Vineyards in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Chateau Cheval Blanc ★ 4.9

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (withdrew from Premier Grand Cru Classe A classification as of 2022)Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon39 haFounded 1832Bernard Arnault (LVMH) and Albert Frère familyWinemaker Pierre Lurton (estate manager)Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Iconic Saint-Emilion estate on 39 hectares with an unusual 52% Cabernet Franc dominant blend. Withdrew from the Saint-Emilion classification in 2022; co-owned by LVMH.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; contact through official site.

Signature wines: chateau-cheval-blanc, le-petit-cheval, le-petit-cheval-blanc

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (1990), Wine Spectator 100 (1947)

Chateau Ausone ★ 4.9

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (withdrew from Premier Grand Cru Classe A classification as of 2022)Cabernet Franc, Merlot7 haFounded 1853Vauthier family (Alain and Pauline Vauthier)Winemaker Pauline VauthierSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Historic Saint-Emilion estate of 7 hectares planted 55% Cabernet Franc on limestone plateau; family-owned Vauthier; ultra-limited annual production of around 1,500 cases.

Tasting: By appointment only.

Signature wines: chateau-ausone, chapelle-dausone

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2000), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)

Chateau Angelus ★ 4.8

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (withdrew from Premier Grand Cru Classe A in 2022)Merlot, Cabernet Franc27 haFounded 1782Bouard de Laforest family (Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal)Winemaker Stephanie de Bouard-RivoalBiodynamic PracticingECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Iconic Saint-Emilion estate known for its bell-tower icon. 27 hectares of Merlot-Cabernet Franc; organic certified; withdrew from 2022 classification; Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal leads.

Tasting: Visits available by appointment.

Signature wines: chateau-angelus, le-carillon-de-langelus

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2012), James Suckling 100 (2016)

Chateau Pavie ★ 4.8

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A (2022 classification)Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon37 haFounded 1998Gerard and Chantal PerseWinemaker Nicolas LabenneSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A, 37 hectares on the famous Pavie hill. Gerard Perse owner; Hotel de Pavie on-site features chef Yannick Alleno Michelin-starred restaurant.

Tasting: Hotel de Pavie on-site with two Michelin-starred restaurant.

Signature wines: chateau-pavie, aromes-de-pavie

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2000), James Suckling 100 (2015)

Chateau Troplong Mondot ★ 4.7

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B (2022 classification)Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon33 haFounded 1820SCOR (French reinsurance group; acquired July 2017)Winemaker Aymeric de Gironde (estate director since 2018)ECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B on the highest hill of the appellation. 33 hectares, organic certified; The Keys boutique hotel with Michelin restaurant Les Belles Perdrix on-site.

Tasting: The Keys hotel with Michelin-starred restaurant Les Belles Perdrix on-site.

Signature wines: chateau-troplong-mondot, mondot

Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2015), James Suckling 99 (2016)

Chateau Canon ★ 4.7

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B (2022 classification)Merlot, Cabernet Franc22 haFounded 1760Chanel SAS (Wertheimer family)Winemaker Nicolas AudebertECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B owned by Chanel SAS since 1996. 22 hectares with limestone plateau parcels; organic certified; Nicolas Audebert director.

Tasting: By appointment only.

Signature wines: chateau-canon, croix-canon

Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2016), James Suckling 98 (2019)

Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot ★ 4.6

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B (2022 classification)Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon16.5 haFounded 1969Becot family (Juliette and Sebastien Becot)Winemaker Juliette BecotECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B on 16.5 hectares including ancient underground cellars carved from limestone. Becot family-managed; organic certified.

Tasting: Visits and tastings available; contact chateau.

Signature wines: chateau-beausejour-becot, petit-becot

Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2015), Decanter 96 (2018)

Chateau Figeac ★ 4.8

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A (2022 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot40 haFounded 1892Manoncourt family (Eric and Marie-France d'Aramon)Winemaker Frederic FayeECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A elevated in 2022 reclassification. Unusual for Right Bank with an equal-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot blend on 40 hectares of gravelly soils.

Tasting: Visits by appointment.

Signature wines: chateau-figeac, petit-figeac

Scores: Wine Advocate 99 (2022), Decanter 97 (2020)

Wine Restaurants in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Wine Hotels in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

The Keys Collection - Chateau Troplong Mondot ★ 4.7

EUR 380-900 per nightSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Boutique estate hotel at the highest point of Saint-Emilion, with panoramic Dordogne valley views and Michelin-starred Les Belles Perdrix restaurant on site. Direct access to cellar tours and Premier Grand Cru Classe tasting sessions.

The list: Troplong Mondot vertical tastings; Saint-Emilion classification masterclasses; harvest participation (September)

Hotel de Pavie ★ 4.8

EUR 500-1500 per nightSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Intimate estate hotel at Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion's Premier Grand Cru Classe A, with Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Yannick Alleno and a cellar featuring Pavie across 15 vintages.

The list: Pavie vertical tastings; Premier Grand Cru Classe A estate tours; Perse family winemaker dinners

Wine Experiences in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Hidden Gems in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Chateau Figeac - The Equal-Thirds Right Bank Outlier ★ 4.8

Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A (2022 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, MerlotEUR 100-250Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Why locals love it: While the media focuses on Merlot-dominant Saint-Emilion, Figeac's unusual equal-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot blend on gravelly soils gives it a Left Bank-meets-Right Bank character unlike any other Saint-Emilion estate. The 2022 elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classe A attracted new attention, but the estate remains undervalued relative to peers. Wine Advocate 99 points 2022.

Nightlife in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

The Keys Lounge at Chateau Troplong Mondot ★ 4.6

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Hilltop hotel lounge with panoramic Dordogne valley views at night; Troplong Mondot estate pours and a Right Bank-focused wine list available to hotel guests and walk-in visitors.

The list: Hotel lounge with estate Troplong Mondot by the glass across multiple vintages; Right Bank Premier Grand Cru Classe selection; Sauternes and champagne available

Dietary in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Chateau Figeac (Vegan-Friendly) ★ 4.8

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, MerlotECOCERTSaint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC

Chateau Figeac switched to pea protein and bentonite fining from the 2020 vintage, eliminating egg white and isinglass from its winemaking process. The estate's Ecocert organic certification and the equal-thirds Bordeaux blend make it a vegan-friendly Premier Grand Cru Classe A choice.

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