Saint-Émilion Classification Explained 🍷 How, Why, What?

[@UnusSedLeo-w5l]

Excellent video. And what a way to classify wines....

[@MrPolishbeer]

I just began watching your wine videos. I love to learn the more detailed facts and characteristics of historically and geographically important wines as well as tasting recommendations. Your videos do far are among my favorites. I have enjoyed red Bordeaux for over 30 years but I think it was easier to find good wines before the classifications became so complicated. It is tempting to seek out a particular product from a highly regarded Chateau, but the risk of paying high prices and still being disappointed with the wine, or of drinking the wine too early in cases where the wiery embraces old world styles, and the wines can not be enjoyed within a couple years from purchase. This can be discouraging, particularly if you typically can not always afford to purchase "the best". It is for this reason I often choose more obscure French country wines or look to the New World instead of taking an expensive, uneducated risk. I enjoy your videos very much and look forward to more. Thank you for sharing!

[@scottdunlap8668]

Such a great presentation and topic of discussion. My two cents is the classification system is arbitrary for sure, but provides benchmarks, prized purchases, and ultimately, the opportunity to find some great wines you find to be at discount because you think they’re better than the ‘classe A’, or premier, or First Growth, or whatever. Works for me.

[@BUFFISM]

Wonderful educational video !!!!! You're a fantastic man!!

[@YouTubeJulien]

Thank you very much my friend. thanks a million for the support. See you around again on the channel, feel free to share. Take care man :-) Cheers from France

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Drinking a bottle of chateau la fleur penin saint emilion grand cru on a Saturday evening and typed this wine on KZbin... Glad ur video popped up

[@YouTubeJulien]

Excellent John. Glad you found it useful. Tx for taking the time to let me know 🙏😀👍 how was the wine?

[@meat_loves_wasabi]

Julien Miquel I enjoy red wine but I am no expert...I like it a lot especially when I smell the wine...to me it has that fruity , roasted herbs and a bit of a spicey note to it....it has soft tannins and the finish is quite Long

[@YouTubeJulien]

@@meat_loves_wasabi that sounds delicious J., and very well described 👍 looking forward to continue sharing about wine and exchanging about it on the channel. Cheers 😀🍷

[@tastewinewithmari6157]

Very educational and well explained by breaking down the confusing part of Saint-Emilion classification!

[@YouTubeJulien]

Thanks mate, cheers 🥂😊🙏

[@jamescalabrese791]

Julien, Recently discovered your videos - they are fantastic filled with great information and passion for wine! Thank You!!!

[@YouTubeJulien]

Awesome, thank you very much James! See you around 🙏😊🥂

[@bbphar]

Thanks Julien another good video always learning, to answer your question I really do not like the calssifiction system on the left bank from 1855 it was about money and power and not updated. Yes there are amazing wines but in reality you are paying for the classification not the wine in some cases. The Saint-Emillion system I do like more as the updates are more frequent and more valid, however there is still a little too much outside the quality of the wine. In my view the quality of the wine should be the same weight across tbe board and be in that 50% or higher element, otherwise it is about the estates etc Reputation is a strange one as well, as the wine should speak for itself over 10/15/20 years ? When do you think they will update again, and your views on Chateau Figeac it would have to be one of the best in the region and a contender for Premier Grand Cru Classe "A"

[@YouTubeJulien]

Agreed, quality should have the bigger weight, although it's highly suggestive at that level right? I'm not very familiar with Figeac. Haven't tasted it since my winemaking college years in Bordeaux (some 20 odd years ago!). If I remember correctly, it's THE top-level St-Emilion with the most Cabernet Sauvignon in it, while everyone else is Merlot or Cab Franc based, is this correct? As far as I remember, it causes it to be a little harsh when a vintage is colder, because Cab Sauv rippens late especially on clays like in St Emilion. So they might have problems getting perfect consistency vintage after vintage, getting them all right at the top all the time, while the other 1er Crus are playing with Merlot and Cab Franc on varied terroirs, which makes it way easier to be always full and ripe. Does that make sense?

