The French term for ‘Premier Cru’. This classification is used in several different contexts and often causes confusion. This is because it does not (as one might assume) denote the highest rank in all classification systems.
Médoc: Within the 1855 Bordeaux classification for the red wines of the Médoc, ‘Premier Cru’ (also ‘Premier Grand Cru’ or ‘Premier Grand Cru Classé’) is the highest rank.
Sauternes and Barsac: As part of the same classification, the white wines from Sauternes and Barsac were also assessed. There, ‘Premier Cru’ (also ‘Premier Grand Cru’ or ‘Premier Grand Cru Classé’) corresponds to the second tier of the classification, below the ‘Premier Cru Classé Supérieur’ tier, which is reserved exclusively for Château d’Yquem.
![]()
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena