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Saint-Émilion
[sahn tay-mee-LYAWN]

The village of Saint-Émilion is exceedingly picturesque with its medieval walls and buildings, undulating hills, and the vineyards that grow right up to the ancient walls. Saint-Émilion is northeast of the city of Bordeaux and sits on the east side of the Dordogne River next to the smaller, but well-known, POMEROL AC. Grapes have been cultivated here since at least the second century. Saint-Émilion is the second most important growing area in BORDEAUX after the MÉDOC, and because it’s not broken up into smaller APPELLATIONS like the Médoc (such as MARGAUX AC, PAUILLAC AC, SAINTESTÈPHE AC, and SAINT-JULIEN AC), more fine wine is sold under the Saint-Émilion appellation than any other. Unlike the Médoc where CABERNET SAUVIGNON reigns, MERLOT is the dominant grape in Saint-Émilion because of the clay soil. CABERNET FRANC is the next most popular grape, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and some MALBEC. Because of the prevalent use of Merlot, the Saint-Émilion wines are generally SOFTER and more drinkable at an earlier age than those from the Médoc. However, wines from good VINTAGES of top CHÂTEAUX like Ausone and Cheval Blanc have considerable AGING ability. Saint-Émilion was passed over in the Classification of 1855 (see Official Wine Classifications of Bordeaux, page 636), which established the CRU CLASSÉ châteaux of the Médoc, and it wasn’t until 1955 that an official classification for Saint-Émilion estates was developed. Unlike the Médoc, Saint-Émilion’s classification system was set up so that it could be revised every 10 years, at which time châteaux could be elevated or downgraded. The most recent review was completed in 1996. It lists thirteen châteaux as PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS (the highest level). Two of the thirteen, Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc, were set above all the rest into Category A; they’re both generally considered comparable in quality to the Médoc FIRST GROWTHS. The other eleven châteaux, which are in Category B, are Angélus, Beau-Séjour Bécot, Beauséjour-Duffau-Lagarrosse, Belair, Canon, Clos Fourtet, Figeac, La Gaffelière, Magdelaine, Pavie, and Trottevieille. Fifty-five estates are classified at the next level, GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS, and there is a third level called simply GRANDS CRUS. The number in this last category (usually 150 to 200) varies because châteaux must apply each year and qualify by submitting their wines for tastings. The aforementioned three levels of châteaux receive the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AC. Other wines in the area may qualify for the simpler Saint-Émilion AC, while those below that may receive the designation BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR AC or BORDEAUX AC. In the 1990s the area attracted additional attention as very small wineries, not part of the traditional structure and sometimes called microchâteau or garagistes (see GARAGE WINES), began producing very high quality wines. Best-known of this group are Valandraud and La Mondotte. Saint-Émilion is surrounded by six “satellite” COMMUNES, which once sold their wines as Saint-Émilion AC but now are part of separate appellations that may append the name Saint-Émilion to their own (as in PUISSEGUIN-SAINT-ÉMILION AC). The communes are LUSSAC, MONTAGNE, Parsac, Puisseguin, Sables, and SAINT-GEORGES, although separate appellations for Parsac and Sables no longer exist. 
Related Links: Assmannshausen, Gemeinde
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.

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