1982 onwards A legendary vintage coinciding with global
LABELLING TERMS
affluence, the emergence of en primeur, the beginning of a period of great prosperity.
How to read and understand Bordeaux wine labels: CHÂTEAU / DOMAINE:
GRAND VIN (pron. Gron Vahn)
CRU BOURGEOIS This classification is for estates from the Médoc only. For the Chateaux that didn’t qualify for ‘Grand Cru Classé’ status, winemakers can apply to the ‘Cru Bourgeois’ classification. Each year, they submit their wine to a jury, and should they be awarded they can use the term on their label. This is a guarantee of quality and value for the consumer.
This translates as ‘great wine’ however the term is unregulated and doesn’t actually tell us anything about the quality of wine. It simply refers to
(pron. Shat-tow / Dom-ayne) These words translate as house or estate (some grander than others). In wine terms it refers to the fact that the producer (a family or company) has grown the grapes on their own land and not bought grapes from another grower.
WINE AND HISTORY - KEY DATES
1960s Re-emergence of important export markets. Reinvestment in vineyards and châteaux begins.
the best wine of that producer. Think of it as a flagship wine which distinguishes it from the other wines that they make. GRAND CRU CLASSÉ
1973 The market crash and Cruse scandal. Many négociants only saved from bankruptcy by foreign investment. The start of corporate purchasing of châteaux.
1959 Re-classification of the red and white wines of the Graves, first done in 1953.
1860 Anglo-French treaty reduces duty on French wine to two old pence a bottle. Great prosperity in the region. Mid 1950s Emergence of St-Emilion and Pomerol as important regions.
In 1855, for the ‘Exposition Universelle’ taking place in Paris, Emperor Napo- leon III requested a classification system for the best Bordeaux wines that would be on display for the exhibition. 61 Châteaux got selected (ranked in a league table from First to Fifth Growth), with all but one coming from the Médoc. This classification has remained (almost) unchanged to the day.
1955 Classification of St-Emilion.
1940 to 1944 German occupation of Bordeaux.
1918 to 1930 Post-war recession, closure of Russian market, prohibition
1855 Classification of the Médoc, Sauternes and Barsac.
in USA. Many châteaux sold.
MÉDOC
RIGHT BANK
1936 Establishment of Appellation Contrôlée for Bordeaux.
SAINT-ESTÈPHE PAUILLAC SAINT-JULIEN
MAIN AOCS
Mid 1870s Arrival of phylloxera.
Left bank Haut-Médoc Pauillac
Early 18 th century rise of the Bordeaux merchant class, supplying the rising middle classes of Britain and elsewhere in Europe. Many originate from Britain (including Ireland), Germany and the Low Countries.
MARGAUX
Margaux St-Julien St-Estèphe Pessac-Léognan Sauternes
HAUT-MÉDOC
1703 Methuen Treaty with Portugal. Duty on French wines not to be less than 50% more than levied on Portuguese wines. Smuggling rife.
1650 Dutch engineers begin draining the marshy Médoc and vineyards are planted in that region. Lafite, Latour, Margaux probably planted about 1690.
POMEROL SAINT-EMILION
BORDEAUX
PESSAC-LÉOGNAN
1152 Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II of England) marries Eleanor of Aquitaine and acquires Gascony and most of western France. Trade with England establishes Bordeaux's pre-eminence.
Right Bank St-Emilion Pomerol
1453 End of Hundred Years War. Gascony reverts to French rule. Trade with England continues, but links with the Low Countries forged.
GRAVES
LEFT BANK
SAUTERNES
AD 350 Latin poet Ausonius provides first recorded mention of wine production in Bordeaux. Château Ausone (St-Emilion) was named after him in his honour.
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