Arnault. Producing Bordeaux AOC and Sauternes AOC wines, Château d'Yquem was elevated to the rank of Premier Cru Classé Supérieur de Sauternes in 1855. It is the one and only estate to have been awarded this category in the 1855 classification.

Today, this château has a vineyard area of approximately 113 hectares. The estate grows Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc vines, benefiting from a maritime climate. Thanks to the size of the vineyard, the vines grow on a wide variety of soils that make up the geological mosaic of Sauternes. The vines are organically grown. The château is currently converting to biodynamic viticulture.

Château Margaux is also one of the most emblematic of the Bordeaux vineyards. This estate, located in the commune of Margaux, was included in the official 1855 classification of the Grands Crus of the Médoc as a Premier Cru. The property has a vineyard of approximately 99 hectares, included in a total area of nearly 262 hectares. Different grape varieties are planted, notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the only grape variety used for the production of white wines. The vines grow on a variety of soils and subsoils: gravel mixed with clay, Plassac molasse, medium-sized Günzian gravel, Plassac lacustrine limestone. The estate relies on sustainable viticulture. It uses a traditional method of vinification in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats.

One of the legendary properties of Bordeaux, Château Cheval Blanc is located in the commune of Saint-Émilion. Producing Saint-Émilion Grand Cru wines, this estate operates a vineyard of nearly 39 hectares divided into 45 parcels. These parcels have a unique identity and are made up of a specific soil, a specific grape variety and a specific age of plantation, which gives a certain complexity to the estate's wines. The vines grow on a terroir combining two types of soil in roughly equal proportions: gravel and clay. The grape varieties include Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Château Cheval Blanc was listed in the first classification of Saint-Émilion wines in 1955 as Premier Grand Cru Classé A.

Previously known as Château Brane-Mouton, Château Mouton Rothschild has been known by its current name since 1853, following the acquisition of the estate by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild. The estate took off in 1922 under the management of Baron Philippe de Rothschild and is now an emblematic château of the Pauillac appellation. The estate is now run by co-owners Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Camille Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild. With nearly 90 hectares of vines in the north-west of Bordeaux, the estate's vineyards are planted on very deep gravel soil. It is mainly located on a hillock known as the "Plateau de Mouton", which rises to an altitude of around 27 metres. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon (the majority), Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The vines are on average 44 years old.

At this estate, whose motto is "Mouton ne change", Mouton doesn't change, ancestral know-how is passed down from generation to generation, and is combined with more modern techniques. The wines of the estate, although different from one vintage to another, are easily recognisable by their blackcurrant flavour. Categorised as a Deuxième Cru in the official Bordeaux wine classification of 1855, this is the only château whose classification was changed to Premier Grand Cru in 1973.

Nestled in the heart of the Médoc wine region, Château Latour is also one of Bordeaux's legendary estates. Located in the commune of Pauillac, this estate is classified as a Premier Cru according to the official 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines. The heart of its terroir, l'Enclos, is located about 300 metres from the estuary, tempering the climatic excesses and conferring a certain typicity to its wines. This estate has a surface area of nearly 65 hectares with a grape variety consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Château Latour has been organically farmed since 2015 and also applies biodynamic principles to the majority of the Enclos. The estate's team seeks to ensure the sustainability of the vineyard, the quality of its wines and their aromatic expression. In the 1960s, this estate was one of the first in Bordeaux to use stainless steel tanks for the vinification.