Saint-Emillion AOC

The French wine-growing area is located in the east of the Bordeaux region and, together with Pomerol, forms the core area of the Rive droite (right bank) of the Gironde and Dordogne estuaries. It is named after the small town that lies on the slopes of a hill overlooking the Dordogne valley and is named after the Benedictine monk Émilion (Aemilianus). According to legend, he lived here in the 7th century in the forest of Combes in a cave, which is now located on the grounds of Château Laniote. Saint-Émilion is also a stop on the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. It is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in France, where the Romans planted the first vines.

To the west is the Entre-deux-Mers landscape between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, which forms the largest wine-growing region in Bordeaux, with numerous appellations and enclaves within its borders.

World Heritage Site

In 1999, Saint-Émilion was the first wine-growing region to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to Saint-Émilion, the 54 km² area includes the municipalities of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, Saint-Hippolyte, Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, Saint-Pey-d'Armens, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, Vignonet and partly Libourne. The four communes of Lussac, Montagne, Puisseguin and Saint-Georges, separated by the Barbanne watercourse, are independent AOCs that are allowed to display the place name with the addition Saint-Émilion on the label.

Climate & Soil

The climate is more continental and not as maritime as in the western Médoc, with greater temperature fluctuations. The vineyards lie between 25 and 100 metres above sea level. The region is characterised by a variety of soil types, often even within the individual châteaux. It is roughly divided into four zones: Plateau (limestone formations with clay-limestone or sandy clay), Côtes (similar, but different slope inclination and orientation), Graves (gravel and coarse gravel) and Sables (alluvial gravel). These yield a wide variety of wine types.

Vineyards & grape varieties

The vineyards cover around 5,500 hectares of vines, which are cultivated by over 1,000 winegrowers. Only the red wines have AOC status. The full-bodied and full-bodied wines with a silky texture are produced from the Merlot variety, which dominates with 60% of the area, as well as Cabernet Franc (Bouchet) with proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot (Malbec, Pressac) and Carmenère; the typical grape varieties of the Rive droite. Long maceration periods and barrique ageing are common. They are softer, fruitier and less tannic than those from the Médoc.

Classification system

In contrast to the unique Bordeaux classification system established in 1855 (only wines from the left bank of the Garonne), it is revised every ten years. The criteria have been constantly adapted since its introduction, but some basic values have always been part of the assessment. These are the quality of the last ten vintages, the reputation of the wine, the market price achieved, the quality of the terroir and the methods used to manage the vineyard.

Sustainability

In 2022, aspects of sustainable management and social media presence were added. Wineries wishing to take part in an assessment can apply either for the "Grand Cru Classé" or for the two levels "Grand Cru Classé" and "Premier Grand Cru Classé".

Grand Vin

The classification applies exclusively to the Grand Vin (first wine) of the winery and is only valid for a defined part of the vineyards. All other wines, such as second wines or white wines, must have a different designation from the first wine as the main name on the label. In rare cases, a winery may have two first wines, each with a different name (e.g. Château Faugères).

AOC requirements

Compared to the simple AOC Saint-Émilion, the requirements are stricter. The yield is limited to a maximum of 8,000 kg/ha or 55 hl/ha (instead of 9,000 kg/ha or 65 hl/ha). The must weight of the grapes (except Merlot) must be at least 189 g/l sugar (instead of 180 g/l). The alcohol content must be at least 11.5% (instead of 11%) by volume. The wine must be stored for at least 14 months before being marketed.

Classification

The wines are assessed by a jury of experienced wine tasters using a blind tasting with a 20-point system. At least 14 points are required for the Grand Cru Classé and at least 16 points for the Premier Grand Cru Classé. Every wine with 16 points or more is proposed for the "Premier Grand Cru Classé" classification. The total number of classified wineries is limited to a maximum of 90.

Quality levels

Wines that are no longer or differently classified retain their classification for the previous vintages. Classifications have so far been awarded in 1955 (75 wines), 1969 (84 wines), 1986 (74 wines), 1996 (68 wines), 2006 (61 wines), 2012 (82 wines) and 2022 (85 wines). There are the following three quality levels:

• Grand Cru Classé
• Premier Grand Cru Classé B
• Premier Grand Cru Classé A (equivalent in quality to the Premier Cru Classé Châteaux of the Médoc)

Classification 2006

After the 2006 classification, there were protests from downgraded wine estates. The four declassified Château Cadet-Bon, Château Guadet, Château La Marzelle and Château La Tour-du-Pin-Figeac challenged the result before the administrative court in Bordeaux (apart from Château La Tour-du-Pin-Figeac, the other three were reclassified in 2012). After examination, the administrative court found that it was grossly erroneous to first taste the wines of already classified estates and only then separately the others.

