Every decade St Emilion’s Wine Council reassesses the appellation’s wines and updates its Classification system to guide consumers and the trade – how valuable is this to investors?
The St Emilion Classification 2022, published in September, has been surrounded by controversy, as too was the 2012 edition when Chateaux Angelus and Pavie joined Ausone and Cheval Blanc as the only Premier Grand Cru Classe A wines in the ranking.
Big guns depart the Classification
Chateau Ausone and LVMH-owned Chateau Cheval Blanc withdrew from the 2022 Classification edition on the application deadline in 2021. Their rationale for this was that they believed that too much of the scoring was attributed to the marketing investment made by producers, diluting the emphasis on terroir, taste, and quality of wines.
Chateau Angelus subsequently also exited the application process for the 2022 edition citing similar reasons. The shadow of owner, Hubert de Boüard’s legal wranglings surrounding Angelus’ promotion to Classe A in 2012, may have played a large part in their decision to withdraw. Chateau Pavie remaind the only Premier Grand Cru Classe A estate to be considered in the 2022 ranking by the authorities.
The St Emilion Classification 2022 – top ranked wines
A total 114 chateaux applied for the 2022 ranking, of which 71 were ranked as Grand Cru Classe, including 16 new promotions into the category. Only 14 achieved Premier Grand Cru Classe status with Chateau Figeac the sole estate to be promoted to the highest-level, joining Chateau Pavie as the only two Classe A estates in the 2022 Classification.
St Emilion Premier Grands Crus 2022 | St Emilion Premier Grands Crus Classe A 2022 |
Beau-Sejour Becot Beausejour Heritiers Duffau-Lagarosse Belair Monange Canon Canon-la-Gaffeliere Clos Fourtet Larcis-Ducasse La Mondotte Pavie Macquin Troplong Mondot Trotteveille Valandraud | Pavie Figeac |
Chateau Figeac – a rising star:
I attended a wine-tasting at Chateau Figeac a week after the 2022 ranking was published with Vin-X team members where, naturally, we raised a glass to celebrate their success. We are all delighted that Figeac has been awarded Classe A status and finally been recognised for the consistent great quality of the wines the team there have been creating.
What are the St Emilion Classification fundamentals?
The process of ranking the wines for this famous Bordeaux Right Bank appellation is overseen by the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) every ten years. A panel of seven members are selected for their experience, competence, and impartiality. The need for no conflict of interest is seen to be particularly sensitive after the issue for Chateau Angelus and the 2012 edition.
Fifty per cent of the ranking value is attributed to blind wine tastings by the expert panel, up from 30 per cent in 2012. Fifteen vintages of each producer’s first wine are tasted for Premier Grand Cru level wines and ten vintages for Grand Cru ranking.
The chateaux applications include a detailed description of their terroir and information must be provided on any modifications in the decade since the last Classification. The Chateaux must commit not to make any significant changes in the next ten years without good reason and this to be approved by the Panel. The chateaux are then ranked in accordance with the following:
The 2022 Grand Cru Classification weighting:
50% | Tasting of 2010 – 2019 vintages, plus the preceding five for Premier Grand Cru |
20% | National and international reputation, marketing activities, wine tourism facilities and activity, public access and distribution methods |
20% | Terroir |
10% | Wine-making and viticultural techniques, traceability and ageing conditions |
How does the Classification affect value?
Liv-ex recorded that the average price of Chateau Figeac’s grand vin has increased by 47% over the last three years as demand rose for the consistently high-quality wines produced by the Chateau. Figeac was tipped to achieve a promotion to Classe A in the 2022 Classification and this has come to pass.
The Classe A title has added significant value to the qualifying Chateaux’ wines in the past, however commentators are asking whether the Classification system has come into question with the departure of Ausone and Cheval Blanc. It will be interesting to see what impact their loss will be overall to the ranking system.
For more information on the current fine wine market performance, contact our expert team on 0203 384 2262.