In 1855 the wines of the Medoc were classified according to their quality and ranked from 1st to 5th Growth. The classification has remained largely unchanged, prompting the use of the unofficial term ‘Super Second’ to recognise the consistent quality of a Château that is making wine at or near the quality of the five 1st Growths.
Only three changes have been made to the classification as at 2018. In 1856 Cantemerle was added as a fifth growth, and, more significantly, in 1973, when Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard after decades of intense lobbying by the powerful Philippe de Rothschild. A third, but less known “change”, is the removal of Château Dubignon, a third growth from Margaux that was absorbed into the estate Château Malescot St. Exupéry.
The classification system is completely different for the Right Bank wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
Super Seconds include:
Château Cos dEstournel
Château Ducru Beaucaillou
Château Leoville Las Cases
Château Leoville Poyferre
Château La Mission Haut Brion
Château Montrose
Château Palmer
Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande
Château Pichon Longueville Baron
Château Pontet Canet
« Back to Wine Words Index
