Although not everyone is aware that Bordeaux has classifications other than the famous Classification of 1855, in fact Sauternes, Pessac-Leognan and St. Emilion all have their own.

St. Emilion ranks the top estates, but unlike the other areas, they review the quality of these (and other) estates every 10 years, and make changes to the classification when necessary. As you may have guessed, estates dropped from the list don’t take it particularly well. In fact, when the ranking for the 2006 classification were released, demoted estates went to court! The classification was held in limbo until now…..6 years later.

The St. Emilion system offers two top tiers: Premiers grands crus classés A’ and  ‘Premiers grands crus classés B’,  as well as a third tier named ‘Grands crus classés’. Two chateaux were added to the ‘A’ group, Ch. Pavie and Ch. Angelus, and a small handful of estates have been added to the ‘B’ list, including Ch. Canon la Gaffeliere and Ch. Valandraud. So, at least for now, there seems to be peace in the valley. If I remember, the classification comes up for review again in 2015.

Premiers grands crus classés A 

Château Angélus

Château Ausone

Château Cheval Blanc

Château Pavie

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

In addition to these 18 estates, another 64 are represented in the Grands crus classes.  

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

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