Libournais
Saint Emilion Grat Classified Growth, Classified Growths, Grands Crus Classes, GCC
A classification revised every decade
Go directly to the classification
In 1954, while the "Graves" growths had just published their own classification, the wine syndicate of Saint-Emilion, composed by wine growers, brokers and wine traders with the approval of the INAO - Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (A.O.C), decided to work on a classification for the wines of Saint Emilion. Initially, four grades were defined. These were reduced to two - First Great Classified Growth (A and B) and Great Classified Growth - in 1984.
As of Medoc's 1855 historical grading, the Saint-Emilion Great Classified Growth classification is not only based on qualitative criteria by tasting the wines on a ten years period previous to the assessment, but also on commercial considerations such as:
- sales price levels
- national and international commercial distribution
- the estate's reputation on the market
Properties who don't manage to join the club of about sixty Classified Growths are given the denomination of Great Growth ("Grand Cru"), while the remaining wineries of the A.O.C are simply reported as "Saint-Emilion". It is to be noted that the owners must officially apply to appear in the official classification. Thus for example the famous Chateau Tertre-Roteboeuf, whose quality and reputation would easily justify to be listed among the First Great Classified Growths, does not appear here by the will of its owner, François Mitjaville.
The Saint-Emilion Great Growth classification was revised in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. The only two guaranteed vintage (A.O.C) who can apply to the classification are the "Saint-Emilion Grand Cru" and "Saint-Emilion" areas.
By grading 61 properties, the 2006 revision confirmed many growths from the former classification, but also caused a number of surprises and a few inevitable disappointments. Many observers thought that the impressive progression of Perse's Chateau Pavie since 1998 would be rewarded by an upgrade into the First Great Classified Growths (A) category, but finally such was not the case.
Among the estates promoted to the First Great Classified Growths (B) category are Chateau Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin, whose efforts made since the Nineties fully justify their new grade. It should be noted that no First Great Classified Growth was relegated to the lower Great Classified Growth class.
Promoted growths from the status of Great Growth ("Grand Cru") to Great Classified Growth ("Grand Cru Classe") are:
Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne and Monbousquet.
The demoted growths from the status of Great Classified Growth to Great Growth are:
Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Belivier), La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Moueix), Lamarzelle, Petite Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, Villemaurine and Yon-Figeac. If the recent samples of some of the above mentioned properties may justify their current downgrade, there are great chances that estates like Bellevue, Tertre Daugay or Yon-Figeac will be upgraded to their previous rankings by the next revision in 2016 as the progresses noted after 2000, but not entering in the range of vintages (1993 - 2002) appointed for the criteria of selection for the 2006 classification, are noticable.
The two following estates have completely disappeared from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classification: Curé-Bon-la-Madeleine (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Canon) and La Clusière (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Pavie).
Finally, no estate considered as "garagiste" has integrated the classification. Valandraud, Mondotte, Le Dome, Bellevue-Mondotte or Magrez-Fombrauge have, for the least, the potential to be ranked as Great Classified Growths. In sight of the very fine quality reached by the above mentioned estates in recent vintages as well as all the innovative wine making methods used by the "garagistes", it remains to be seen whether the authorities will dare to cross the line in 2016..?
TOP
Great Classified Growths (alphabetically sorted)
Wine
Region
Previous ranking (1996) Classification Date
ARROSEE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
BALESTARD-LA-TONNELLE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
BELLEFONT-BELCIER
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
BERGAT
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
BERLIQUET
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CADET-PIOLA
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CANON-LA-GAFFELIERE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CAP-DE-MOURLIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CHAUVIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CLOS DE L'ORATOIRE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CLOS DES JACOBINS
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CLOTTE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CORBIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CORBIN-MICHOTTE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
COUSPAUDE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
COUVENT DES JACOBINS
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
CORBIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
DASSAULT
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
DESTIEUX
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
DOMINIQUE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
FLEUR-CARDINALE
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
FONPLEGADE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
FONROQUE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
FRANC-MAYNE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
GRAND CORBIN
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
GRAND-CORBIN-DESPAGNE
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
GRAND MAYNE SAINT-EMILION GCC
GRANDES MURAILLES
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
GRAND PONTET
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
HAUT-CORBIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
HAUT-SARPE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
LANIOTE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
LARCIS-DUCASSE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
LARMANDE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
LAROQUE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
LAROZE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
MATRAS
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
MONTBOUSQUET
SAINT-EMILION
GC
2006
MOULIN DU CADET
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
PAVIE-DECESSE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
PRIEURE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
RIPEAU
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
SAINT-GEORGES COTE PAVIE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
SAINT-MARTIN
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
SERRE
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
SOUTARD
SAINT-EMILION
GCC
TOUR-FIGEAC
SAINT-EMILION
GCC