First Growth Bordeaux

Drink First Growth Bordeaux before you die! Why? 

So you know you haven't actually been missing out on that much! 

These days, buying First Growth Bordeaux is out of reach for most of us. Even in a Bucket List scenario, where you just want to buy one bottle so you can try this much lauded wine just once in your life before you die, it is still difficult for the average wine lover to part with that much money.  For many people, buying a bottle of First Growth would seriously reduce their ability to procure a chunk of the remaining wines on the bucket list.  

But don’t fear. Given that quite a bit of First Growth is produced, especially compared to other Icon and Cult wines (eg DRC and Screaming Eagle), public tastings are fairly common and, while still expensive, are the fraction of the bottle price (and you usually get to try several). 

The five First Growths of Bordeaux's 1855 wine classification

So, what’s the big deal with First Growths? The handful of times I've tried First Growth Bordeaux I've always been somewhat underwhelmed. Probably because expectations for such coveted wine are so high. You taste it and almost expect a revelation or epiphany or something spiritual and elevating. But, sadly, nothing.  

The wines are good but not that good. Half the reason I’d encourage people to try a Frist Growth at least once before they die is so that the know they haven’t actually been missing out on that much! The other half is so people can experience where one of the most emulated wine styles, the ‘Bordeaux Blend’, comes from. The reason there’s so much Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted in the world is because these wines are so coveted. Just about every wine producing country has their ‘Bordeaux Blend’.

Because the First Growths are so expensive they have to be good. They have to impress the critics and wealthy punters. These wineries can afford to be super high tech with optical grape sorting machines so only the perfect grapes are included and super gentle peristaltic pumps or no pumps at all so everything is done by gravity.  These wineries also invest a lot in research and development to make their processes better. Particularly in the vineyard and how it’s managed. This all has a trickle down and the quality of wine further down the pecking order is lifted. 

It reminds me of a scene in The Devil Wears Prada. Miranda informs Andy that, despite what she thinks, she’s not exempt from the fashion industry. Her lumpy blue top is actually cerulean. The reason it’s cerulean and not turquoirse or lapis is because a number of fashion designers decided to feature cerulean in their collections which had a trickle-down effect through the department stores and into the clearance bin she not doubt fished it from.