History and terroir of the Saint-Emilion appellation.
The cobbled streets and Romanesque church of Saint-Emilion bear witness to the town's long history. The vineyards surrounding the town have existed since Roman times. The village is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is home to the oldest vineyard in France.
Saint-Emilion is divided into 9 communes or parishes. Today, the Saint-Émilion appellation accounts for 4% of the red wines produced in Bordeaux each year. It's also where you'll find wines sold at a premium, such as Châteaux Cheval Blanc, Angélus and Ausone. Saint-Emilion also has a Grand Cru appellation. The
Saint-Emilion appellation has a terroir made up of clay-limestone, sandy and gravelly plots, plains and gentle slopes. The wine-growing region covers 5,565 hectares of vines. The terroir varies greatly from one property to another in the
Saint-Emilion wine-growing estates. The best wines often come from châteaux located on limestone-rich hillsides. The dominant grape varieties are Merlot and Cabernet Franc. But other grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec are also used in the production of wines from this appellation
Our selection of Bordeaux Saint-Emilion appellation wines
The classification system for
Saint-Emilion wines is based on the same principles as for the Médoc, Sauternes and Graves appellations, but was recently updated in 2012, after having been drawn up in 1855. The appellation has 82 AOC Saint-Émilion crus classés (64 Grands crus classés and 18 Premiers grands crus classés)
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Angélus: the 42-hectare vineyard of this château produces wines distinguished by their precision, purity, richness, smoothness, density, elegance and balance. Premier Cru Classé de Saint-Emilion and recently promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the reputation of this wine as one of the jewels in the crown of Bordeaux is well established. On tasting, the wine offers a very deep colour, seductive aromas and astonishing flavours. A wine not to be missed in your cellar!
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Cheval Blanc: This wine estate covers 39 hectares. It produces complex, powerful wines with soft, velvety textures. Despite the opulent character of these wines, they are not heavy and have an excellent ageing capacity of up to 5 decades. However, the best vintages need only 15 to 20 years to express the full potential of their flavours and aromas. This wine goes well with all types of classic meat, Asian and fish dishes. It has been featured in numerous films and TV programmes and is one of the most sought-after drinks in the world. A must-taste!
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Ausone: the vineyard area of this château perched on the hill on the southern outskirts of the village of Saint-Emilion is just 7.3 hectares. But the estate produces unique wines unlike any other. The wines are rich, full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and powerful, fruity, floral and crushed-stone aromas. These are wines designed to age, and can best be enjoyed after 2 to 5 decades, depending on the vintage. They also go well with classic meat and fish dishes.
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Pavie: the new owner of this 37-hectare vineyard has spared no expense in restoring and enhancing it. Gérard Perse's efforts have paid off, as the château is one of the properties promoted in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification. It has been upgraded from Premier Grand Cru Classé A to Château Angélus. This has had the effect of increasing the price of older vintages. The wines from this château are rich, intense and deeply coloured, with aromas of plum, blueberry, chocolate, spice and truffle. They are mineral, but still have great ageing potential.
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Mondotte: this small 4.5 hectare vineyard on the eastern slopes of the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau also produces rich, opulent, deep wines, with a smooth palate and a powerful, seductive nose. Ageing potential varies between 15 and 40 years depending on the vintage.
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Belair Monange: This château's 23.5 ha of vineyards are located just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. The château also produces exceptional First Growths with a dense ruby colour, a pure, refined nose, complex aromas and a long, elegant finish.
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Troplong mondot: this Saint-Emilion premier grand cru classé also produces well-balanced, powerful, rich and intense-tasting wines from its 37 hectares of vines. The wines have good ageing potential.
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Trotte vieille: the 10 ha vineyard of this 1er Grand Cru Classé B produces thick wines with beautiful spicy notes, lovely fruit, a compact palate and a fairly tannic profile depending on the vintage. Fabulous length accompanies wines that need a few years to come into their own.
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Gaffelière: this 22-hectare vineyard belonging to Léo de Malet Roquefort is classified as a Class B 1er Grand Cru. It produces fruity wines with notes of crushed stone. The wines are rich, full-bodied and concentrated, with a round finish and silky tannins.
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Valandraud: The wines from this château, grown on 9 hectares of vines, have a rich, opulent, pure style with aromas of ripe fruit, liquorice and chocolate, low acidity and silky tannins. They improve with 10 to 30 years' ageing.
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Pavis Maquin: This château is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B Saint-Emilion. The 15 hectares of vines on this estate produce wines with good substance and concentration, combined with great freshness and dense tannins.
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Pavis Decesse: this château on the Saint-Emilion plateau has 3.5 hectares of vines. It produces rich, sensual, concentrated wines with a touch of minerality. The wines improve from year to year.
Bordeaux Saint Emilion Château Angélus Bottle (75cl) Premier Grand Cru Classé A de Saint EmilionChâteau Angelus 1974 Bottle (75cl)Special Price €276.00Incl. VAT Regular Price €288.00Incl. VATstock: 3
Bordeaux Pauillac Château Mouton Rothschild Bottle (75cl) 1er GCC 1855Château Mouton Rothschild 1974 BNSpecial Price €426.00Incl. VAT Regular Price €432.00Incl. VATstock: 1
Bordeaux Pauillac Château Mouton Rothschild Bottle (75cl) 1er GCC 1855Château Mouton Rothschild 1974 SD€396.00Incl. VATstock: 1
Bordeaux Pauillac Château Mouton Rothschild Bottle (75cl) 1er GCC 1855Château Mouton Rothschild 1974 VTS FDSpecial Price €402.00Incl. VAT Regular Price €432.00Incl. VATstock: 1
Bourgogne Gevrey Chambertin Domaine Tortochot Bottle (75cl)Domain Tortochot Gevrey Chambertin Les Corvées 1974 Bottle (75cl)€162.00Incl. VATstock: 1
