Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13627
 | | 01/07/2005 6:24 PM |
| I know I should know this, but I can't think of it for the life of me
What is the order of Cru classifications? Is it --
Cru Borgeouis (lowest)
Grand Cru
Premier Cru (best)
??
Or is it
Cru Borgeouis (lowest)
Premier Cru
Grand Cru (best)
And, Am I missing any designations?!
TIA! | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 01/07/2005 6:35 PM |
| The answer depends on what area of France you are referring to. You are blending terms in your post.
For example in Burgundy (I am simplifying this by leaving out some of the more obscure designations) its region (Bourgogne), villages (Vosne- Romanee), Premier Cru (Les Beauxmonts), Grand Cru (Echezeaux).
There is a fairly detailed thread on this topic that you should be able to find on search. | | | |
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Marcel
Grape Puncher
Posts:875
| | 01/07/2005 6:48 PM |
| | And if you are asking about Bordeaux, it also depends on whether you are talking about Medoc, St. Emilion, Sauternes or Graves. In Medoc it's just 1st, 2nd, 3rd... growth and then Cru Bourgeois. In St. Emilion its 1er Grand Cru Classe "A", then 1er Grand Cru Classe "B", then Grand Cru Classe, then Grand Cru, etc... | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3370
| | 01/07/2005 8:00 PM |
| And if you are talking about the DC Cru, you need to attend at least 6 offlines in a year and bring Corkage-grade VGS wines to qualify for the Grand Cru status. And 4 offlines for Premier Cru status - otherwise, you are just a village (and not even old vines at that!) cru. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10371
| | 01/07/2005 9:40 PM |
| If you are talking about Burgundy classifications there are a couple of websites with decent explanations:
Burgundy Class.
Ignore the commercial aspect, the Burgundy info is interesting.
Spec's Burgundy Newsletter | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13627
| | 01/07/2005 9:40 PM |
| | LOL JT!!! | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 01/08/2005 12:49 AM |
| Quote:
If you are talking about Burgundy classifications there are a couple of websites with decent explanations:
Burgundy Class.
This is pretty good. I however really enjoy the last paragraph which I'll quote:
The summary: Burgundian appellations are the ultimate love affair between grape and land and a somewhat sado-masochistic affair between the wino and the wine. The world's prime real estate served in parcels so small you wouldn't ever find them on a map. Worth an experiment or two, especially on an expense account or if someone else is paying!
If only I could somehow fit into the last sentence. I've always ended up being the one paying. Good wines though. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 01/08/2005 2:36 AM |
| | And a whole lot of disappointments! Great Burgundy, imo, is the best wine in the world, but it's hard to find and very expensive in most cases. I've had more disappointments from Burgundy than any other highly regarded region other than Italy. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 01/08/2005 8:00 AM |
| | I have to say that I've had some disappointments, but alot of great wine too. I try to pick carefully though which is very necessary in Burgundy (both red and white). While my 40th Brithday had a 1990 LaTache which was pretty good the 1989 Lafon Meursault Genevererves was stunning. As a friend has said "Pinot is the heartbreak grape. The best wines in the world are made from Pinot, but there can be alot of disappointment mixed in with the greatness." | | | |
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jason
Napa Valley
Wine Addict
Posts:6756
| | 01/08/2005 9:16 AM |
| I have had relatively few disappointments from burgundy, red or white.
I better go knock on wood. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 01/08/2005 12:43 PM |
| | For me, the vintage of red Burgundy is very important. Few, if any, great red Burgundies come from average or mediocre vintages. I realize there are exceptions, but not many. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 01/08/2005 3:21 PM |
| In Sauternes there is only one wine that is a
1st Grand Cru Classe. | | | |
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juggernt
Tampa, FL, USA
Wine Bottler
Posts:3317
| | 01/08/2005 3:24 PM |
| Quote:
And a whole lot of disappointments! Great Burgundy, imo, is the best wine in the world, but it's hard to find and very expensive in most cases. I've had more disappointments from Burgundy than any other highly regarded region other than Italy.
Once again I find myself in complete agreement with Board_O (you're not old enough to be my dad, or I'd start to wonder ). The best wines I've ever had--those transcendent quaffs that make your palate sing--have been from Burgundy. And there's been a lot of overpriced mediocre stuff, too. | |
Visit The Butcher Block at http://www.butcherblocktampa.com/ | |
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