St-Emilion: Situated on
the Right Bank (east) of the Dordogne River, St-Emilion
is the largest area on the entire Right Bank,
and Cabernet Franc is the grape variety most closely
associatd with the region. There are three vineyard
appellations that encompass the topography of
St-Emilion, ranging from gentle hills to the river's
edge: the Cotes, the graves and the sables. Wines
of the Cotes are the most desirable, followed
by the wines from the flatter vineyards of the
graves (which despite its name has little gravel
except in the two great vineyards of Figeac and
Cheval Blanc), and finally to the more ordinary
offerings of the riverfront sables. Soils range
from the leaner gravel and limestone of the Cotes
to the heavier sand and clay of the graves.
Classifications
St-Emilion: Overall appellation for simplest wines.
St-Emilion Grand Cru: Group of about 200 chateaux
making mostly pleasant wine ready for consumption.
Grand Cru Classé: Official classification
(1955; 1985; 1996) designating a group of about
60 chateaux producing very good wine on the whole.
Premier Grand Cru Classé: Official classification
(1955, 1985) designating the creme de la creme.
This is a group of 13, with Cheval Blanc and Ausone
in Group A and Anglus, Beauséjour-Fagout,
Beauséjour-Duffau, Chateaux: Belair, Conon,
Clos Fourtet, Figeac, La Graffeliire, Magdelien,
Pavie and Trotteveille in Group B.
