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Château Figeac was the only estate to be upgraded to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the 2022 classification of St.-Emilion. The second estate in this top category is Château Pavie. The classification, which is renewed every ten years, was preceded by fierce disputes and court cases. Of the four estates awarded Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012, three - Angélus, Ausone, Cheval Blanc - left the classification. In June, Château La Gaffelière, classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé B, also dropped out. These prestigious producers complained that it was no longer the terroir and the quality of the wines alone that were decisive, but also marketing actions such as product placement in films and the architecture of the wineries.
That the classification influences the price of the wines is shown by the price increase of 47 percent for Château Figeac in the past three years, as the Liv-Ex trading platform announced. The appreciation of this wine estate had been expected. As the St.-Emilion wine council emphasised, the classification had "remained true to its principles since 1955". The classification commission said it had commissioned 43 experts to taste 1,343 samples over four months before presenting the results.
(al / decanter.com; photo: wikimedia)
More on the subject:
Château La Gaffelière also leaving Saint Émilion classification
Château Ausone and Cheval Blanc abandon Cru classification