User:Murgh/Saint-Émilion AOC

Saint-Émilion is an AOC for wine made in and around the commune of Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux wine region of southwestern France, on the Right Bank of Dordogne.

The appellation is divided into Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, surrounded by satellite appellations Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion. Previously Parsac-Saint-Émilion and Sables-Saint-Émilion were other such appellations.

Saint-Émilion
The appellation consists of the communes Saint-Émilion, Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, Saint-Hippolyte, Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, Saint-Pey-d'Armens, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, Vignonet, and vineyards situated in the southeast of the commune of Libourne (previously named Sables-Saint-Émilion) are entitled to the appellation.

Soil
The soil conditions of Saint-Émilion are among the most diverse of Gironde, allowing for several ways to approach the subject. Professor Henri Enjalbert proposed in Les Grands Vins de St-Emilion, Pomerol et Fronsac a division of Saint-Émilion into five zones:
 * Le plateau calcaire, the limestone plateau
 * Côtes et pieds de côtes, hillsides and foot of the slopes
 * Graves et sables anciens, gravel and old, wind-blown sand
 * Sables anciens, old, wind-blown sand
 * Sablo-graveleux, recent alluvial sandy gravel

Having in previous editions simply divided the wines into côtes and graves, Féret adapted Enjalbert's method in 1982 to classify estates. Its disadvantage is evident when a vineyard's composition falls into several categories, which is not uncommon in the appellation.

More simplistic views divide the appellation into three or four principal types of terroir: Limestone Plateau, Côtes and Pieds de Côtes, Gravel, and Sand.

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
a maximum yield ratio limited to 40 hectolitres per hectare, they must submit their wines to a second formal wine tasting, after 12 months of aging.

Estates
The estates of the appellation were first classified in 1955 and the selection is typically revised every 10 years, most recently in 2006.

Other producers of note include Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion (UDPSE), the successful cooperative which bottles a quarter of St-Emilion's production. The appellation also holds several "Vins de garage".

Satellite appellations
Prior to 1936, the wine of all surrounding districts would be sold labelled as "Saint-Émilion". By decree of INAO, satellite appellations were designated:
 * Montagne-Saint-Emilion
 * Lussac-Saint-Emilion
 * Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion
 * Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion, merged with Montagne in 1973 but may optionally declare Montagne
 * Parsac-Saint-Emilion, merged with Montagne in 1973-1975
 * Sables-Saint-Émilion, merged into Saint-Émilion 1973

Co-operatives are important in the satellite appellations, and Montagne and Lussac Saint-Émilion produce significantly more wine than Puisseguin or Saint-Georges, for many years sold exclusively as Montagne Saint-Émilion. The grape varieties cultivated are similar to those of Saint-Émilion although the standard of winemaking is typically of a more rudimentary nature.

The characteristics of the area was summarised by Henri Enjalbert as having "no sandy glacis and no gravel."

Montagne-Saint-Émilion
The largest satellite appellation, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, is situated in an area surrounding the village Montagne

A declared viticultural area of 1,600 hectares annually producing 91,600 hectolitres.

Estates include Château Croix Beauséjour and Château Haut-Bonneau..

Lussac-Saint-Émilion
The satellite appellation Lussac-Saint-Émilion is situated in an area surrounding the villages Lussac with a gravel plateau in the west, and clay soils in the north.

A declared viticultural area of 1,440 hectares annually producing 85,000 hectolitres.

Estates include Château des Rochers and Château Lyonnat..

Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion
Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion is a satellite appellation situated around the commune Puisseguin, which has the highest elevation (89 m) in the Saint-Émilion region

A declared viticultural area of 745 hectares annually producing 43,000 hectolitres.

Estates include Château Haut Bernat..

Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion
Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion is the smallest satellite appellation of Saint-Émilion, indeed the smallest appellation of the Bordeaux region.

A declared viticultural area of 200 hectares annually producing 11,500 hectolitres.

Estates include Château Haut St-Georges