So let me tell you a bit about Bordeaux wines! huh! wait the title says Saint Emilion !!! Yes, a bit of French international confusion. The whole area around the city of Bordeaux which covers a huge area can be call Bordeaux wines in its genetic form. Then, you have areas that can use their respective names for the better wines according to INAO the French wine regulatory agency in charge of guarding this National heritage ,indeed! This instroduction will be on my black and white series, no pictures, Hope you enjoy it as I.
I will tell you my five cents on the Saint Emilion wines that are on the right bank of the Dordogne river. The town of Saint Emilion is in the Gironde department 33 in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is about 48 km from Bordeaux, The oldest economic entity and very related to wines here is the Jurade , established in 1199 by Jean sans Terre, king of England. There were designated to delegates economic ,political, and judicial power, as well as nobles, and magistrates to guide the general administration of the town that was part of England at the time. In 1948, the winegrowers within the vineyards syndicate/union brought back the jurade in the form of a confrérie(brotherhood) that becomes the ambassador of the wines of Saint Emilion in all the world. It is composed of 54 juras, it is administered by the Council of the Jurade which has 12 members including the 1st Jurat, the cleric, the great treasurer, the great baker, the churchwarden ,who is the master of ceremonies.
I must confess I am a Bordeaux specialist if can say such a word with humility. I am diplomé on the wines of France and Spain, and have visited major houses in all major wine areas of the world, including some now never heard of like Yugoslavian and Cuban wines! However, the Saint Emilion wines are not my favorite due to their over abundance of the Merlot (up to 79%); even if also use the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (Bouchet here). Also, in minority of Malbec, petit Verdot and Carménère.
A bit on what is a Saint Emilion. It is dedicated to red wines, the vineyard of Saint-Émilion extends over 7500 hectares (18530 acres) around the village of the same name, on the right bank of the Dordogne river. The Saint-Émilion appellation is divided into two quality levels: the Saint-Émilions “Grand Cru” and the Simple Saint-Émilions. The latter can be produced throughout the territory of the appellation. They are simply subject to a quality label that is less demanding than the wines that aspire to the term “Grand cru”. In general, they are simpler wines and easier to access in their youth. The term “Grand Cru” is considered to be a full-fledged appellation. The conditions for getting it are more stringent. Very heterogeneous in its production. The ranking of Saint-Émilion was born a century after the historical ranking of the Médoc wines, in 1955. This nomenclature consists of three categories: first Grands crus classified “A”, first grands crus classified “B” and grands Crus classified. Contrary to the ranking of 1855. Thereafter, really into two with some exceptional name with an « A » , The Saint-Émilion is revisable every ten years, with the latest middle of this year 2022.
The 82 crus in the AOC Saint-Émilion classification, The 2012 classification names 82 estates: 64 Grands Crus classés and 18 Premiers Grands Crus classés.
Premiers Grands Crus Classés: Château Angélus (A) ,Château Ausone (A) ,Château Beau-Séjour (héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse) ,Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot ,Château Bél Air-Monange ,Château Canon ,Château Canon la Gaffelière ,Château Cheval Blanc (A) ,Château Figeac ,Clos Fourtet ,Château la Gaffelière ,,Château Larcis Ducasse ,,La Mondotte ,Château Pavie (A) ,,Château Pavie Macquin ,,Château Troplong Mondot ,,Château Trottevieille et Château Valandraud,
Grands Crus Classés : Château l’Arrosée ,Château Balestard la Tonnelle ,Château Barde-Haut ,,Château Bellefont-Belcier ,,Château Bellevue,, Château Berliquet ,Château Cadet-Bon, Château Cap de Mourlin,, Château le Chatelet ,,Château Chauvin, Château Clos de Sarpe ,,Château la Clotte ,,Château la Commanderie ,Château Corbin ,,Château Côte de Baleau, Château la Couspaude, Château Dassault ,Château Destieux ,Château la Dominique, Château Faugères, Château Faurie de Souchard ,Château de Ferrand, Château Fleur Cardinale, Château La Fleur Morange Mathilde, Château Fombrauge ,Château Fonplégade ,Château Fonroque, Château Franc Mayne, Château Grand Corbin, Château Grand Corbin-Despagne, Château Grand Mayne, Château les Grandes Murailles, Château Grand-Pontet ,Château Guadet, Château Haut Sarpe, Clos des Jacobins, Couvent des Jacobins ,Château Jean Faure, Château Laniote,Château Larmande ,Château Laroque ,Château Laroze Clos la Madeleine ,Château la Marzelle, Château Monbousquet, Château Moulin du Cadet,, Clos de l’Oratoire, Château Pavie Decesse, Château Peby Faugères, Château Petit Faurie de Soutard, Château de Pressac, Château le Prieuré, Château Quinault l’Enclos,, Château Ripeau, Château Rochebelle ,Château Saint-Georges-Cote-Pavie ,Clos Saint-Martin ,Château Sansonnet ,Château la Serre, Château Soutard, Château Tertre Daugay ,Château la Tour Figeac ,Château Villemaurine,et Château Yon-Fig
Then, you have others a bit down the ladder but equally good indeed such as those from Lussac Saint Emilion and Puisseguin Saint Emilion. And what is going on in the vineyards of France lately and especially in Saint Emilion, well many buys and sells going on and even by foreigners. Therefore, watch out the landscape of French wines are blending well to the world; after all the world simply copy our grapes, production methods, vinification, and marketing lol! In five years, 25% of the 82 Crus Classés from Saint-Emilion have changed hands.
The official Saint Emilion appellation on their wines : https://vins-saint-emilion.com/en/our-wines-2/
The official Wines of Bordeaux on Saint Emilion : https://www.bordeaux.com/us/Our-Terroir/Classifications/Grands-Crus-de-Saint-Emilion
The official INAO : https://www.inao.gouv.fr/eng/
The town of Saint Emilion on its heritage/tourism info : https://www.saint-emilion.org/decouvrir-la-ville/office-de-tourisme
There you go folks, another nice wine from Bordeaux, but totally different , this is Saint Emilion. Take a look at the niche wines here and hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 