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The First Growths: Bordeaux's Top Calling Card

In 1855, the official classification of Bordeaux, France, listed five top châteaux, which later became the common language for wine lovers worldwide. Over a hundred years later, the status of these five châteaux remains rock solid – Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Mouton, Haut-Brion, each bottle has its own story.

The Genesis of the 1855 Classification

During Napoleon III's Paris Universal Exposition, he wanted to showcase France's finest wines and instructed the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to create a ranking. The Chamber classified the châteaux into five ranks based on their market prices and reputation at the time, with four First Growths at the top (Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion). Mouton was then classified as a Second Growth and took a full 118 years to be "promoted" to the fifth First Growth in 1973 – the only change to the classification system since its establishment.

Interestingly, this classification has no legal binding force; it is merely an industry practice. However, the market accepts it, and for 170 years, almost no one has questioned the status of these five châteaux.

What are the Characteristics of the First Growths?

Lafite Rothschild – The most widely known name among the First Growths, especially in the Asian market. The wine is rich, complex, and has excellent aging potential. 1982, 2000, 2009, and 2010 are highly sought-after vintages by collectors. To learn more, see Château Lafite Introduction.

Latour – A powerful and robust style with firm tannin structure. It might be a bit "tough" when young, but it improves significantly with age. Suitable for patient collectors.

Margaux – The most elegant of the First Growths, with a silky texture and intertwining floral and fruity aromas. Some describe drinking Margaux as listening to a slow song.

Mouton Rothschild – Collaborates with different artists to design its labels every year, making the bottles collectibles themselves. The wine style is exuberant and rich, highly distinctive.

Haut-Brion – The oldest château among the First Growths, located in the Graves appellation rather than Médoc. It has a rounded and mellow palate with smoky and mineral notes, a unique style.

Quick Overview of First Growth Vintage Market Trends

The performance of First Growth vintages varies greatly, with prices for the same château differing by more than five times across vintages. Below are some of the most closely watched vintage periods in the market:

The above is just a general guide. For specific buyback prices for each château and vintage, please feel free to inquire via WhatsApp – we have real-time market data.

A Few Fun Facts About Collecting First Growths

Original Wooden Cases Fetch a Significant Premium: A 12-bottle original wooden case (OWC) of First Growths usually commands a 10-20% higher buyback price than individual bottles combined. If you have an unopened OWC, do not break it.

Large Formats Are More Valuable: Large formats such as 1.5L (Magnum) and 3L (Double Magnum) command an extra premium in the auction market due to their better aging potential.

Second Wines Also Have a Market: Second wines such as Lafite's Carruades de Lafite and Latour's Les Forts de Latour from good vintages also have stable demand.

How T.B. Red Wine Helps You Monetize?

T.B. Red Wine has been tracking auction data and market transaction prices for First Growths across all vintages for many years, so our quotes are evidence-based and not arbitrary.

The process is simple: Send photos of your wine via WhatsApp → We reply with a quote → Arrange a time for on-site or in-store handover → Inspect the goods and pay on the spot. Cash or bank transfer, your choice.

To learn about our full range of buyback categories, please visit Company Profile; for other frequently asked questions, please see Red Wine buyback FAQ.