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The 2020
Kellen Classification
The wines of the Blaye: Côtes de Bordeaux and Côtes de Bourg appellations ranked into five growths. Growth one being the superior.
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Click on a Chateau name to go to their website.
The Côtes de Bourg appellation
Growth I
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Growth II
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Growth III
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Château Haut De Mille Secousses
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Château Les Cèdres
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Château Les Hommes Cheval Blanc
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Château La Grande Etouble (Bio)
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Growth IV
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Château De Rider
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Growth V
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Château Laroche
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Blaye: Côtes de Bordeaux appellation
Growth I
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Château Peybonhomme Les Tours (Bio)
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Growth II
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Growth III
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Growth IV
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Growth V
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Château Loumede David
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Château La Parize
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Declaration of interest
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Bourg: Leslie Kellen, the author of the 2020 Kellen Classification, provides advice and contributions to Chateau Gros Moulin from time to time and is the purchaser of one of their limited quantity wines: "Je Suis" of which 1500 bottles are produced only in exceptional years.
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Blaye: Leslie Kellen, the author of the 2020 Kellen Classification, is the godfather to the son of the owner of Château La Rose Bellevue; for 10 years he has tasted and helped revise their wines.
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Leslie is also a shareholder at the vineyard Etalon Rouge in Blaye, and for this reason Etalon Rouge is not included in the 2020 growths.
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To contact Leslie please email
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kellenleslie @ yahoo . com
ROOTS
Bordeaux is one of the most extensively publicised wine regions in the world, yet, hidden in the North-West corner are two little known appellations that produce wine equally as exquisite as their illustrious neighbours, demonstrated time and again in blind tastings.
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For the first time since the appellations were created, indeed for the first time since wine was first produced in the area by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD, a classification system has been founded, the Kellen Classification. This will promote the Bourg and Blaye regions to their rightful position as leaders in the production of French wine.
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This classification is the first edition, and it will evolve along with the appellations themselves. The next revised edition will be in 2024 and a revision will take place every three years.
The Author
Leslie Kellen, the author of the classification system, has worked in the wine trade for over 48 years. It took more than 20 years of research to produce the classification system. Leslie is a member of the jury in Bordeaux that awards gold, silver and bronze medals worldwide, including France. He and his wife Clarissa are the proprietors of Le Petite Wine Cave in Blaye and the vineyard Etalon Rouge.
