The Producer

Bernard Magrez

A life’s combat Bordeaux,

1936. War hadn’t yet broken out in France, but it wouldn’t be long before it reared its ugly head. It was during these troubled times that Bernard Magrez was born. A strict upbringing taught him his first lessons in life. But being taught lessons without properly learning from them served no purpose for him. Amidst the turmoil, his vision was clear, and an extraordinary inner strength took root in him. At 16, he left school and went into the wine trade. As a completely self-taught young man, his greatest allies were his self-discipline, riAgour and the knowledge he acquired from his books. Bernard Magrez was already the Bernard Magrez we know today. life’s combat Bordeaux, 1936. War hadn’t yet broken out in France, but it wouldn’t be long before it reared its ugly head. It was during these troubled times that Bernard Magrez was born. A strict upbringing taught him his first lessons in life. But being taught lessons without properly learning from them served no purpose for him. Amidst the turmoil, his vision was clear, and an extraordinary inner strength took root in him. .

At 16, he left school and went into the wine trade. As a completely self-taught young man, his greatest allies were his self-discipline, rigour and the knowledge he acquired from his books. Bernard Magrez was already the Bernard Magrez we know today. life’s combat

The Region

Bordeaux, Medoc

The Médoc Winemakers are the Real Face of Bordeaux

Crus Bourgeois may not be the grandest Bordeaux classifications. But behind the distinction lies a world of family-owned Medoc estates that make delicious wines at affordable prices.

The history of the Crus Bourgeois dates to the Middle Ages. The English rulers of Bordeaux allowed middle-class merchants, called the Bourgeois, to buy land and make or sell wine without being taxed.

By the 15^th century, the Bourgeois had acquired some of the best sites in the region, which became known as the Crus Bourgeois. Over the centuries, wineries here aided the development of the Médoc’s vineyards and their reputation as producers of high-quality wine.

Unlike other classifications that either never or rarely change, the Cru Bourgeois title is earned, not given by default. Each year, aspiring estates send their wines to be tasted and judged by an independent panel.

For the 2015 vintage, 271 chateaus from across the region, including the Médoc, Haut-Medoc, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe Appellations d’Origine Protégée (AOPs), earned the distinction. Saint-Julien, another appellation eligible for the classification, was not represented in the 2015 selections.