The English professor Charles Cocks (1812-1854) settled in Bordeaux in 1840 and worked as a translator for English publishers. He wrote a handbook on the Bordeaux châteaux of the time especially for his English compatriots. In 1846, the book, conceived as a tourist guide, was published in English under the title "Bordeaux, its Wines and the Claret Country".

It contains historical and tourist observations on Bordeaux and, as a novelty, offers an overview of the most important wine-growing locations and producers, including the best vintages. This work is regarded as the forerunner and one of the most important foundations for the Bordeaux Classification of 1855.
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