St Emilion 2022 Classification crowns new Right Bank First Growth

After months of controversy, the latest edition of the ten-yearly St Emilion classification is here – and there is just one new Premier Grand Cru Classé A to take the places vacated by Châteaux Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Angélus, who all abdicated their titles within the last 14 months.

Château Figeac, long believed to have been unfairly overlooked in the last ranking of 2012, has been promoted to the top of the ranking, where it takes its place alongside Château Pavie, promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012.

Other rumoured promotions, such as Château Canon and Château Troplong Mondot, have not occurred, and in fact the Figeac elevation is the only change within the entire Premier Grand Cru Classé category, except for the withdrawal of La Gaffelière from the ‘B’ ranking, along with three of the previous four ‘A’s (Angelus, Cheval and Ausone, as mentioned above).

With this 2022 edition, there are now 14 Premier Grand Cru Classés, with two at Premier Grand Cru Classé A status, and 71 Grand Cru Classés. The last ranking, in 2012, had 18 Premier Grand Cru Classés, with four at ‘A’ status, and 64 Grand Cru Classés.

In the Grand Cru Classé section, there are plenty of changes, and a few notable omissions. New entrants include Benoit Trocard’s Clos Dubreuil, Peter Kwok’s Château Tour Saint Christophe, Château Lassegue, Château Tour Baladoz, Château Rol Valentin, Château Mangot, Château Le Croizille, Château La Confession, Château Boutisse, Château Croix de Labrie, the tiny Clos Saint-Julien, Clos Badon-Thunevin, Château Montlisse, Château Badette and Château Montlabert. One estates that was demoted in 2012, Château Corbin Michotte, has been reinstated.

A few missing names are due to estates merging, as is often the case at the time of the new ranking. So Château Pavie-Decesse will now be included within Château Pavie (the two vineyards touch, but it’s a real shame in my personal opinion, as it was always my favourite of the Pavie range), and Château les Grandes Murailles will be included within Clos Fourtet going forward – again a contiguous vineyard. Châteaux L’Arrosée and Grand Pontet, both classified last time around, are now part of Château Quintus. Château la Clotte has withdrawn, along with its sibling estate Château Ausone, as has Quinault L’Enclos along with Château Cheval Blanc. Clos la Madeleine is not on the list either – I assume because it will now be counted within Belair-Monange, or at some point soon. Another missing name is Faurie de Souchard, owned by Château Dassault, so again the likelihood is that the vines will be counted within that of its sibling.

Of the biggest names to miss out on the ranking, Jonathan Maltus at Le Dôme will be disappointed not to be given classified status, but it will be because the new footprint of the estate doesn’t date back the required 10 years.

Over 140 estates are believed to have applied to the ranking, up from around 90 ten years ago, a clear sign that despite the controversy, there is still a value in the system for those looking to stand out in this large and varied appellation. And the fact that there are no demotions? Is it a sign that the commission has played it too safe this time? Or that the demotions in 2012, and all the subsequent lawsuits, has made all classified estates work as hard as possible to work hard at ensuring quality? What is certain is that the process of warning estates of a change of status in advance, does seem to have worked.

Who quit along the way?
Châteaux Cheval Blanc and Ausone announced their withdrawal on the last day for submitting the applications, followed by Château Angélus in September 2021. More recently, in June 2022, Château la Gaffelière withdrew, citing concerns over the tasting notes that they were giving during the application process, at the moment when they were invited to meet with the commission to discuss application process. Finally Château Croque Michotte (already demoted in 2006 and 2012, and behind several lawsuits since) announced in June 2022 also that it no longer wished to be considered, again after receiving feedback that the tasting notes it had received were not reflective of their belief in the wine’s quality. Owner Pierre Carle specifically said, ‘I will not go to the commission to argue with people who don’t know what they are talking about. Either we are classified, or it’s war’.

