Demoted St-Emilion chateaux return to 2006 classification
December 22, 2008
By Oliver Styles, and agencies
The French Senate has allowed the eight St-Emilion chateaux demoted in the region's classification to return to their 2006 status.
As part of a finance law amendment being passed by the French government today, the eight properties will regain their status in the (currently defunct) 2006 classification.
Chateaux Pavie-Macquin and Troplong-Mondot will return to Premier Grand Cru Classes, while chateaux Bellefond-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur-Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne, and Monbousquet become Grand Cru Classes.
The wines were demoted earlier this year following a legal wrangle when the classification was ruled invalid, and French government readopted the 1996 classification.
The modified law reinstating the eight properties follows months of lobbying – the owners of the demoted chateaux claiming significant losses in revenue. According to regional newspaper Sud-Ouest, a Grand Cru Classe can command 30% higher prices than a Grand Cru.
'With that decision [the removal of the 2006 classification] 10 years of work was reduced to nothing,' said Francois Despagne, owner of Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne.
The amendment is expected to be passed by the French parliament this afternoon.
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Bravo to local French parliamentary député, Jean-Paul Garraud, for working quietly and effectively to make this happen. While it is not a perfect solution – the demoted châteaux remain classified as per their status in the 1996 classification – but the eigfht newly promoted châteaux are compensated for their efforts over the last decade. Hopefully this lengthy respite will give the appropriate trade and government agencies and authorities more than enough time to come up with a legally unimpeachable method for effecting the next classification, now theoretically slated to be published in 2016.
Jeffrey M. Davies, Bordeaux, France
It is good to see that a measure of justice has been done to these Chateaux after years of worry and uncertainty and the threat of investigation by the US authorities. It is especially pleasing as none of the problems were caused in any way by these growers: they were innocent victims who responded with dignity to their situation. It is to be hoped that the injustice inflicted on others, denied promotion not because their wine was not good enough to deserve it but because they did not demand high enough prices, will also be addressed very soon. Figeac's case is well known and has excited proper criticism but there is at least one other similar case of which I know and there may be others. The response of these growers has been equally dignified, but the fact that a Chateau can be denied promotion on the sole ground that it does not seek what the Commission deems to be high enough prices, surely needs to be reviewed either for the next full classification or, preferably, when this temporary revival of the 1996 classification, with additions, is replaced.
Tim Hartley
Well, what is one to make of all this? Blind tasting such as Decanter's frequently disagree with the classification status in relation to quality so this whole system is transparently a means of raising prices! Not surprised that those who did not play ball were out! Perhaps the looming economic disaster will bring some sense to the Bordeaux price bubble in time for the next classification!
Jon van der Walt
What is the point in a 10 year review of the classification of no chateau can be demoted? In my opinion Saint Emilions previously and seemingly reliable quality guarantee in the 'Grand cru Classe' system is now totally undermined by this decision. The politics of the classification process are clearly not easy to manage but it must have teeth in order to have credibility?
Matt Goodley, Derbyshire, UK
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