St. Emilion Identity Crisis

Source: Decanter.com
Saint-Emilion classification ditched
March 17, 2009

Rebecca Gibb

The 2006 Saint Emilion classification will be scrapped, the French Court of Appeal has ruled.

A judgement claimed the system was unlawful in July 2008 and an appeal by the eight promoted properties, the Saint Emilion Wine Board and the INAO was thrown out yesterday.

The court concluded there were irregularities during the tasting process and should no longer stand.

Chateau La Marzelle was declassified in 2006 and its owner Philippe Genevey, told local newspaper Sud-Ouest, ‘We are satisfied with the ruling as we believe we were victims of injustice’

‘Now we have to work together to find a new classification acceptable to all of us.’

Jean-Francois Quenin, president of the Saint-Emilion Wine Board added, ‘We don’t know what we are going to do. We need a classification, it is what keeps the region moving forward. I want us all to work together to find a solution.’

The system will remain for the 2009 vintage and a new classification will need to be introduced. However, it is possible a further appeal could go to France’s High Court.

The Saint-Emilion classification was created in 1954 and is revised every 10 years.

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