St. Emilion Classification

St. Emilion Classification:
As with Graves, the region of St. Emilion was excluded from the 1855 classification. After a full century a classification system for the region was put into place by the Syndicat Viticole. It began to take shape as early as 1930 but was only published with a governing decree in 1954. The system had two broad categories – the Premier Grand Cru Classe (further subdivided into higher ranking A and lesser B categories) and the Grand Cru Classe. The classification depended on submitted requests for inclusion as opposed to the 1855 ranking by local merchants. It would also rely on a tasting of ten vintages from the estate in question rather than its simple market value. The classification was also open to reassessment every decade, allowing it to evolve and adapt to the times – quite unlike the immutable 1855 classification.

The initial classification was released in 1955 with 12 properties ranked as Premier Grand Cru Classe and 63 as Grand Cru Classe. It was revised in 1969, 1986, 1996 and finally in 2006. The 2006 classification was marred by controversy and legal disputes when four properties were to be demoted from their Grand Cru Classe status. Eventually in 2008 the 1996 ranking was put back into place, to the delight of those who were demoted – however, those that had been promoted were understandably frustrated. Eventually the 2006 demotions were declared null while the promotions remained in place. The classification lost much credibility as a result of these events and many look towards the 2011 revision as a chance for the classification to claw back legitimacy.

St Emilion 1996 Classification (with 2006 promotions)

Premiers Grand Cru Classes - A
• Chateau Ausone
• Chateau Cheval-Blanc

Premiers Grand Cru Classes – B
• Chateau Angelus
• Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
• Chateau Beausejour
• Chateau Belair-Monange
• Chateau Canon
• Chateau Figeac
• Clos Fourtet
• Chateau La Gaffeliere
• Chateau Magdelaine
• Chateau Pavie
• Chateau Pavie-Macquin
• Chateau Troplong-Mondot
• Chateau Trottevieille

Grand Cru Classes
• Chateau L’Arrosee
• Chateau Balestard-La-Tonnelle
• Chateau Bellefont-Belcier
• Chateau Bellevue
• Chateau Bergat
• Chateau Berliquet
• Chateau Cadet-Bon
• Chateau Cadet-Piola
• Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere
• Chateau Cap-de-Mourlin
• Chateau Chauvin
• Chaetau La Clotte
• Chateau Corbin
• Chateau Corbin-Michotte
• Chateau La Couspaude
• Couvet des Jacobins
• Chateau Dassault
• Chateau Destieux
• Chateau La Dominique
• Chateau Faurie-de-Souchard
• Chateau Fleur-Cardinale
• Chateau Fonplegade
• Chateau Fonroque
• Chateau Franc-Mayne
• Chateau Grand-Corbin
• Chateau Grand-Corbin-Despagne
• Chateau Grand-Mayne
• Chateau Grand-Pontet
• Chateau Les Grandes-Murailles
• Chateau Guadet St-Julien
• Chateau Haut-Corbin
• Chateau haut Sarpe
• Clos des Jacobins
• Chateau Laniote
• Chateau Larcis-Ducasse
• Chateau Larmande
• Chateau Laroque
• Chateau Laroze
• Chateau La Marzelle
• Chateau Matras
• Chateau Monsbousquet
• Chateau Moulin-du-Cadet
• Clos de l’Oratoire
• Chateau Pavie-Decese
• Chateau Petit-Faurie-de-Soutard
• Chataeu Le Prieure
• Chateau Ripeau
• Chateau St-Georges-Cote-Pavie
• Clos St-Martin
• Chateau Le Serre
• Chateau Soutard
• Chateau Terre-Daugay
• Chateau La Tour-du-Pin
• Chateau La Tour-du-Pin-Figeac
• Chateau La Tour Figeac
• Chateau Villemaurine
• Chateau Yon-Figeac