Definition: Saint-Émilion invalidated

The axe fell on Tuesday 1 July 2008: on the grounds that the commission had "failed to recognise the principle of equality between candidates", the classification of Saint-Émilion wines, which had already been suspended last March, was simply cancelled by the Bordeaux Administrative Court.

This is the epilogue to the legal battle initiated by the châteaux La Tour du Pin Figeac, Cadet Bon, Guadet and La Marzelle, which were among those downgraded in the 2006 edition of the Saint-Émilion wine classification. Established in 1959 and revised every ten years, this distinction helps to promote wines that demonstrate an improvement in quality, but also to penalise those that tend to rest on their laurels.

The 2006 edition, now invalidated, featured a list of winners that had caused quite a stir: two "Premiers Grands Crus Classés A", unchanged (Cheval Blanc and Ausone); 14 "Premiers Grands Crus Classés B", a category that saw the entry of Troplong Mondot and Pavie Macquin; six unclassified wines promoted to "Grands Crus Classés" and finally – and this is where the problem lies – 11 "Grands Crus Classés" were downgraded to "Grand Cru" status, reducing this category to 47 estates. This brings the total number of Crus Classés to 63, compared with 68 previously.

The Senate reinstates Saint-Emilion 2006

Source: AFP 10/07

The Senate reinstated the 2006 Saint-Emilion grand cru classification, but opposed alcohol advertising on websites on Wednesday night during the examination of the Economic Modernisation Bill (LME).

Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs Luc Chatel presented an amendment to authorise the use of the appellations "grands crus classé" and "premier cru classé", despite the cancellation of the 2006 Saint-Emilion grand cru classification by the Bordeaux Administrative Court on 1 July.

Adopted by a few senators in session, the government's amendment "aims to fill the legal vacuum created by this cancellation, given that the process of establishing a new classification is a lengthy one, taking around two years".

Specifically, Mr Chatel's amendment "authorises estates that benefited from the classification in force from 1996 to 2006 to continue to use it until a new classification is introduced".

Vitisphère version

To remedy the legal vacuum created by this decision, the Senate approved, during its examination of the Economic Modernisation Bill (LME), the amendment proposed by the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, Luc Chatel.