Saint-Emilion ranking – Grands Crus classés

The classification of Saint-Emilion is relatively recent since its first edition dates comom 1955.

It was established at the request of the Saint-Emilion wine union..

This classification only concerns Châteaux belonging to the appellation Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. This appellation is not geographical because it covers the same area as the Saint Emilion appellation. To qualify for the Saint Emilion Grand Cru appellation, the cheau must meet very strict criteria: yield limited to 40 hl/ha, aging for a minimum of 12 months.

When was the last update of the Saint-Emilion rankings? ?

The last revision of the Saint-Emilion ranking took place on September 8, 2022. Since its creation in 1955, the ranking has undergone 7 revisions in 1959, 1969, 1986, 1996, 2006, 2012 and 2022.

Unlike the classification of Médoc wines of 1855, the classification of Saint Emilion wines can be revised every 10 years.

The Saint-Emilion classification of 2022

The 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A :

Les 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés :

Les 71 Grands Crus Classés :

Who determines the ranking?

The classification is established under the aegis of the INAO, the National Institute of Appellations of Origin. A group of 43 tasters and a classification commission are responsible for evaluating numerous criteria.

On what criteria are castles evaluated?

The Saint-Emilion ranking rewards the quality, theregularityof wines, theworkproperties over time and the way in which they express the identity of their terroirs. The different points examined do not have the same weight in the final rating depending on whether the château is “Grand Cru Classé” or “Premier Grand Cru Classé”.

For the « Grands Crus Classés » the final score is composed as follows :

• Tasting : 50%
• Fame : 20% 
• Farming and terroirs : 20% 
• Operation management : 10% 

For the « Premiers Grands Crus Classés » the proportions are different :

• Tasting : 50%
• 
  Fame : 35% 
• Farming and terroirs : 10%
• Operation management : 5%

We note that the tasting part remains major and equal in the final rating.

The classification of Saint-Emilion wines in 2012 :

Major changes in the 2012 ranking compared to 2006:

• Two climbs first Grand Cru Classé A (Angelus, Pavie)
• Four first entries Grand Cru Classé B (Canon-La-Gaffelière, Larcis-Ducasse, La Mondotte, Valandraud)
• Neuf entrées en Grand cru classé

>> See all the Grands Crus Classés de Saint Emilion in our cellar