When we want choose a good wine, we often rely on the appellations, the awards, and the various mentions carried on the label. Among all his information, do you really know what a classified vintage is? Let's see how to define a Cru classified in wine.
Definition of the Grand Cru Classé
For many years, wines have been the subject of different rankings. The best known of them is certainly the one who aims to determine the Grands classified vintage from France. Often organized by winegrowers' unions, or wine traders, Wine classification Allows you to determine the best classified wines, with an operation close to that of medal discounts during competitions.
the Grand Cru Classé has the particularity of taking into account producers, not the villages. It is thus castles, areas or places that are the subject of a classification. The most famous is most certainly the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines, which includes, among other things, the Margaux castle, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Haut Brion for red wines, and 27 vintages of Sauternes and Barsac appellations for white wines.
The classified Grand Cru is finally a subcategory of AOCs (controlled designation of origin).
Grand Cru Classé: not to be confused with other vintages
If the Grand Cru Classé honors a producer, the concept of cru is larger, and can also concern a vineyard or a name.
When the raw refers to a precise vineyard
It is not uncommon to see, on theLabel of a bottle of wine, the mention "Grand Cru" or "Premier Cru" next to the name of the AOC. Here, the concept of vintage is used to further specify the specific wine production area and its terroir.
When the vintage refers to an appellation
In some regions of France, wines refer to a precise vineyard compared to the rest of the country. We can thus find the Rhône Crus, to talk about all the appellations found in the region.
Champagne wines
On the side of Champagne, the notion of vintage is very special, since it refers to whole municipalities. Although the mention has been obsolete since the creation of theAOC Champagne In 1989, we continued to see it on the labels of good bottles of champagne.
The Côtes de Provence wines classified
Let us stop in the south of France, to discover the history of 18 classified vintages of the Côtes de Provence.
The story of the Côtes de Provence vintage
The history of Crus classified Côtes de Provence Begun in 1895, at the initiative of several winegrowers owners of the Var who wanted to regroup and support themselves to promote their properties and their wines, and improve its reputation. It was therefore in 1947 that the Provence wines were able to take advantage of the title of classified vintage, despite the claims of Bordeaux producers, until then only holders of this honorary title.
Thus, 23 areas were selected under the supervision of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO), after a scrupulous study of their know-how and their terroir. These Domains and castles In 1955, the title of "classified vintage" will then be obtained before 5 of them lost it over the years.
This active and innovative approach will have enabled the wines of Provence, thereafter, to obtain the status of Superior quality wine in 1951, then the designation of controlled origin (AOC Côtes de Provence) in 1977.
The approach will not stop there:
- In the 90s a club bringing together the classified raw vineyards of Provence will be created to promote tradition and know-how;
- In the 2000s, a classified crus club of the Côtes de Provence was officially formed by 14 areas and castles;
- In 2005, a Charter is signed by these areas;
- In 2006, 8 winegrowers classified wines from the Côtes de Provence will imagine the Provence Wine Route.
The 18 classified raw areas of the Côtes de Provence (1955)
Although the Provence wines classification Date of 1955, history continues today, and we still find the same 18 areas and castles taking advantage of the title of "classified vintage".
- The jas of slans, at the motte;
- The Sainte Roseline Castle, at Arcs sur Argens;
- Château Roubine, in Lorgues;
- The castle of Saint Martin, in Taradeau;
- The castle of Selle, in Taradeau;
- The domain of Saint Maur, in Cogolin;
- The Château de Brégançon, in Bormes les Mimosas;
- The Domaine du Noyer, in Bormes Les Mimosas;
- The Domaine de la Croix, at La Croix-Valmer;
- Château Minuty, in Gassin;
- The Galoupet castle, at the Londe les Maures;
- The Clos Mireille, at the Londe les Maures;
- The Château de Mauvanne, in Salins d'Hyères;
- The Domaine de l'Aumerade, in Hyères;
- The Domaine de la Clapière, in Hyères;
- Le Clos Cibonne, Le Pradet;
- The Domaine de Rimauresq, in Pignans.
Although the world of wine has changed considerably since, and the selection of 18 areas is subject to controversy today, the 1955 classification to date no revision. So that it can take advantage of an update, it would then be necessary to cancel it and make a new ranking. A project hitherto never envisaged. However, many Côtes de Provence areas To date, the title of classified vintage deserves.
