Château Haut-Brion (Bordeaux, France)
Among the first wineries to be established in the region, Château Haut-Brion was recognized as a “cru” as early as 1521. It was also the first-recorded First Growth to make its way to the United States thanks to a purchase by President Thomas Jefferson in 1787. Château Haut-Brion produces just 11,000 cases of its grand vin wine annually—the lowest output of all the First Growths.
Château Margaux (Bordeaux, France)
This First Growth winery epitomizes the concept of “quality over quantity.” Taking a hint from a few of the world’s top Champagne producers, lead winemaker Pierre Ginestet set the precedent in 1965 that the château’s flagship grand vin wine would only be bottled at peak quality. Around 12,000 cases are produced each year, and some of the rarest vintages have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
Château Le Pin (Bordeaux, France)
Château Le Pin released its first bottle of wine relatively recently, in 1979. However, this Pomerol estate has quickly become one of the most sought-after in the world due to the exceptional quality of its wines. The grapes are planted on just 2.7 hectares, and the producer makes only 400 to 600 cases per year. This rarity, coupled with perfect scores from many critics, has cemented Le Pin among Bordeaux’s most legendary.
Château Lafite-Rothschild (Bordeaux, France)
Once known as “the King’s Wine,” Château Lafite-Rothschild’s world-renowned First Growth Bordeaux wine is exceptional, both in terms of quality and significance. Although it’s one of the largest Medoc estates, releasing 15,000 to 20,000 cases per year, this château has produced some of the most precious vintages in the world. Among these is the 1869 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, a vintage that has repeatedly fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Burgundy, France)
Perhaps Burgundy’s most famous estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti harvests its grapes from a single vineyard less than five acres in size. Annual production is just 6,000-8,000 cases per year, making these wines some of the rarest in all of France. Top vintages from this estate have also sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars–and one even sold for half a million dollars.