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The Bordeaux Court of Appeal dismissed the lawsuits of three châteaux, thus confirming the correctness of the 2012 classification of Saint-Émilion. The three châteaux Croque-Michotte, Corbin-Michotte and La Tour du Pin Figeac, which had not been taken into account in 2012, filed court cases against the validity of the classification, which have already gone through several instances since then. Yesterday, the Bordeaux Court of Appeal confirmed the correctness of the rules of the classification of the AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Crus.
Eric Morain, lawyer of Château Croque-Michotte, speaks of a "one-sided assessment of the facts". "Obviously, the classification had to be saved at all costs", he said. Morain also criticises a "completely incomprehensible reasoning that twists the reality of the roles of Messrs de Boüard and Castéja". He has announced that he will take the case to the highest authority, the Council of State.
Hubert de Boüard, the co-owner of Château Angélus, had been sentenced to a fine for manipulating the classification in autumn 2021. The co-defendant Philippe Castéja was acquitted at that time. Château Angélus then withdrew from the classification, as Châteaux Cheval-Blanc and Ausone had done before.
The director of the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion, Franck Binard, however, speaks of a "real relief for the entire appellation. This encourages us for the next classification, which is currently being worked out". The classification of Saint-Émilion is revised every ten years.
(al / Source: La Revue du vin de France; Photo: wikimedia Chensiyuan)
More on the subject:
Château Angélus also leaves Saint-Émilion classification
Château Angélus co-owner sentenced for "illegal protection of interests