Saint-Emilion
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- The Molasse du « Fronsadais » (Oligocene) outcrops on the slopes, giving rise mainly to soils with a clay-silt texture.
- To the north-west, a Quaternary sandy sheet, locally with a very high clay content; near Pomerol, gravelly rises known as the « terrasse de Figeac ».
- Temperate oceanic climate, yet more continental than in the western part of the département, with Mediterranean nuances (presence of holm oak).
Human factors
- The Jurade de Saint-Émilion, established by the Charte de Falaise (1199), shaped the vineyard; its prerogatives were extended by Edward I in 1289.
- Plantings in « règes » (trellised rows, spacing < 1 m) on the slopes from the 17th century onwards, with well-suited grape varieties: cabernet franc, merlot, côt, petit verdot… (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Product characteristics
- Merlot dominant: deep red colour, red and black fruits, roundness, and silky tannins.
- Cab. franc: spicy finesse and freshness; Cab. sauv.: spicy notes, with tannins that favour long ageing.
Terroir / wine link
- Merlot favoured on cool, moist clay soils; Cabernet Franc on limestone or warmer sandy/gravelly soils; Cabernet-Sauvignon on warm, dry gravelly-sandy soils.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 9 août 2023
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion