One of five wines that have been classified as such by the French government. They are Ch. Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Latour. They are considered, and rightly so, some of the best wine made. There are a total of 5 growths in Bordeaux and the first growths are the most highly-regarded.
In 1973, after decades of persistent and intense lobbying, Ch. Mouton-Rothschild was upgraded from second growth to first growth. Three years later, France's leading wine experts, in a blind tasting, declared Stag's Leap Wine Cellars to be superior.