There are a number of classifications of the wines made in the Bordeaux region. Some apply to the whole area, others to just parts of it. The best known is without any doubt the 1855 Médoc Classification. The least known is probably the Liv-ex Bordeaux Classification, which arguably is the most important one. This is a classification of Left Bank red Bordeaux wine based on current prices, compiled by the London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex), with a view of updating the 1855 classification. The first one was established in 2009; it was updated in 2011 and again this year.
Liv-ex is an internet-based trading platform for top-quality wines; it was founded in 1999 by James Miles and Justin Gibbs, who used to be stock brokers. The trading platform is only accessible for professional wine trading houses and wine funds against an annual membership fee.
Medoc Classification of 1855
The 1855 classification was made at the request of Emperor Napoleon III for the Exposition Universelle de Paris. The Brokers returned their classification just two weeks after the original request was made. The Medoc classification of 1855 covers (with one exception) red wines of Médoc.
It ranked the wines into five categories, strictly according to price.
The famous 5 first growths are:
• Château Lafite-Rothschild in Pauillac
• Château Margaux in Margaux
• Château Latour in Pauillac
• Château Haut-Brion in Péssac-Leognan
• Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, promoted from second to first growth in 1973.
And there are:
14 Deuxièmes (2nd) Crus
14 Troisièmes (3rd) Crus
10 Quatrièmes (4rd) Crus
18 Cinquièmes (5th) Crus.
See also:
Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics
Liv-ex Classification
Four years ago, Liv-ex decided to recreate the 1855 classification, ranking major Left Bank wines in terms of their price. In 2011, the classification was updated to reflect the market, and now that the market has shifted again Liv-ex once again recreated the classification to reflect current trading conditions.
To qualify for the Liv-ex Bordeaux Classification, wines had to be from the Left Bank (including Pessac-Leognan) and be produced in quantities of more than 2,000 cases. Only the first wine of each estate was considered. Liv-ex then calculated the average case price for every qualifying wine for the past five vintages, 2007-2011. Prices are in GBP (1GBP = 1.56 US$)
As the brokers did in 1855 Liv-ex split up the wines according to price bands, which for 2013 are as follows:
• 1st Growths: £2,600 a case and above
• 2nd Growths: £700 to £2,599
• 3rd Growths: £450 to £699
• 4th Growths: £320 to £449
• 5th Growths: £250 to £319
Liv-ex Classification of 2013
Latour has taken the place of the top Left Bank wine this year: a position it held in 2009 but surrendered to Lafite in 2011. Chateau Margaux (£4,777), Mouton Rothschild (£4,465) and Haut Brion (£4.370) retain their third, fourth and fifth places.
Mission Haut Brion remains a First Growth, while Leoville Poyferre and Smith Haut Lafitte have climbed from Third Growth status to Second Growth. Duhart Milon and Beychevelle – wines that have a strong following in China – have dropped from Second to Third Growth status.
Chateau Palmer (average price £1,787) remains a top Second Growth, so does Pontet Canet, a Fifth Growth in 1855, with an average case price of £987.
Second Wines
Interestingly, Liv-ex has also put the second wines, none of which existed in 1855, through the same system.
13 would be included in the new classification. For the first time, Petit Lion de Las Cases, introduced by Leoville Las Cases in 2007, features in the list - as a Fourth Growth.
Carruades de Lafite has dropped from First Growth to Second Growth, and Petit Mouton and Pavillon Rouge have switched places: in 2011 Pavillon had a higher average price. Reserve de la Comtesse, the second wine of Pichon Comtesse, has fallen to the bottom of the list – in 2011 it was the 9th most expensive of the second wines, now it is the 13th.
Right Bank Wines
The 1855 Classification did not include any wines from the Right Bank. In an extended 2013 Classification, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Lafleur, Le Pin and Petrus are all First Growths. Angelus, Clos Fourtet, Conseillante, Eglise Clinet, Evangile, Figeac, Fleur Petrus, Pavie, Troplong Mondot and Vieux Chateau Certan are Second Growths.
The Liv-ex 2013 Bordeaux Classification
http://www.blog.liv-ex.com/2013/03/the-liv-ex-2013-bordeaux-classification.html
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