A reminder of the rules…

• 2022 edition stipulates that performance in blind tastings by an independent panel counts for 50% of the overall grade for both Grand Cru Classé (GCC) and Premier Grand Cru Classé (PGCC), compared to 30% previously for PGCC. Other rules differ depending on the category, as below.
• A minimum score of 14 out of 20 is required to be GCC, and 16 out of 20 for PGCC (in both cases, the lowest grade is discounted). Obtaining the top ‘A’ level is ‘based on exceptional wine ageing ability and reputation, as determined by the commission’.
• Ten vintages are tasted by the panel for the GCC level, and 15 for PGCC.
• The entire classification is overseen by the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO). The composition of the jury is confidential, however we do know that there were seven members who were chosen for their ‘experience and competence’ and that they have no conflicts of interest. For all of their meetings during the decision making process, there were never less than five of the seven members present.
• You can read the full text (in French) of the rules in the French government site.
• Each application by the châteaux had to include a detailed assessment of their terroir, including any modifications made over the past 10 years, and an undertaking not to make any serious modifications in the 10 years to come without justification and prior agreement.

Specific rules for Grand Cru Classé:

50% of score for tasting.
20% for national and international reputation, their own promotional activities, wine tourism activities, accessibility for the public, and distribution methods.
20% for terroir.
10% for winemaking and viticultural techniques, traceability and ageing conditions.
Tasting of vintages 2010-2019.
Final score must rate at least 14/20.

Specific rules for Premier Grand Cru Classé:

(All must first be admitted to the grand cru classé level – although it is possible to pass from one to the next within the same assessment)
50% of score for tasting.
35% for national and international reputation, their own promotional activities, wine tourism activities, accessibility for the public, and distribution methods.
10% for terroir.
5% for winemaking and viticultural techniques, traceability and ageing conditions.
Tasting of vintages 2005-2019
Final score must rate at least 16/20.

The commission decides on whether the further distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé A or B depending reputation and ageing ability.

Full list
PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSES
Château BEAU-SEJOUR BECOT
Château BEAUSEJOUR HERITIERS DUFFAU LAGARROSSE
Château BELAIR MONANGE
Château CANON
hâteau CANON LA GAFFELIERE
Château FIGEAC (distinction A)
Château LARCIS DUCASSE
Château PAVIE (distinction A)
Château PAVIE MACQUIN
Château TROPLONG MONDOT
Château TROTTEVIEILLE
Château VALANDRAUD
CLOS FOURTET
LA MONDOTTE

GRANDS CRUS CLASSES
Château BADETTE
Château FRANC MAYNE
Château MONTLABERT
Château BALESTARD LA TONNELLE
Château GRAND CORBIN
Château MONTLISSE
Château BARDE-HAUT
Château GRAND CORBIN-DESPAGNE
Château MOULIN DU CADET
Château BELLEFONT-BELCIER
Château GRAND MAYNE
Château PEBY FAUGERES
Château BELLEVUE
Château GUADET
Château PETIT FAURIE DE SOUTARD
Château BERLIQUET
Château HAUT-SARPE
Château RIPEAU
Château BOUTISSE
Château JEAN FAURE
Château ROCHEBELLE
Château CADET-BON
Château LA COMMANDERIE
Château ROL VALENTIN
Château CAP DE MOURLIN
Château LA CONFESSION
Château SAINT-GEORGES (COTE PAVIE)
Château CHAUVIN
Château LA COUSPAUDE
Château SANSONNET
Château CLOS DE SARPE
Château LA CROIZILLE
Château SOUTARD
Château CORBIN
Château LA DOMINIQUE
Château TOUR BALADOZ
Château CORBIN MICHOTTE
Château LA FLEUR MORANGE
Château TOUR SAINT CHRISTOPHE
Château COTE DE BALEAU
Château LA MARZELLE
Château VILLEMAURINE
Château CROIX DE LABRIE
Château LA SERRE
Château YON-FIGEAC
Château DASSAULT
Château LA TOUR FIGEAC
CLOS BADON THUNEVIN
Château DE FERRAND
Château LANIOTE
CLOS DE L’ORATOIRE
Château DE PRESSAC
Château LARMANDE
CLOS DES JACOBINS
Château DESTIEUX
Château LAROQUE
CLOS DUBREUIL
Château FAUGERES
Château LAROZE
CLOS SAINT-JULIEN
Château FLEUR CARDINALE
Château LE CHATELET
CLOS SAINT-MARTIN
Château FOMBRAUGE
Château LE PRIEURE
COUVENT DES JACOBINS
Château FONPLEGADE
Château MANGOT
LASSEGUE
Château FONROQUE
Château MONBOUSQUET