Saint-Émilion AOC

The vineyards of Saint -Emilion (AOC ) is one of the most famous and celebrated in southwestern France. Within the Bordeaux wine region is Saint -Emilion - Pomerol together with - the heartland of the " right bank " of the Gironde and the Dordogne; after the town of Libourne also known as the Libournais.

History

Even at the time of Roman rule wine was produced in Saint- Émilion. Even the poet Ausonius, after whom is named the Château Ausone there, worked there as a winemaker. The city in its present location and shape was founded in the 8th century by a hermit same name. Saint- Émilion was an important stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Today, in the region of Saint- Émilion approximately 5,200 ha are planted with vines that are distributed to approximately 1,000 winegrowers.

Viniculture

The red wine from Saint- Émilion has its own appellation, which also includes several neighboring communities. Together with Pomerol Saint- Émilion is the heartland of the " right bank " of the Gironde and the Dordogne; after the town of Libourne also called Libournais, meanwhile mark the Medoc peninsula and the Graves region, the " left bank ".

Besides the two aforementioned appellations include the satellite appellations of Lalande -de- Pomerol, Montagne -Saint -Emilion, Puisseguin - Saint-Emilion, Lussac -Saint -Emilion and Saint -Georges -Saint -Emilion and Fronsac and Canon -Fronsac Libournais to.

As on the " right bank " common dominates in the blends of Saint- Émilion mostly the Merlot. Only some goods on the plateau on the border of Pomerol, Château Figeac and as Château Cheval Blanc, use predominantly cabernet sauvignon or cabernet franc.

Appellations of Saint- Émilion

As a special feature in Saint- Émilion even two communal appellations: Saint -Emilion and Saint- Emilion Grand Cru. For the latter appellation, the wines must undergo before bottling a second demanding quality inspection. However, the trend is clearly towards the production of Grand Crus: In problematic year 2002 134.850 hl of wine as Grand Cru and only 82,750 hl declared Saint- Émilion. 1990 the ratio with 156,600 hl to 137,200 hl was Grand Cru Saint -Emilion close to balance, although the vintage was qualitatively very high rate.

Classification and features

The best Grands Crus enjoy the special status of classified growths, being again a distinction between Grand Cru Classé and Premier Grand Cru Classé. The classification of Saint- Émilion is about every ten years each reworked over the years with a four will end up positioning of wineries set, which then usually be effective in the years with a 6. Since the classification was introduced in 1955, there have been revisions in the years 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. Classification from 2006 was suspended on 30 March 2007 by an administrative act. By state adoption, they finally entered into force in November 2007.

The goods must always apply for the classification. Will be assessed on the quality of the last ten vintages. In addition, criteria such as the reputation of the wine critics and trade, which reached the market price and the quality of the terroir. Thus, the classification in contrast to the Médoc is also bound to the documents themselves. So the Château Beau- Séjour Bécot the Premier status for ten years was withdrawn in 1986 after the estate had expanded through the purchase of plots his vineyard. Similar problems had the Château Canon -La Gaffelière of Count Stephan von Neipperg. The quality of the Rebgärten located in the same ownership Good La Mondotte could not be included in the Grand Cru Classé. The La Mondotte is therefore prepared separately. As a " garage wine ", he scored even higher prices than many "Premiers ".

In the following, the classification of 2006 is listed. The two outstanding items are the Châteaux Ausone and Cheval Blanc, both classified as Premier Cru Classé A. In addition, there are still 14 Premier Grand Cru Classé B and 46 Grand Cru Classé. Up compared to 1996 are marked with *.

Premier grands crus classés A

• Château Ausone
• Château Cheval Blanc
• Château Angelus
• Château Pavie

Premier grands crus classés B

• Château Beau- Séjour Bécot
• Château Beauséjour Duffau - Lagarrosse
• Château Belair
• Château Canon
• Château Figeac
• Clos Fourtet
• Clos Larcis Ducasse *

• Château La Gaffelière
• Château La Mondotte *
• Château Magdelaine
• Château Pavie - Macquin *
• Château Troplong Mondot *
• Château Trottevieille
• Château Vallandraud *

Grands Crus Classé

• Château l' Arrosée
• Château La Tonnelle Balestard
• Château Bellefont - Belcier *
• Château Bergat
• Château Berliquet
• Château Cadet - Piola
• Château Canon -La Gaffelière
• Château Cap de Mourlin
• Château Chauvin
• Clos des Jacobins
• Clos de l' Oratory
• Clos Saint -Martin
• Château La Clotte
• Château Corbin
• Château Corbin Michotte -
• Château La Couspaude
• Couvent des Jacobins
• Château Dassault
• Château Destieux *
• Château La Dominique
• Château Fleur Cardinale *
• Château Fonplégade
• Château Fonroque

• Château Franc - Mayne
• Château Grand Corbin - *
• Château Grand Corbin - Despagne - *
• Château Grand Mayne
• Château Grand Pontet -
• Château Les Grandes Murailles
• Château Haut- Corbin
• Château Haut- Sarpe
• Château Laniote
• Château Ducasse Larcis -
• Château Larmande
• Château Laroque
• Château Laroze
• Château Matras
• Château Monbousquet *
• Château Moulin du Cadet
• Château Pavie - Decesse
• Château Le Prieuré
• Château Ripeau
• Château Saint -Georges Côte Pavie
• Château La Serre
• Château Soutard
• Château La Tour Figeac -

Were declassified in 2006 compared to 1996, the Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint- Julien, La Marzelle, Petit Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, both La Tour du Pin - Figeac ( Giraud - Belivier and Moueix ), Villemaurine and Yon- Figeac.

In addition, Château La Clusière part of Château Pavie, and Château Curé Bon La Madeleine is now one of Château Canon.