St Emilion classification suspended indefinitely April 16, 2007
Sophie Kevany
A Bordeaux court has ruled that the latest St Emilion classification will remain suspended until further notice.
The court rejected two requests to lift the suspension - calling one, from the Syndicat Viticole de Saint Emilion (the local winegrowers union) “inadmissable” - and the other, made by a group of 26 St Emilion chateaux, “ill-founded”.
The St Emilion classification, which is reviewed every ten years, was suspended at the end of March, following legal action by four chateaux that were demoted in the latest review, made public in September 2006.
The Court's decisions mean the classification will remain suspended until the Tribunal makes a final decision, which could take up to a year.
'We are disappointed,' Emmanuelle Ponsan Dantin of the winegrowers union told decanter.com. 'Now what we have to do is think things through with our lawyers and see what the best strategy is for the future.' She would not speculate what this strategy might be.
Guy-Petrus Lignac of Chateau Guadet, one of the chateaux that took legal action to have the classification suspended, said he was not 'rejoicing' at the decision, but said the rejection of the requests confirmed there had been irregularities in the review. He hopes those involved will sit down and talk calmly about the way forward.
The suspension of the 2006 classification - combined with the expiration of the previous one (1996 - 2006) – leaves practicalities like pricing and labelling in turmoil.
'This is likely to affect the prices of lesser known chateaux far more than the top 12 or 13, which are brands in their own right,' said Simon Staples, sales director of UK merchant Berry Bros and Rudd. 'The cru classés can get away with charging at a level that grand crus cannot.'
'But {the quality} of St Emilion is already so erratic,' he added, 'and the suspension means there will be a whole raft of wines people aren't sure about. It will be very difficult for producers to determine how to price them.'
As to what classification chateaux are allowed to put on their labels, this now becomes a matter for France's fraud prevention authorities, which have not yet commented.
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Whilst there is any doubt as to the method of assessment and more importantly those who apply the method the classification should be suspended. Meanwhile a large number of St Emilion producers should take the opportunity to come back from the Dark Ages and start to lower their yields to increase quality and begin market their wines in a fashion that is understandable and relevant to those other than the French.
David Gibbons, Surry Hills NSW, Australia
This is a disaster for the members of the Syndicat. Some this side of the water may view this as an opportunity to buy quality wine 'out of classification' and therefore at a bon prix. I hope the supermarket vultures aren't circling.
It would be supremely un-French to allow legals to get in the way of common sense and so I have faith that this will get sorted out in short order. This is not the first time that issues not related to wine quality have got in the way of the meritocracy of the Jurat's decision, justified though the demotion may have been. Just ask the
Becot's of Chateau Beausejour-Becot. They endured a ten year sojourn demoted to Grand Cru Classe that had nothing to do with the fabulous quality in their bottles. Let's hope it doesn't take so long this time.
Victor Buchanan, Prudhomme de Saint Emilion, Pickering, UK
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Whilst there is any doubt as to the method of assessment and more importantly those who apply the method the classification should be suspended. Meanwhile a large number of St Emilion producers should take the opportunity to come back from the Dark Ages and start to lower their yields to increase quality and begin market their wines in a fashion that is understandable and relevant to those other than the French.
