Cheval Blanc and Ausone threaten to leave St Emilion classification

Two of St Emilion’s top ranked wine estates are leaving the appellation over concerns that changes to the ranking system are not in their best interests.

Every 10 years St Emilion goes through a ranking process that ranks wine into three classifications Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé 'B and the top ranked Premier Grand Cru Classé 'A'. In the past the classification system has lead to tantrums and law suits amongst producers.

Changes to the process have been designed for the 2022 review to increasing the objectivity of the selection process. This has meant opening up who can apply to be a judge, increasing the emphasis on blind tasting from 30% to 50% of the final grade, using marketing metrics to understand the brand's power and decreasing emphasis on things that can be readily associated with a particular wine, such as reducing the emphasis on its terroir.