[@uttamrai8108]

What are the eight communes entitled to use the St-Emilion AOC??and why??

[@RadioIntra]

Loving your videos

[@mittagspause04]

Excellent presentation and very helpful. You are very engaging. Non-wine related though...if you update this, need to change image to Napoleon III, not the First! :) Votre anglais est tres courant. Parfait, en fait. Merci beaucoup

[@PFKMan23]

Visited St. Emilion earlier in the year. It was fascinating to hear how the French feel about wines vs. the US perspective. Our tour guide touched on the bureaucracy, but this sounds even messier. With respect to the 1855 classification for the left bank, wasn't it that the higher ranked wines were the richest (and that's where it started)?

[@YouTubeJulien]

PFKMan23 interesting. The French are certainly peculiar about how they feel and address the wine industry. Perhaps I made it feel more bureaucratic than it is, although for sure there’s a lot of politics and things behind the classification other than the wines themselves. How did you experience it, what did you hear there and how did you feel about it?

[@PFKMan23]

@@KZbinJulien When I was in Bordeaux I did a wine tour (a day trip). Our guide mentioned that there's alot of beaurocracy with respect to what you can do when growing wine (for instance, no irrigation), but especially if you wanted to become classified, it's quite beaurocratic. We went to two smaller chateaus and they talked about their history and touched on if they wanted to get classified what they would need to do. Honestly, I had suspected that it was this way (I live near a local wine region), but didn't know the details. I was more fascinated that when I tasted how similar climate in different years could potentiontially age the wine. It was really informative overall.

[@caiodrumond5644]

Vídeo sensacional, parabéns pela qualidade, grande abraço brasileiro pra você!

[@carmamd]

I found this video fascinating and very helpful. The Saint Emilion classification of the wines, itself, not so much! LOL! For my enjoyment of a wine, I trust in the evaluation of a sommelier/critic that I have found from experience, describes a wine in a way that I can correlate with my own nose and palate. Price often, but definitely not always, correlates with the quality of the wine. My wife and I have had some very inexpensive wines we absolutely adore!

[@YouTubeJulien]

Glad it was helpful Curtis! thanks for taking the time to share your perspective. Looking forward to seing you around the channel :-) cheers 🥂😊🙏

[@JamieRMiller_HoustonRealtor]

🍾 🍷 Great information as we will be taking notes for our Sept trip to St Emilion 🍾 🍷

[@YouTubeJulien]

Excellent Jamie :) Have fun in St-Emilion 👍😊🍷

[@jhea55]

i use the classification as a guideline but it doesn't persuade me from buying some very good bordeauxs for $12-$18/bottle. Julien, do you think there's some money changing hands under the table to boost some of these wines to certain classifications or are they truly on the level???

[@YouTubeJulien]

Absolutely, all good wines in Bordeaux aren't classified for sure. Well, there's not a classification for all areas to start with, including Pomerol! Really I have no ideas precisely how the selection process went, other than it's done behind closed doors as far as I understand. Although, I don't think money changes hands as you say. That would be a very risky venture. Laws are rather well enforced in France and I'm sure wineries are watching what's going on and who's involved. I'm sure it's a fairly fair process. Now like with anything in life, I guess there are people that are friends with other people and people talk. But really I have no ideas of the details and wouldn't want to through allegations of anything.

[@simonheape5279]

Hi Julien, to your left (on the right in the video) there is what looks like a bottle of sweet white wine beside the red. I don’t understand the context of white in a Saint-Emilion vid, can you explain please? Thanks

[@YouTubeJulien]

Hi Simon, I see you're a careful viewer :-) simply that I didn't have a bunch of Saint-Emilion wines on hand when shooting the video. I do try to have relevant bottles in there when I have them, but I didn't here, so I put the next closest thing I have, in this case some Sauternes, also from Bordeaux although not the same type of wine at all obviously. You'll often see bottles that i am about to review in the next videos of the channel there, as a hint on what's coming up :-) There's a Vin de Constance from SOuth Africa and a Chianti to the left of the video too, coming up soon on the channel ;-) Hope that makes sense?

