Saint-Emilion
Saint-Émilion
#TERROIR: Soil, Climate, Geography, History
The History of Saint-Émilion
Saint-Émilion, a wine-growing region whose history dates back to antiquity, developed around the legend of the hermit Émilion in the 8th century. Under the influence of Benedictine monks, it became an important religious and commercial center in the Middle Ages, prospering thanks to viticulture. The fame of its wines grew in the 18th century, leading to its official classification as an AOC in 1955.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Saint-Émilion today attracts visitors from all over the world for its rich historical heritage and renowned wines, perpetuating a thousand-year history of winemaking excellence.
Where is the Saint-Émilion Appellation located?
Saint-Émilion is located on the right bank of the Dordogne River, in the Gironde department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. More precisely, it lies around 35 kilometers east of Bordeaux. The town of Saint-Émilion itself is perched on a hill, offering panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards.
The Terroir of Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Saint-Émilion's soils offer great diversity, resulting from two main geological formations: those of the Tertiary, mainly silty clays that are often calcareous, and those of the Quaternary, comprising gravel and/or sand. This variety of soils and subsoils, combined with relief, exposure and water and nitrogen supply, influences the earliness of the vines and the level of ripeness of the grapes. As a result, the region's wines present a wide range of aromatic profiles, colors and taste properties, depending on their terroir.
The Terroir of Lussac Saint-Émilion
The Lussac Saint-Émilion wine-growing region offers an enchanting landscape, located to the north of the Saint-Émilion appellations. The vineyards stretch from north to south, benefiting from a full southern exposure that favors optimal ripening of the grapes. The land is laid out in a succession of plateaus and valleys, creating a natural amphitheater where the vines thrive.
The terroir of Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
The Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellations form an interwoven winegrowing fabric spanning nine communes, with the town of Saint-Émilion at the center. The region is characterized by a limestone plateau around the historic town, while a vast terrace of silico-clay gravel extends towards Libourne. The clay-limestone hills and valleys and the sandy-gravel plain of the Dordogne valley complete this geological patchwork, offering a diversity of rich, complex terroirs.
The Terroir of Puisseguin Saint-Émilion
The vineyards of Puisseguin Saint-Émilion nestle between the Lussac Saint-Émilion appellation and the Barbanne river. Facing the famous Saint-Émilion plateau, its soils are predominantly clay-limestone, underlain by a soft rock formation known as "les molasses du fronsadais", with a few areas of gravelly alluvium. This limestone substrate ensures good water retention, ideal especially during dry periods.
#APPELLATION: Classification and Structure
Saint-Émilion wine rankings
The AOC Saint-Émilion wine classification system is designed to rank estates according to their quality and reputation. It comprises levels such as Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Premier Grand Cru Classé A and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, revised periodically to reflect changes in quality and viticultural practices. This system guides wine lovers in their choices and confers prestige and recognition on classified estates.
Saint-Émilion's main grape varieties
The main grape varieties grown in Saint-Emilion reflect the diversity and richness of its terroir. Saint-Emilion wines are made from around 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are also more marginal grape varieties such as Malbec, also known as Cot or Pressac, which bring a touch of spice and color to the wines, as well as Petit Verdot and Carmenère, although less common, which can add interesting aromatic nuances and complete the final blend. This diversity of grape varieties enables Saint-Émilion winemakers to create balanced, complex wines that fully reflect the unique characteristics of their terroir.
#A L'AVEUGLE :
What does Saint-Émilion taste like?
Saint-Émilion is renowned for its elegant, complex taste. In general, it presents aromas of ripe red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, accompanied by notes of blackcurrant and licorice. Saint-Émilion wines also offer woody, spicy nuances, the result of ageing in oak barrels.
On the palate, Saint-Émilion is often characterized by its silky texture, with fine, well-integrated tannins. It can also be fresh, with well-balanced acidity contributing to its long finish.
Overall, Saint-Émilion offers a harmonious combination of fruitiness, complexity and structure, making it a versatile wine that can be enjoyed young or after a few years of cellaring.
What dish to serve with a Saint-Émilion?
Saint-Émilion goes wonderfully well with a variety of dishes, including sauces, charcuterie and cheese. On the nose, this wine reveals fresh, gourmet aromas of red fruits such as redcurrant and wild strawberry, enhanced by subtle spicy accents. Suggested dishes to enhance the Saint-Émilion experience include onion confit and goat's cheese tart, Scottish salmon gong bao with Sichuan pepper, duck breast with oyster sauce, entrecôte steak with mushroom sauce and Belgian fries, sautéed chicken with morello cherries and almonds. Each of these pairings offers a unique culinary experience, perfectly complemented by the flavors and structure of Saint-Émilion.
#VINE GROWERS :
What are the best wines in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux?
Saint-Émilion, with its unique terroir and thousand-year-old history, is home to a multitude of renowned estates and prestigious cuvées, four appellations, for nearly 1,000 properties. we can mention :
Château Angélus
Château Ausone
Château Barde-Haut
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Château Beauséjour Duffau Lagarrosse
Château Bélair-Monange
Château Bellevue-Mondotte
Château Canon
Château Canon La Gaffelière
Château Cartier
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Figeac
Château Fleur Cardinale
Château Grand Corbin-Despagne
Château La Gaffelière
Château La Tour Figeac
Château Moulin Saint-Georges
Château Pavie
Château Pavie
Château Petit Corbin-Despagne
Château Puy Blanquet
Château Troplong-Mondot
Château Valandraud
Clos Fourtet
La Mondotte
Tertre Roteboeuf
Arômes de Pavie
Clos de l'Oratoire
Dame Gaffelière
La Chapelle d'Ausone
Le Carillon d'Angélus
#MILLÉSIMES : Saint-Émilion's outstanding vintages
What are the best years for Saint-Émilion?
Over the decades, Saint-Émilion has produced some exceptional vintages, full of character and elegance. Each year brings its own surprises, revealing unique wines, the fruit of propitious climatic conditions and ancestral viticultural know-how.
Saint-Émilion's best vintages; 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
#IN BRIEF: Figures
Region: Bordeaux
Surface area: 5,400 Hectares
Red grape varieties : 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aromas : ripe red fruit, such as cherry and raspberry, with hints of blackcurrant and licorice