Cru bourgeois reborn – 2008s

The Cru Bourgeois classification, sullied by its annulment by the French government in 2007, has been relaunched with an overhauled qualification system that emphasises its objectivity. The new Cru Bourgeois label will be an annually awarded distinction, based on inspections of production facilities as well as panel tasting by judges who are not château owners.

The 2008 vintage is the first to be assessed in this way and comprises 243 wines from a total of 290 entries. This represents a 30% increase on the previous number of crus bourgeois, as decided in 2003 but subsequently overturned. The vineyard area covered...