Clive Coates published an article in Decanter recently, detailing the problems which had beset the Cru Bourgeois classification (like the problems over St Emilion but less newsworthy) and which has led many of the top chateaux previously in the category to abandon the classification altogether. In a table accompanying the article, one can see that except for Chateau Labegorce Zede, all of the estate calssified as cru bourgeois exceptionelle have abstained from the current classification. Labegorce Zede was absorbed into the lesser classified Ch Labegorce (as I mentioned in the CBE 2003 post 3 years ago), so the whole of that top category has decided to boycott the current system.
This sad state of affairs apart, the article also detailed the history of the classification and its current woes. However, there was also an accompanying list of cru bourgeois (current and former) which he has found most consistent over the years - definitely useful for those who are interested in pursuing value for money in Bordeaux.
No comments:
Post a Comment