Cru Bourgeois

The 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification (annulled in 2007) classified 247 properties in three tiers: Exceptionnel (9 properties), Supérieurs (87 properties) and straight Bourgeois (151 properties). The Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels are listed in the following table, for historical interest: Note that some very highly regarded wines outside the 1855 classification such as Château Gloria and Château Sociando-Mallet did not apply for classification. In essence the court ruled that four of the panel had conflicting interests, as owners of relevant wineries, and could not be seen as independent. At this point, the 1932 classification was briefly reinstated, with its single tier and 444 estates. ==2010 reintroduction==

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois responded to the annulment of the 2003 classification by taking a new motion to the government, to create a new certification adopting the term Label Cru Bourgeois, "not as a classification, but as a mark of quality" open to all Médoc wines, based on production and quality standards, to be assessed by an independent body. In February 2008, a format for the classification to be reintroduced was agreed by 180 estates from the defunct 2003 ranking, along with 95 new entrants. The revision demanded that estates adhere to a new set of production rules and independent quality testing in order to remain in the classification, and the terms Cru Bourgeois Supérieur or Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel would no longer be used. Initially, the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois hoped to be able to reintroduce the classification in 2009, and apply it to the 2007 vintage, but this was not achieved. Instead, the new classification was unveiled in 2010, and applied to the 2008 vintage. In September 2011, the 2009 classification was announced. Of 304 applicants, 246 were successful. While the new Cru Bourgeois classification was being prepared, six out of nine of the former Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels decided to remain outside the new one-tier classification. Instead, they formed a group named Les Exceptionnels, primarily to stage common marketing events. Members of this group are Château Chasse-Spleen, Château Les Ormes-de-Pez, Château de Pez, Château Potensac, Château Poujeaux and Château Siran. ==2020: Three new tiers==

Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc announced a new Crus Bourgeois classification on February 20, 2020, that includes 179 Crus Bourgeois, 56 Crus Bourgeois Supérieurs and 14 Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels. Estates ranked in the ‘Exceptionnels’ category include châteaux Paveil de Luze and d’Arsac in Margaux; châteaux Le Boscq, Lillian Ladouys and Le Crock in Saint-Estèphe; Château Lestage in Listrac-Médoc and eight properties in Haut-Médoc: châteaux d’Agassac, Arnauld, Belle-Vue, Cambon La Pelouse, Charmail, Malescasse, de Malleret and du Taillan. The estates will be able to apply their classification to their labels from the 2018 vintage for the next five years with the next classification earmarked for 2022. ==Regions==

Crus Bourgeois wineries can be found across the Médoc, but there is a particularly high concentration in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, on the plateau south and west of the village. == Gallery ==

File:Chateau Terrey Gros Cailloux 1990.jpg|Chateau Terrey Gros Cailloux 1990 File:Chateau Le Boscq 1990.jpg|Chateau Le Boscq 1990 File:Chateau Cambon la Pelouse 2004.jpg|Chateau Cambon la Pelouse 2004 File:Château Grivière 1990.jpg|Château Grivière 1990 File:Senejac.jpg|Château Senejac 2010 File:Château Pontac-Lynch 1986.jpg|Château Pontac-Lynch 1986 File:Château Lestage Listrac-Médoc 1975.jpg|Château Lestage 1975 File:Chateau Roquegrave 1982.jpg|Chateau Roquegrave 1982 File:Château de Pez 1979.jpg|Château de Pez 1979 ==See also==