wpw-wineclub.com - Saint Émilion classification 2012

SAINT-ÉMILION

AND SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU APPELLATIONS ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY INTERWINED.

The appellation areas include the territories of a dream-like list of nine villages or towns. The first is Saint-Émilion, which has been the epicentre of the winegrowing area since the monks arrived in the 8^th century. The villages of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes,Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, Saint-Hippolyte, Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, Saint-Pey-d’Armens, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens and Vignonet complete the picture with parts of the town of Libourne.

SAINT-ÉMILION WINE CLASSIFICATION

THE IMPACT OF HISTORY

The statue of Louis XIV on horseback majestically overlooks the Courtyard of Honour at Château de Versailles. He was the king who paid tribute to our wines, declaring, “Saint-Émilion, nectar of the gods”. Saint-Émilion wines owe their popularity to their outstanding terroirs and because they meet very demanding requirements which enables them to reach exceptional levels of quality.

In fact, this energy and innovation are intimately linked to the life and history of this ancestral winegrowing place, because here in 1884, the first winegrowers’ union in France was founded. In 1936, the “Saint- Émilion” AOC was officially recognised. In 1954 came three more: Saint- Émilion Grand Cru, Saint- Émilion Grand Cru Classé and Saint- Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé.

Before that in 1948, the first wine quality inspection by tasting was introduced, which two years later in 1950 led to a classification of the wines in the appellation area. In 1952, a set of classification rules was drafted in agreement with the French National Institute of Appellations (INAO). And the classification was ratified in 1955.

What makes this classification powerful and so original is that it is revised every 10 years. It effectively stimulates all Saint- Émilion winegrowers to seek the best possible quality in their wines. The 2012 classification was the sixth since the first in 1955. After ten months of painstaking work, it listed 82 properties, including 64 Grands Crus Classés and 18 Premiers Grands Crus Classés.

FIRSTS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS

In alphabetic order

Château Angélus (A) Château Ausone (A) Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

Château Beauséjour (Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse) Château Bélair-Monange

Château Canon Château Canon la Gaffelière Château Cheval Blanc (A)

Clos Fourtet Château Figeac Château la Gaffelière

La Mondotte Château Larcis Ducasse Château Pavie (A)

Château Pavie Macquin Château Trolong Mondot Château Trottevieille

Château Valandraud

GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS

In alphabetic order

Château Balestard la Tonnelle Château Barde-Haut Château Bellefont Belcier