As a result, there was a confusing back and forth. Finally, on 13 May 2009, a "final" decision was made. The 1996 classification was now valid again. It was noted in a footnote that the eight Chateaux upgraded in 2006 (6 Grand Cru Classé and 2 Premier Grand Cru Classé B) were allowed to retain their new rank.

Classification 2012

The classification was carried out under the supervision of the INAO by a seven-member jury. In order to ensure independence, no members of the Saint-Émilion Syndicat or the Bordeaux wine trade were included, but rather experts from the Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Provence and Rhône regions. A total of 82 wine estates (18 Premiers Grands Crus and 64 Grands Crus) were classified. 2 new wineries received the highest honour, 4 new wineries received the Premier Grand Cru Classés B award and 9 new Grand Cru wineries.

In 2013, the classification was invalidated several times due to errors and breaches of the regulations. There were complaints from some wine estates because Hubert de Boüard (owner of Château Angélus) was chairman of the classification commission and was therefore biased. Boüard was sentenced to a fine.

Saint-Émilion - Classification 2022

144 wineries took part in the application. The result was published by the INAO on 8 September 2022 with 85 classified estates (14 Premiers Grands Crus and 71 Grands Crus). The wine estates Château Angélus, Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc and Château La Clotte did not take part in the application. They criticised the fact that the aspects of tourism and social networks were given too much space in the evaluation and that "primary" aspects such as terroir, wine ratings, wine quality and cultivation were given too little consideration. As a result, three wineries in the highest level Premier Grand Cru Classé A from 2012 voluntarily left the classification.

Château Quinault l'Enclos also did not apply and Château Croque-Michotte and Château La Gaffelière withdrew early. The wine estates Château Croix de Labrie, Château Tour Saint-Christophe and Château Rocheyron protested against not being considered. The first two were successful in their appeal before the Bordeaux Administrative Court, while the appeal of the latter estate was not upheld.

Premier Grand Cru Classé A (2)

• Château Figeac (new from 2022)
• Château Pavie

Premier Grand Cru Classé B (12)

• Château Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarosse
• Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot
• Château Bélair-Monange
• Château Canon
• Château Canon-La-Gaffelière
• Château Larcis-Ducasse
• Château Pavie-Macquin
• Château Troplong-Mondot
• Château Trotte Vieille
• Château Valandraud
• Clos Fourtet
• La Mondotte

Grand Cru Classé (71)

• Château Badette (new since 2022)
• Château Balestard La Tonnelle
• Château Barde-Haut
• Château Bellefont-Belcier
• Château Bellevue
• Château Berliquet
• Château Boutisse (new since 2022)
• Château Cadet-Bon
• Château Cap-de-Mourlin
• Château Chauvin
• Château Clos de Sarpe
• Château Clos des Jacobins
• Château Corbin
• Château Corbin-Michotte
• Château Côte de Baleau
• Château Couvent des Jacobins
• Château Croix de Labrie (new since 2022)
• Château Dassault
• Château de Ferrand
• Château de Pressac
• Château Destieux
• Château Faugères
• Château Fleur-Cardinale
• Château Fombrauge
• Château Fonplégade
• Château Fonroque
• Château Franc-Mayne
• Château Grand Corbin
• Château Grand Corbin-Despagne
• Château Grand-Mayne
• Château Guadet
• Château Haut-Sarpe
• Château Jean Faure
• Château La Commanderie
• Château La Confession
• Château La Couspaude
• Château La Croizille
• Château La Dominique
• Château La Fleur Morange
• Château La Marzelle
• Château Laniote
• Château Larmande
• Château Laroque
• Château Laroze
• Château La Serre
• Château La Tour Figeac
• Château Le Chatelet
• Château Le Prieuré
• Château Mangot
• Château Monbousquet
• Château Montlabert (new since 2022)
• Château Montlisse (new since 2022)
• Château Moulin du Cadet
• Château Péby Faugères
• Château Petit-Faurie-de-Soutard
• Château Ripeau
• Château Rochebelle
• Château Rol Valentin (new since 2022)
• Château Saint-Georges-Côte-Pavie
• Château Sansonnet
• Château Soutard
• Château Tour Baladoz (new since 2022)
• Château Tour Saint-Christophe (new since 2022)
• Château Villemaurine
• Château Yon-Figeac
• Clos Badon Thunevin (new since 2022)
• Clos de L'Oratoire
• Clos Dubreuil (new since 2022)
• Clos Saint-Julien (new since 2022)
• Clos Saint-Martin
• Lassegue (new since 2022)

Further information

In France, there is a bewildering variety of classification systems for wines, wineries and appellations. This is even the case within a single region, particularly in Bordeaux. In addition to Saint-Émilion, there are those of Graves, Médoc and Sauternes. There is a consistent system in Burgundy. See also under Grand Cru and quality system.

Map: by Domenico-de-ga from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Vineyards: Tripadvisor
Text source 2022: WIKIPEDIA Saint-Émilion