Découvrez nos millésimes Vins de Saint-Emilion

Saint-Émilion, a Prestigious Appellation Listed as a World Heritage Site

Since 1999, the wine-growing landscapes of Saint-Émilion, in the heart of Libournais on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, have been recognized by UNESCO. It was the first vineyard in the world to be granted this special status. The Saint-Émilion wine appellation, located to the right of the Dordogne facing the Médoc, covers more than 5,000 hectares, of which nearly 4,200 hectares are classified as Grand Cru appellation. This vineyard alone represents 6% of the Bordeaux wine region.

 

Vine Cultivation in Saint-Émilion: At the Origins of a Sacred Place

The history of vine cultivation in Saint-Émilion dates back to the Roman Empire. It is said that it began with the figure of Ausonius (Decimus Magnus Ausonius), who owned a villa on the lands of the famous Château Ausone. In the 8th century, a Breton monk named Emilianus (Emilion de Combes) chose to live here as a hermit. His cave became a place of pilgrimage and laid the foundations for the monastic town.

Viticulture was not the primary activity at the beginning and only truly established itself in the 18th century. The phylloxera crisis in the 19th century challenged the vineyard just as it was gaining global recognition. The pest failed to bring it down, and the wines emerged stronger: Saint-Émilion wines received the highest distinction at the Universal Exposition, crowned by the Grand Collective Prize of the 1889 Universal Exposition.

 

Behind the Wines of Saint-Émilion, a Historic Appellation

France is known worldwide for its uncompromising standards regarding the quality of its wines. This reputation stems from a very French mentality of establishing common rules to dictate the best practices for producing fine wines and to prevent imitations or fraud.

As early as 1884, the winemakers of Saint-Émilion united to protect the identity and uniqueness of their wines. Thus, the first winegrowers' union in France was created: the "syndicat viticole et agricole de Saint-Émilion".

The controlled designation of origin, the AOC Saint-Émilion, was officially recognized in 1936. From then on, precise regulations — a “specifications document” — governed grape varieties, yields, and permitted alcohol levels.

 

The Jurade: A Powerful Brotherhood Defending the Living Heritage of Saint-Émilion Wines

Founded in 1199 by King John of England, the Jurade represents the soul and institutional essence of Saint-Émilion. The seal of the Jurade bears the inscription “Sigillum Com Si Emiliani”, meaning “seal of the commune of Saint-Émilion”. Originally responsible for the management of the town and the control of wine production, it was dissolved during the Revolution and reinstated in 1948.

Today, this brotherhood continues to uphold viticultural traditions by promoting the excellence of the Saint-Émilion appellation worldwide, notably through events and ceremonies such as the Harvest Proclamation or the induction of personalities. In 2019, the Jurade of Saint-Émilion celebrated the 20th anniversary of the vineyard's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

The Saint-Émilion Classification: The Beginning of a New Chapter

The Saint-Émilion Classification, created in 1955, distinguishes the appellation’s most remarkable estates based on precise and rigorous criteria, supported by a comprehensive application file and a jury of wine experts.

This classification, reviewed every ten years, was most recently updated and announced in 2022. It currently includes 85 classified estates, among which 14 hold the title of Premiers Grands Crus Classés:

At the pinnacle of excellence and quality stand:

Premiers Grands Crus Classés A

Château Figeac

Château Pavie

Premiers Grands Crus Classés B

Château BEAU-SEJOUR BECOT

Château BEAUSEJOUR

HERITIERS DUFFAU LAGARROSSE

Château BELAIR MONANGE

Château Canon

Château CANON LA GAFFELIERE

Château LARCIS DUCASSE

Château La Mondotte

Château Pavie Macquin

Château Troplong Mondot

Château Trottevieille

Château Valandraud

Clos Fourtet

 

The Wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank

The wines of Saint-Émilion are often blended from several iconic grape varieties, most notably Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Merlot reigns supreme over the Libournais terroir, giving Saint-Émilion wines their roundness, vibrant fruitiness, and generosity. Cabernet Franc brings structure and freshness to the blends, creating a real distinction between Right Bank and Left Bank wines. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes spice and aging potential. Other varieties such as Malbec, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot may also enrich some blends.

 

A Geology of Contrasts

The vineyard is built upon a unique geological mosaic. The heart of the appellation rests on a limestone plateau with Asteries rock, ideal for wines of finesse and tension. To the east, clay-limestone soils prevail. The southern and western slopes reveal soils combining molasses, sand, and clay, while the plain near the Dordogne River is made up of gravel and alluvium. This rare diversity naturally structures the identity of each estate, allowing each one to express a unique nuance of the great Saint-Émilion terroir.

 

The Climate of Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion enjoys a temperate oceanic climate with some continental influences due to its slightly inland position from the Atlantic coast. Winters are mild and increasingly rainy, summers moderately warm, with rainfall well distributed, although autumn can be quite wet.

The best vintages are distinguished by a dry, sunlit late season, promoting slow, even, and optimal ripening of the grapes.

 

The Profile of Saint-Émilion Wines: Emotion, Grandeur, and Complexity

In their youth, Saint-Émilion wines reveal ruby hues and aromas dominated by red berries, forest fruits, and wild berries such as wild strawberries, redcurrants, cherries, and raspberries. Discreet oak aging adds complexity with notes of vanilla, sweet spices, and cocoa. Over time, additional nuances develop: blond tobacco, leather, truffle, forest floor, and brandied fruits. On the palate, Saint-Émilion wines are structured and velvety, with fine, ample tannins, leading to a radiant finish and a sense of fullness characteristic of the greatest cuvées such as Château Cheval Blanc and Château Angélus.