Cru Bourgeois
Definition - What does Cru Bourgeois mean?
Cur bourgeois are wines from Bordeaux that were not included in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. It mostly includes wines from the Me`doc region of Bordeaux, which failed to make the grade as cru classe. Cru bourgeois wines were originally deemed to be lesser in quality and cheaper in comparison to cru classe. But, currently many of these wines boast good quality and price that can rival any other wine.
WineFrog explains Cru Bourgeois
While cru classe wines are classified based on their reputation, vineyard and quality, cru bourgeois is classified solely based on the quality of the wine.
The cru bourgeois classification was established in 1932 by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Agriculture, which promoted lesser known wines and vineyards. Originally, 444 estates and their wines were selected for classification. The system has been reviewed and modified many times. Currently, there are no sub-divisions or ranks with only one level of certification awarded annually. There are 246 wines currently enlisted as cru bourgeois.
Though the wines of this classification were traditionally viewed as of lesser quality than cru classe, wine critics and customers now believe that many cru bourgeois wines have arguably surpassed their historically superior rivals in terms of quality. The cru classe classification is rarely updated and is largely dependent on historic pedigree rather than present performance. On the contrary, the cru bourgeois classification is revised every year and is based on production, procedure and wine quality.
