What are the 5 first growth Bordeaux?
Quick answer
The five First Growths (Premiers Crus Classés) of Bordeaux, the pinnacle of the 1855 Classification, are: Château Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac), Château Latour (Pauillac), Château Margaux (Margaux), Château Haut-Brion (Pessac-Léognan) and Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac, promoted in 1973).
Detailed answer
The five First Growths of Bordeaux sit at the absolute summit of the Bordeaux hierarchy and rank among the world's most prestigious and expensive wines.
Château Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac is often considered the most elegant of the five. Its style emphasises finesse and length, with silky tannins and aromas of cedar, blackcurrant and graphite. It is the most sought-after Bordeaux among Asian collectors.
Château Latour, also in Pauillac, is the archetype of power and structure. Its wines are among the slowest to open up and the longest-lived — 30 to 50 years for top vintages. The estate left the en primeur system in 2012, choosing to release only wines deemed ready to drink.
Château Margaux, in the appellation of the same name, embodies grace and refinement. Its wines combine power with delicacy, showing a floral bouquet and velvety texture.
Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan (Graves) is the only First Growth outside the Médoc. It is also the oldest documented Bordeaux estate, with records dating to 1525. It produces a renowned white wine as well (unclassified, since the 1855 ranking covered only Médoc reds).
Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac was classified as a Second Growth in 1855 before its promotion to First Growth in 1973 — the only change ever made. Its labels, featuring a different artist each year (Picasso, Dalí, Warhol), have become collector's items.
First Growth prices range from roughly 300 to 1,500 euros per bottle depending on vintage, reaching several thousand for exceptional years.