Were there any other "candidate" wineries considered but ultimately not selected besides the final 61 red wine wineries?

The "Unselected" Châteaux of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification

Hey there! I'm quite fond of studying wine, especially the old stories of Bordeaux. Your question is really interesting—about those 61 châteaux (mostly 60 from Médoc and 1 from Sauternes) selected for the 1855 Paris Exposition. Indeed, other estates were considered but ultimately didn’t make the cut. Let me briefly chat about the process and the backstory, keeping it simple and avoiding overly academic jargon.

First, the Background

In 1855, Emperor Napoleon III wanted to showcase Bordeaux wines at the Paris Exposition, so he tasked the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce with creating a "ranking of top châteaux." The Chamber turned to local wine brokers (the middlemen), asking them to rank estates based on reputation, price, and quality. These brokers didn’t pick randomly; they reviewed decades of market data, especially average wine prices—since back then, higher prices equated to better quality (similar to today’s sales rankings).

Ultimately, they settled on 61 châteaux, ranked from First to Fifth Growths. But this wasn’t built from scratch. They started with a broader list of candidates. Simply put, the brokers brainstormed a pool of contenders before narrowing it down to the very best.

Which "Candidates" Were Left Out?

Absolutely, some were excluded! Historical records suggest brokers considered over a hundred estates, but only 61 made the grade. Here are a few examples (not an official list, but based on historical research and estate archives):

• Examples from Médoc:

  • Château Cantenac-Brown: Its wines were solid at the time and it was on the candidate list, but it ended up below Third Growth status. Reasons? Its prices weren’t consistently top-tier, or its production volume was too low.
  • Château La Lagune: It was mentioned in early discussions but missed out. It later became a Third Growth in 1973 (though that’s a different classification). Why the initial snub? Likely because its reputation wasn’t yet firmly established.
  • Estates like Château Haut-Bages-Libéral were also considered but didn’t crack the Fifth Growth tier. Why? Brokers felt its pricing and consistency couldn’t match the selected châteaux.

• Sauternes and Barsac Sweet Wine Region:

  • Beyond the winners, some were overlooked here too. Château de Rayne-Vigneau, for instance, was a candidate but didn’t make First Growth. The reason? Sweet wine rankings heavily favored sugar concentration and aging potential—its data just wasn’t standout then.

These unselected châteaux weren’t "bad"—many later proved their excellence, and some now command higher prices than classified growths! But in 1855, the criteria were strict, hinging on historical price records. If your wine’s average price wasn’t in the top 61, you were out.

Why Weren’t They Selected? Common Reasons

From my research and chats with fellow wine lovers, key factors include:

• Pricing: The core issue. Brokers ranked estates using 50 years of auction prices. If your average price fell short, you were cut. Some châteaux had brief price spikes but lacked long-term consistency.
• Reputation and Consistency: Estates with volatile quality or recent ownership changes raised doubts about their future.
• Geography and Production: Châteaux outside Médoc (e.g., Pessac-Léognan) were excluded despite high quality—the scope was limited.
• Politics or Personal Bias: A bit of gossip here—broker preferences or rivalries may have played a role. Historians suspect some estates missed out due to poor "networking."

In short, the classification wasn’t perfect; it reflected mid-19th-century market realities. Remember, transportation wasn’t advanced, and judgments relied solely on broker experience and data—far less scientific than today.

What Happened Later?

Interestingly, the classification barely changed (except for Mouton Rothschild’s 1973 upgrade to First Growth). Yet many unselected châteaux proved themselves through hard work. Today, Bordeaux has other classifications like Saint-Émilion or Graves, where some "former rejects" later earned spots. If you’re curious, try wines like La Lagune—they offer great value and a taste of history.

If you have specific châteaux to ask about or want more stories of the unselected, just say the word! I’m no expert, but I’ve sipped my share of Bordeaux over the years. Cheers!