On the same prestigious territory as Saint-Emilion, this Appellation has even more restrictive production norms, with two mandatory official tastings.
With a maximum yield limited to 40 hL/ha, the AOC Saint-Emilion Grand Cru produces some of the highest quality wines in Bordeaux. This low yield forces winegrowers to limit the vine's load so that the grapes produce high concentrations of colour, tannic and aromatic elements. As well, they must submit their wines to a second formal wine tasting, after 12 months of aging.
Since the AOC Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is on the same production zone as Saint-Emilion winegrowers can produce one or the other, depending on their soils, exposure to the sun, the age of the vines or the concentration of the grapes.
The Saint-Emilion Grands Crus elevates the quality of Saint-Emilion to near perfection. Sixty-eight domains of Saint-Emilion Grands Crus were the subject of a classification in 1996. This classification, more recent than that in Médoc, dates from 1955. It is updated every 10 years, with the 2006 evaluation underway.
This regular re-evaluation compels the Crus Classés to undertake significant efforts to maintain and upgrade their quality. The point of the Saint-Emilion Classification is to raise the quality of the wines to as close to perfection as possible.
The Saint-Emilion Grands Crus develop more concentrated notes of red berries, fig, stewed prunes, rose, peony and also grilled almonds. In the mouth, aromatic richness is supported by a powerful structure, with silky, finely woven tannins.
Pleasant and plump when young, these wines have potential for aging that can often exceed 10 years.
Average yearly production: 150 291 hl
Surface declared (2009): 4 030 ha
Visit the
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC’s web site.
