2017 Copel Wines St. Emilion Grand Cru

Copel Wines is the cumulation of long-standing relationships with the owner Xavier Copel and some of the best growers of Bordeaux, Southwest France and Spain. Xavier was born in Cahors and graduated as an Oenologist from the University of Toulouse. He started making wine in Cahors and at Domaine de Chevalier and finally settled in Bordeaux where he started his own Micro-Negoce and consulting business. Working extensively in these regions has allowed Xavier to form long-term partnerships with a single grower per appellation from well-sited vineyards. He produces wines from the same parcels year after year, resulting in wines that fully express the terroir with elegance and complexity. Xavier pays tribute to his ancestors by adorning his labels with one of his ancestor’s signatures.

Saint-Émilion is on the east side of the Dordogne River. At 13,400 acres it is one of Bordeaux’s largest appellations, and perhaps its most picturesque. It is also home to what has been called “the garagiste” movement of upstart, tradition-defying winemakers who produce artisanal wines in styles that are unconventional for the appellation. The village of Saint-Émilion dates from the middle ages and it sits on low hills, surrounded by ancient walls. Like its neighbor Pomerol, Saint-Émilion was not included in the famous Bordeaux classification system of 1855. But a century later a ranking system was put in place, and unlike the classification system for the Medoc, the Saint-Émilion system is reviewed every ten years, meaning that estates can be upgraded or downgraded. There are three rankings: Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé B and Premier Grand Cru Classé A, with the final ranking being the best. Such legendary Saint-Émilion estates as Châteaux Ausone and Cheval-Blanc are Premier Grand Cru Classé A, along with Châteaux Pavie and Angélus, both added to the classification in 2012. Wines in this appellation are primarily Merlot, mixed with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.