New Legal Wrangle Hits Bordeaux Wine Vintage Classification in 2006

The classification of the 2006 wine vintage from St Emilion near Bordeaux has been suspended by the French courts as a result of a lack of proper procedure. The news follows hot on the heels of the suspension, several months ago, of another of the Bordeaux wine classifications, the Cru Bourgeois in the Medoc. In the latest twist, the St Emilion 2006 classification has been suspended because the courts determined that not all wine producers had been treated fairly and equally. Created in 1954 the St Emilion classification is one of five Bordeaux red wine classifications. It previously distinguished 68 cru classés, which was reduced to 61 in the provisional list for 2006, with some wines dropping out altogether and others being promoted onto the list. Of the 61 winners, 15 were classified Premiers grands crus classés and 46 Grand crus classés of AOC St Emilion. Nevertheless, four chateaux who lost out in the new classification contested the decision on the basis that the panel of independent judges, organised by the French standards institute IANO, did not visit all of the chateaux in the contest. The French court agreed with the complaints, leaving the 2006 classification in disarray. The St Emilion wine classification is reviewed every ten years, and it remains valid for ten years. The last review took place in 1996. In the absence of a new classification, this means that there is no official rating for the 2006 vintage! A lot of money is at stake in this whole process. St Emilion wines are amongst the most prestigious wines in the world, last year racking up sales of around €800 million. It was the commercial consequences of of the new classification on the complainants that persuaded the court to find in their favour.