Saint-Emilion is the oldest wine area of the Bordeaux region. The UNESCO organization recognized the great terroir of Saint Emilion and put the site on the World Heritage List.
Saint Emilion wines are considered the most robust of the Bordeaux. They are generous, deep reds and reach their maturity quicker than other red Bordeaux.
In 1954, further to a request from the “Syndicat de Défense des Vins de Saint-Emilion”, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) established a classification of wines from this appellation.
The law stipulates that every ten years the INAO should revise this classification which attaches great importance to the high quality of the terroir.
Only wines from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation are eligible to become an official Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé. The 1969, 1979, 1984 and 1996 revisions slightly altered the original classification.
The 2006 classification was highly controversial because 11 properties were demoted from their Grand Cru Classé status. After a lengthy court case the list was finalised.
In 2012 the classification was prepared using independent tastings and inspections and it’s listed on this page (courtesy of Wikipedia).
The classification comprises 18 Premiers grands crus classés and 64 Grands crus classés.
Premiers grands crus classés A
Château Angélus
Château Ausone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFLCi7b3pXs
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Pavie (promoted in 2012)
Premiers grands crus classés B
Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Château Bélair-Monange
Château Canon Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Château Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Château La Gaffelière
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie-Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trotte Vieille
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 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
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 (highly recommended)
Château Jean Faure
Château Laniote
Château Larmande
Château Laroque
Château Laroze
Château la Madelaine
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 (Côte Pavie)
Clos Saint-Martin
Château Sansonnet
Château La Serre
Château Soutard
Château Tertre Daugay
Château La Tour Figeac
Château Villemaurine
Château Yon Figeac
Former crus classés
Château Corbin Michotte
Château La Tour du Pin Figeac (Giraud-Bélivier)
Château La Tour du Pin Figeac (Moueix)
