Only three chateaux dropped in new St Emilion classification

All the demoted chateaux from 2006 have made it through the St Emilion classification this time, except Chateau La Tour du Pin Figeac. [See full list below]

Chateau Magdeleine – a Premier Grand Cru Classé which has caused some confusion by its non-appearance on the list – has been merged into its sister property, also Premier Grand Cru Classé, Bélair-Monange.

‘This estate will now effectively fall under the name of the new property, Chateau Bélair-Monange,’ owners JP Moeuix said.

Other chateaux which have now merged, and so are no longer in the list are Chateau Cadet-Piola (now part of Soutard), Ch Bergat (now in Trottevielle), Chateau Haut-Corbin (now in Grand Corbin) and Chateau Matras (now partly in Canon).

Another property, Jean-Luc Thunevin’s Chateau Valandraud, has been promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B without passing first to Grand Cru Classé. Chateau Mondotte has also jumped straight to Premier Grand Cru Classé from its previous classification AOC Saint Emilion.

The full list of the 2012 St Emilion classification was unveiled last night, with 82 Saint Emilion properties anointed either Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé – the highest number since the second classification in 1969 (when there were 84).

Of the four which mounted a legal challenge against their demotions in 2006 – Chateau La Tour du Pin Figeac, Chateau Cadet Bon, Chateau Guadet and Chateau de la Marzelle – only La Tour du Pin Figeac has not been reinstated. One other estate lost its Grand Cru Classé status – Chateau Corbin Michotte.

This is as a result, the organisers have assured the press, of improved standards and greater consistency across the judging process.

The initial 2006 classification had 15 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 46 Grands Crus Classés, or 61 chateaux in total. After demoted chateaux took the process to a legal battle, the 1996 classification was reinstated, with the newly-promoted chateaux being allowed to keep their status, meaning the number rose to 74.

This 2012 edition sees 18 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 64 Grands Crus Classés – 82 in total.

The headline changes are inevitably the inclusion for the first time two new Premiers Grands Crus Classés A estates – with Chateau Pavie and Angelus joining Ausone and Cheval Blanc.

Decanter contributing editor Stephen Brook said the promotion of two wines to Premier (A) ‘is a bold move, though it may seem surprising that Angelus and Pavie are the lucky beneficiaries, while Figeac has had to stay put.

‘The new Premiers are well deserved promotions: La Mondotte, Larcis Ducasse, Valandraud, and Canon La Gaffeliere. Overall the jury seems to have rewarded power over finesse, but the controversial Pavie has been making far better wines in recent vintages.’

The jury comprised seven wine professionals, all members or former members of the INAO and all from outside the Bordeaux region. Chateaux were judged on their terroir, renown, methods of vineyard and cellar work and through a blind tasting of ten vintages (15 for Premier Grand Crus).

To become Grand Cru Classé, chateaux had to score at least 14 out of 20, to become Premier Grand Cru Classé, at least 16 out of 20. INAO also brought in two independent bodies – Qualisud for organising the tasting and Veritas-certification for ensuring the application process was correctly carried out.

Franck Binard, director of the Saint Emilion Wine Council, told decanter.com that the high number of classified wines made sense. ‘A number of chateaux were rejected in 2006, and this must have been an electro-shock to them – the quality we see now is a result of improved standards. It shows the force of the classification – that winemakers are encouraged to do their very best., and that Saint Emilion is a modern appellation where nothing is set in stone – anything is possible for those who work hard.’

The Ministry of Agriculture now has to ratify the classification.

Full list with new classifications in bold:

Premiers Grands Crus Classés

Château Angélus (A)

Château Ausone (A)

Château Beauséjour (héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse)

Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot

Château Bélair-Monange

Château Canon

Château Canon la Gaffelière

Château Cheval Blanc (A)

Château Figeac

Clos Fourtet

Château la Gaffelière

Château Larcis Ducasse

La Mondotte

Château Pavie (A)

Château Pavie Macquin

Château Troplong Mondot

Château Trottevieille

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 Capdemourlin

Château le Chatelet

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

Château Jean Faure

Château Laniote

Château Larmande

Château Laroque

Château Laroze

Clos la Madeleine

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-Cote-Pavie

Clos Saint-Martin

Château Sansonnet

Château la Serre

Château Soutard

Château Tertre Daugay (Quintus)

Château la Tour Figeac

Château Villemaurine

Château Yon-Figeac

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux, and Adam Lechmere