The First Growths, Super Seconds, and Legendary Wines
Meet the iconic Bordeaux estates that made wine history — and taste like it too!
How It All Started
Back in 1855, the Emperor of France (Napoleon III) wanted to show off the best Bordeaux wines at a world’s fair. Wine merchants ranked the top châteaux primarily based on price and reputation, assuming the more expensive, the better the wine. This list became the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, and it’s still the gold standard today for Bordeaux prestige.
They crowned a few estates as First Growths (the absolute best), a handful as Second Growths (just a step below), and kept going through Fifth Growths. Over time, some Second Growths became so amazing that they earned the nickname Super Seconds — wines that can rival even the Firsts.
Quick Guide: What Does It All Mean
First Growths — The top of the top. The legends of Bordeaux.
Second Growths — The elite club just behind the Firsts.
Super Seconds — Second Growths so good they’re basically Firsts in disguise.
First Growths
Château Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac)
Elegant, legendary, cedar and cassis magic.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend.
Château Margaux (Margaux)
Silky, floral, pure Bordeaux beauty.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon with a kiss of Merlot.
Château Latour (Pauillac)
Big, bold, and built to last decades.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon powerhouse.
Château Haut-Brion (Pessac-Léognan)
Smoky, earthy, complex — an old-school charmer.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend (plus top-notch whites too).
Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac)
The rebel turned rockstar — famous for its artist-designed labels.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-rich blend.
Super Seconds
Château Léoville-Las Cases (Saint-Julien)
Tight, powerful, and often mistaken for a First Growth.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend.
Château Cos d’Estournel (Saint-Estèphe)
Exotic spices, rich textures — the “Orient Express” of Bordeaux.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou (Saint-Julien)
Polished, plush, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac)
Supple, lush, feminine strength in a bottle.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend.
Château Montrose (Saint-Estèphe)
Brooding, bold, and built for a long cellar nap.
Main Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with structure.