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St.-Émilion

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.

1975 Château Cheval-Blanc

Capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; label condition issue

RP  90   
MB  ****   

1976 Château Ausone

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

RP  94   

1976 Château Ausone

Capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; label condition issue

RP  94   

1981 Château Cheval-Blanc

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage; base neck fill; label condition issue

RP  90   
WS  90   
MB  ****   

1982 Clos des Jacobins

Heavy capsule condition issue; heavy signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; heavy label condition issue

WS  91   

1983 Château Canon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; base neck fill; label condition issue

RP  90   

1990 Château Canon

Light label condition issue

WA  93   
WS  91   

1996 Château Angelus

Light label condition issue

RP  91   
ST  90-92   
JR  17   

1998 Château La Mondotte

3.0ltr

Light label condition issue; light writing on label; signed bottle

RP  96   
WS  96   
ST  91+    

1998 Château La Gomerie

Light capsule condition issue

RP  94   
WS  92   
ST  92   

1999 Château La Mondotte

RP  94   

2000 Château Cheval-Blanc

6.0ltr

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  99   
WE  97   
VN  94+    
WS  93   
JR  18.5   

2000 Château Pavie

RP  100   
WS  96   
ST  95   
JR  17   

2000 Château Pavie

1.5ltr

RP  100   
WS  96   
ST  95   
JR  17   

2000 Château Ausone

6.0ltr

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  98+    
WE  98   
WS  97   
ST  97+    
JR  18   

2000 Château Yon Figeac

Heavy capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

JR  18   
WS  89-91   

2001 Château Angelus

RP  97   
WS  92   
ST  91   
JR  17.5   

2003 Château Ausone

Base neck fill; light label condition issue

RP  100   
WS  96   
ST  95+    
JR  18.5   

2003 Clos Fourtet

Light label condition issue

RP  98   
JS  94   
WS  93   
ST  90   
JR  15.5   

2003 Château Bellefont Belcier

Label condition issue

JR  16   

2003 Château Sansonnet

Light capsule condition issue

WS  90   
RP  87-90   

2003 Château Sansonnet

WS  90   
RP  87-90   

2005 Château Angelus

12-bottle Lot, Wood Case

RP  100   
JS  97   
ST  96   
WS  95   
JR  18   

2005 Arômes de Pavie

RP  90   

2005 Château Fleur Cardinale

RP  94   
WS  93   
ST  92+