[@simonheape5279]

Julien Miquel Haha, thanks Julien, all clear now, I had feared something big had gone down in Saint Emilion Appellation regs and I’d missed it! Thanks again

[@YouTubeJulien]

@@simonheape5279 my pleasure S. :-) Santé

[@MandyLeeSantana]

@@KZbinJulien Vin de Constance from Klein Constantia is my current favorite sweet South African wine

[@paulvanscherpenseel8294]

thx for sharing your knowledge. Great video! Classifications are nonsense but they will always exist as long as people feel the need to show off. I always enjoy documentaries that show how supposedly connoisseurs get easily mislead by crooks, e.g. Sour grapes, a great docu about a a wine fraud that was revealed only recently

[@yanisaphannet3619]

I love your wine glass. What brand?

[@welshtoro3256]

Hi Julien. That was a good snappy explanation and to most people an explanation is needed. In my opinion this way of doing things ( The Classification) is an absolute dinosaur concept in terms of modern wine marketing. It's just wrong in the modern world. The vast majority have know idea how to read a Bordeaux label and all the guff on it. It actually puts many potential customers off. That might be fine for snobby traditionalists and (perish the thought) wine investors but what about about all those people that want to try a good Bordeaux and find out what all the fuss is about. Scrap the classification and let the wine in the bottle do the talking.

[@YouTubeJulien]

Nicely put man, I think I agree to the most part. I guess at the end of the day, it doesn't bother all that much, as we can always focus on wines we like and find interesting, regardless of whether or not their are classified or not. It's true that as an average wine consumer, it doesn't necessarily matter when you have the bottle in front of you and the wine in your glass. What it tastes like and how you appreciate it is what matters. But, as is well known, most wine consumers are influenced even in their perception of a wine by the story and what's on the label. Then there's a whole industry, several industries in fact that relies on this sort of click-bait stories, all the wine magazines and most publications and of course the whole trade. Many classy restaurants must have the "Grand Cru Classé" on some labels for their customers to feel special, etc. That's how the world goes. Let's just appreciate what we have and what we know about things :-) Salud

[@welshtoro3256]

I actually overemphasised the point. I rather like a bit of tradition as a matter of fact. I just think that it's very confusing for many potential purchasers that want to buy French wine and end up with something easier to understand. I agree with you about the industry but site like yours really help to make it more accessible.

[@YouTubeJulien]

@@welshtoro3256 Merci Man, it's much appreciated you can see that in my content :-) nos veremos 🥂

[@vangstr]

Is Chateau Canon considered 1er grand cru classe "B" ???

[@YouTubeJulien]

Yes, sir, indeed.

[@vangstr]

@@KZbinJulien Can you taste test some vintage 2000-1 chateau peby faugeres?

[@willyegli9290]

Super !

[@Dracaenawines]

My favorite region. However, it is a bit complicated and I feel that having so many kind of negates having any. If that makes sense.

[@YouTubeJulien]

I certainly what you're saying Lori. I think the Grand Cru appellation lacks legs a little bit as it is a pretty broad designated area with the St-Emilion appellation, and it only implies slightly lower yields. It's not a much higher standard of quality which doesn't live up to what the name suggests. The Grand Cru name and appellation was defined during times when wine was selling really well in France and people would buy it by the gallon especially if it had a fancy name on the label. Things have changed but not really the appellation system. Now the classification thing is just a cherry on top, a bonus. But again it's not straight forward enough to be easily understandable. So the whole may feel a little confusing, and perhaps that's what shows in this video. that said, at the end of the day, it's a beautiful area with fantastic terroir for Merlot and Cab Franc, perfect for those grapes and delivering outstanding wines at the end of the day. Which makes me think that I should probably make a shorter video about the beauties in Saint-Emilion's wines and terroir, explained in simpler terms. This one video is more for geeks and experts who want to understand its deep intricacies :-) Cheers

[@philipquick7423]

If I'm not mistaken in Pomerol there is no classification? Which is funny ...right? It seems really easy to understand.....whereas St Emilion....ehhhhh wellllll you did a great job in your video, but I think 65 grand crus ...is a bit much!!!!

