My system applies an 1855-style classification to four famous sub-regions of Bordeaux, based on my experiences and preferences. The list is hardly complete.
First I would like to say that the 1855 classification of the Medoc has served Bordeaux very well in my opinion. There are anomalies sure, but remarkably few after over 150 years.
In the list of firsts and second growths in particular the order reflects my preferences.
In Bordeaux I think the first among equals are Lafite and Margaux in the Medoc, Petrus on the right bank and d'Yquem in Sauternes. Nothing controversial about that. Close behind would be Latour, Haut-Brion and Cheval Blanc.
Winners and losers
La Mission Haut Brion becomes a first growth That was a fairly uncontentious decision, but generally I prefer Haut-Brion, which tends to have more elegance and finesse.
Palmer, is a big winner. It gets elevated to first growth status from third and leapfrogs Leoville-Lascases, which is widely viewed as deserving of first growth status, but only tops my list of 'super seconds.' In recent vintages these two estates are pretty close. For example Palmer was stronger in vintages like 1999, 1990, 1989, 1983, 1979 and 1978, while LLC was stronger in vintages like 2002, 2000, 1986, 1985, 1982 etc. But Palmer made more very great wines in earlier vintages.
So did Mouton-Rothschild. That is why I am dismissive of demoting Mouton back to second and promoting LLC to first. Mouton is very deserving of its first growth status in my opinion. It may be less consistent than Leoville-Lascases, but reaches greater heights.
Other notable winners are Pontet Canet and Grand Puy Lacoste getting promoted from fifth to second. Likewise Lynch-Bages gets promoted from fifth to third, with quite a close shout in almost achieving second growth status. But for my money Pontet Canet and GPL are consistently better wines.
Sociando Mallet is another winner. It was only created in 1969, and therefore was not around when the classification was created. But it comes in as a very solid third growth.
Of the losers Leoville-Poyferre, a very highly regarded wine these days, gets downgraded two notches to fourth growth. I have never tasted a Poyferre, which I have found particularly interesting or stimulating. In the old days these wines were rustic. Now they are just boring. Well made sure but anonymous and anodyne 21st century creations. I had the 1996 and 2004 recently and was very underwhelmed. To be fair the 2001 and 2002 are good wines. But are so are many other wines produced by fourth growths on my list.
Angelus goes down a notch because it simply does not deserve to be ranked equally with Cheval Blanc and Ausone...that is an effrontery...even though this estate made magical wines in 1989 and 1990. The more modern vintages are afflicted by the Poyferre syndrome and taste anaesthetised by comparison. Pavie goes down five notches. Perse is trying his best to make great wine but his approach is misguided. As one of his competitors put it, he is obliterating the terroir. I doubt these wines will age well, and the market is cottoning on.
My classification
Medoc
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Pessac-Leognan
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St-Emilion/Pomerol
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Sauternes/Barsac
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First
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Lafite
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Haut-Brion
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Petrus
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D’Yquem
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Margaux
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La Mission Haut-Brion
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Cheval Blanc
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Latour
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Ausone
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Mouton-Rothschild
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Lafleur
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Palmer
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Le Pin
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Second
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Leoville-Lascases
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Pape Clement
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L’Evangile
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Climens
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Ducru-Beaucaillou
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Trotanoy
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Rieussec
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Pichon-Lalande
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La Conseillante
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La Tour Blanche
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Pichon-Baron
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Vieux Chateau Certan
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De Fargues
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Montrose
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L’Eglise Clinet
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Gilette
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Cos D’Estournel
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Figeac
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Raymond-Lafon
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Leoville-Barton
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Angelus
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Lafaurie-Peyraguey
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Gruaud-Larose
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Belair-Monange
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Rauzan-Segla
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Tertre-Roteboeuf
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Pontet-Canet
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Pavie Macquin
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Grand Puy Lacoste
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Hosanna
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Les Forts De Latour
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Third
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Calon-Segur
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Domaine De Chevalier
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Clinet
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Suduiraut
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La Lagune
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Haut-Bailly
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Certan De May
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Coutet
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Giscours
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Smith Haut Lafitte
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La Fleur Petrus
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Guiraud
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Branaire-Ducru
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La Fleur De Gay
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Rayne Vigneau
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Beychevelle
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Latour A Pomerol
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Siglas Rabaud
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Langoa-Barton
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Beausejour-Lagarosse
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Rabaud Promis
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Talbot
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Beausejour-Becot
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Lamothe Guignard
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Lagrange
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Canon
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Doisy-Vedrines
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Lynch-Bages
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Canon La Gaffliere
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Doisy-Daene
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Duhart-Milon
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Clos Fourtet
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Brane-Cantenac
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La Dominique
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Sociando-Mallet
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Gomerie
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Valandruad
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Fourth
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Prieure-Lichine
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Les Carmes Haut-Brion
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Gazin
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Filhot
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Dufort-Vivens
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Carbonnieux
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L’Arrosee
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De Malle
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D’Issan
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Fieuzal
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Berliquet
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Nairac
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Kirwan
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La Louviere
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Franc Mayne
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D’Arche
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Malescot St-X
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Olivier
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Grand Mayne
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Cantenac Brown
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Branon
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Couvent Des Jacobins
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Du Tertre
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Haut-Bergey
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Pavie Decesse
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Cantermerle
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Bahans Haut Brion
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Quinault L’Enclos
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St-Pierre
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Rol Valantin
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Gloria
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Troplong Mondot
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Moulin De La Rose
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Trotevieille
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Leoville-Poyferre
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La Grave a Pomerol
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Grand Puy Ducasse
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Nenin
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D’Armhaillac
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Petit-Village
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Clerc Milon
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Moulin St-George
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Haut-Marbuzet
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Le Gay
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Lafon-Rochet
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La Gaffaliere
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Chasse-Spleen
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Grand-Pontet
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Poujeaux
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La Tour Figeac
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Carruades De Lafite
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Le Bon Pasteur
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Clos Du Marquis
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Petit Cheval
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Reserve De La Comtesse
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Fifth
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Rauzan-Gazzies
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La Tour Martillac
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Clos L’Oratoire
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Lascombes
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Malartic Lagraviere
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Clos Rene
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Ferriere
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Rouget
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Haut-Batailley
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Chauvin
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Batailley
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Monbousquet
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Haut Bages Liberal
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Pavie
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Lynch Moussas
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Barde-Haut
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Cos labory
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Meyney
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D’Angludet
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Potensac
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Pavillon Rouge
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