Jurade de Saint-Emilion

Premier Grand Cru Classé and Grand Cru Classé

Saint-Émilion had no part in the 1855 Left Bank classification and had no classification system of its own until 1955. Unhandicapped by an old system, it was able to create a modern one. Within the higher Appellation of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, there are two levels of classified growth - Premier Grand Cru Classé (itself sub-divided into "A" and "B") and Grand Cru Classé. The classification takes place anew about every ten years, both for those already classified and those wishing to be so, so that there is a complete review. It has not been true, as some critics thought would be the case, that the numbers of classified growths would increase with each review. Indeed rather the reverse has happened, especially in the case of the Grands Crus Classés. In 1955 there were 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 63 Grands Crus Classés. Whilst 1969 saw a further 9 Grands Crus Classés added bringing the total to 72, the 1986 review gave only 11 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 63 Grands Crus Classés. Ten years later, in 1996, there were 2 new classifications as Premiers Grands Crus Classés, giving a total of 13, but only 55 Grands Crus Classés emerged from the review. The proposed 2006 classification would have seen a further decline in the latter's numbers to 46, although Ch. Pavie-Macquin and Ch. Troplong Mondot each became Premier Grand Crus Classé.

The proposed 2006 list, alpahbetically with an asterisk marking the additions included:

Premiers Grands Crus Classés
A: Ch. Ausone, Ch. Cheval Blanc;
B: Ch. Angélus, Ch. Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse), Ch. Beau-Séjour-Bécot, Ch. Belair, Ch. Canon, Ch. Figeac, Ch. Cheval Blanc, Clos Fourtet, Ch. La Gaffelière, Ch. Magdelaine, Ch. Pavie, Ch. Pavie-Macquin*, Ch. Troplong-Mondot*, Ch. Trottevieille

Grands Crus Classés:

Ch. Balestard la Tonnelle, Ch. Bellefont-Belcier*, Ch. Bergat, Ch. Berliquet, Ch. Cadet Piola, Ch. Canon la Gaffelière, Ch. Cap de Mourlin, Ch. Chauvin, Ch. Corbin, Ch. Corbin Michotte, Ch. Dassault, Ch. Destieux*, Ch. Fleur-Cardinale*, Ch. Fonplégade, Ch. Fonroque, Ch. Franc Mayne, Ch. Grand Corbin*, Ch. Grand Corbin Despagne*, Ch. Grand Mayne, Ch. Grand Pontet, Ch. Haut Corbin, Ch. Haut Sarpe, Ch. L'Arrosée, Ch. La Clotte, Ch. La Couspaude, Ch. La Dominique, Ch. La Serre, Ch. La Tour Figeac, Ch. Laniote, Ch. Larcis Ducasse, Ch. Larmande, Ch. Laroque, Ch. Laroze, Ch. Le Prieuré, Ch. Les Grandes Murailles, Ch. Matras, Ch. Monbousquet*, Ch. Moulin du Cadet, Ch. Pavie-Decesse, Ch. Ripeau, Ch. Saint-Georges-Côte-Pavie, Ch. Soutard, Clos de l'Oratoire, Clos des Jacobins, Clos Saint-Martin, Couvent des Jacobins

The 1996 list, also included, as Grands Crus Classés:
Ch. Bellevue, Ch. Cadet Bon, Ch. Faurie de Souchard, Ch. Guadet Saint-Julien, Ch. La Marzelle, both Chx. La Tour du Pin Figeac, Ch. Petit Faurie de Souchard, Ch. Tertre Daugay, Ch. Villemaurine and Ch. Yon Figeac. (Since 1996 part of Ch. Curé-Bon-la-Madelaine has been incorporated with Ch. Canon – PGCC.)

Classification, criteria - and controversy

Any classification system is human and is bound to be subject to controversy and criticism and this has been true of Saint-Émilion's as well. Inevitably decisions have a subjective element and in a wine world of partisan championship of different styles, arguments will arise. More importantly, wine invites love and wine lovers who feel a particular beloved has been slighted or overlooked, will be furious on its behalf. Litigation has been known to follow the announcement of the Classification Committee's decisions and four Châteaux – Cadet Bon, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin Figeac and La Marzelle – challenged the 2006 classification. The principle of classification itself was not under challenge but only the mechanics of the tastings of some of the different wines submitted. That challenge has led to the suspension by a first instance Court of the whole classification. Consideration is being given to an appeal against that decision but the suspension was obviously going to leave a vacuum until any appeal had been heard with no grower lawfully being able to rely on previous classification as currently valid. In order to alleviate that problem for most, pending the final outcome of the litigation, a new Ministerial decree has revived the 1996 classification for 2006 to 2009 which has,of course, left everybody with the status they then had. Whilst that relieves the difficulty for most Châteaux, it is, on any view, very hard on those who had been found to merit promotion.

The 2006 classification gave rise to further controversy, although it did not lead to legal action on this ground, because the Committee’s interpretation of the requirement in the rules that it should take into account price, led to several Châteaux being denied a higher classification on the sole ground (le seul motif) that they sell at too low a price. Moroever, some Châteaux had been in the process of improving markedly under new ownership or direction but were still demoted, presumably because they were though to have been less good during the early part of the relevant period Château Bellevue, for example, was widely thought to be in this category as was Ch. Cadet Bon.

Nonetheless, whilst there will always be room for discussion and debate, the system provides assistance for customers new to, or not very familiar with, the Jurisdiction's wines as well as wider public recognition of the especial excellence of those classified, even when there are strong arguments for saying that there are others of equal quality whose merits have not been officially recognised or as fully recognised as they deserved.

Criteria

The criteria and procedure are described in their original language on the French site but are summarized here in English.

In order to qualify to be considered the name of the estate must have been used regularly and consistently on the wines during the relevant 10 years and the estate must be a sufficiently large economic and viticultural unit and have cellars used exclusively for its wines. At least 50% of the total vines must be over twelve years old and of varietals and density able to produce wines entitled to Saint-Emilion Grand Cru status which must have been obtained for at least 7 harvests in the relevant period.

An application must be made by the grower supported by a dossier covering the activities of the previous 10 year period which must include a description of the estate, disclosing any modifications made as well as the details of the sale price of wines in that period. Samples of the 10 years' wines must be available, with the Committee making the choice of vintages.

On pain of being declassified, candidates must undertake for the following ten years not, without proper authority, to modify in any way the property on which the classified wine is made, and must also undertake to bottle it at the Château.

The Committee bases its decision on all factors in favour of, or against, classification for the château concerned, including consistency of both size and quality of the estate, how it is run with regard to vineyard practices and winemaking, the consistency and quality of the wines, as shown by tasting and/or other methods and also considers marketing, presentation, reputation, promotion work and sale price, the latter requirement, as is noted above, having raised controversy in the manner of its interpretation.

Home