[@YouTubeJulien]

philip quick correct. No classification of POMEROL wines which indeed is curious since they make some of finest and priciest in Bordeaux. Thanks for the positive feedback, although I guess I didn’t do that much of a great job, as there are 200+ grand crus in Saint-Emilion and 82 Grand Cru Classés! Or it might be that the whole thing is too confusing or complicated! Cheers man. May be it needs another rewatch to get it all 😊🍷

[@rb1084]

It keeps me away from Bordeaux so far, because of all those classifications I prefer the ‘new’ world.

[@YouTubeJulien]

Hi Robin, you don't have to go by the classifications, just ignore them then, and it'd be just like in the new world, right? Just by the wineries, maybe critic's scores, that it!?

[@rb1084]

Julien Miquel, Thanks for your respons.. I think you’re right.. Do you think that the Bordeaux wines with a high classification are overpriced against the quality that you will find in the glass? I always feel that a €30,- wine from Chile, Australia or Argentina gives you much more value for money, but I never tried a Bordeaux wine in a higher price range so maybe my opinion is unfair. I live in the Netherlands so it is quite easy to get Bordeaux wines here. Anyway, I really like your videos, thank you. Gr, Robin

[@dustinplatt1481]

Je peux vous ecouter de l'histoire du vin touted LA journée. Je dense que c'est très interessant, parce-que içi, en Oregon, I'll y a des vignerons que veulent des classifications d'appellations, et le bureau d'alcool veut des "samples" aussi, alors tout le monde Dit c'est seulement pour Les taxes ... Pourquoi pas pour qualie aussi? Donc, j'aime beaucoup apprendre design autres vins, parce-que plus death ma vie c'est due Pinot

[@YouTubeJulien]

Thanks much Dustin. glad you enjoy the videos :) Merci for your kind words. Must say I don't much about the Oregon situation, taxes and things there :( Looking forward to seeing you around. Santé 😊🙏🍷

[@dognatious6153]

I wish there could be universal ratings by points. Any bonded winery would voluntarily submit wines to a recognized, impartial, rotating Panel that has set up a cumulative point system based on agreed upon parameters/attributes. That's either a true free market system or Communism. Hmmm. The present point system is political and the French systems seem elitist and unfair to the "commoners' " wineries.

[@YouTubeJulien]

it somewhat sounds like a good utopia in a way. If the state was running this it could look a little weird, and open doors to some misconducts by judges and authorities if you seem what i mean ;-) Anyways, yes, I see your point. These rankings are all a little strange and opaque. I guess what we have, with journalists and reviewers updating their scoring and chateau ranking all the time is the best we can have? It sells paper for them, every winery has a shot at it every year, and we get to find some 'hidden gems' every once in a while !?!

[@mixologycrew3459]

Sir I want open my bar school please guide me

[@YouTubeJulien]

deepak negi hi Deepak. I know very little about bar science I’m afraid. I’m a wine science and winemaking person rather 🍷 good luck with the venture anyhow 😊👍🏻

[@lyngagerhuslyngagerhus5999]

It was not that Napoleon.....as he was long gone in 1855 :-)

[@YouTubeJulien]

It was Napoleon the Third, I explained it in more details in the video about the 1855 classification: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWfHlKCfg86JkMU

[@lyngagerhuslyngagerhus5999]

Ok. 9.03 looked more like The Man himself...after a bottle of cognac 😊

[@YouTubeJulien]

@@lyngagerhuslyngagerhus5999 lol. Could have been 😀

[@lyngagerhuslyngagerhus5999]

Well, great videos no matter. Very informative - and you seem to like your job :-)

[@YouTubeJulien]

@@lyngagerhuslyngagerhus5999 TY. Yes, it's fun! Especially when i get kind feedback like yours 😀👍 merci 🙏🥂🙏🙏🙏

[@semajyar4201]

Good info but your shirt gives a cab driver vibe

[@YouTubeJulien]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed :-) and thanks for the feedback on the shirt🍷