CH’NG Poh Tiong
Congratulations Olivier Bernard on being elected the new President of the Crus Classés de Graves!
The Classification of Graves wine was carried out in 1953 for its red wine producers. Dry white wines were included in an updated 1959 classification.
There are 14 classified chateaux, including Chateau Haut-Brion, the only property outside the Médoc included as one of four First Growths in the 1855 Classification.
The Classified Growths of the Graves are:
- Chateau Haut-Brion
- Chateau Bouscaut
- Chateau Carbonnieux
- Domaine de Chevalier
- Chateau Couhins
- Chateau Couhins-Lurton
- Chateau de Fieuzal
- Chateau Haut-Bailly
- Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion
- Chateau Latour-Martillac
- Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere
- Chateau Olivier
- Chateau Pape Clement
- Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
These properties, which remain family-run, are also exceptional in that – except for Chateau Haut-Bailly – all also produce both white and red wines with an excellent potential to improve with age.
(Those which are classified for both their white and red wines are Chateau Bouscaut, Chateau Carbonnieux, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau Latour-Martillac, Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere, and Chateau Olivier).
Twenty years after his first term, Olivier Bernard, Proprietor of Domaine de Chevalier, has returned as President of the Crus Classés de Graves.
“We only do well what we know well. All the crus in the appellation naturally have their own specific character, but they share a genuine family resemblance based on a common, quite easily identifiable style, which the Crus Classés express at the highest level. I’m thinking of the depth, that blend of elegance and freshness with an indefinable charm, and the unique balance of great wines.” said Olivier Bernard.
The passionate winegrower & winemaker is also Treasurer of the Pessac-Léognan Appellation Winegrowers’ Union, Vice President of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (after serving as President from 2012 to 2019), Vice Chancellor of the Académie des Vins de Bordeaux and Vice President of the Académie des Vins de France.
