The rules for the St Emilion classification (Grand Cru Classé) stipulate that every ten years the ranking should be re-done. At the latest re-ordering of the chateau some properties were pushed out and the owners of those chateaux were not very happy. The argued that the “jury” making the classification had been partial because, among other things, it had included some of the owners of the chateaux that were under scrutiny. So they took their case to court and won. The classification was annulled (or suspended). That ruling was of course appealed against and the higher court decided to annul the suspension. The case then went to an even higher court in Bordeaux which recently pronounced its decision: they ruled that the new St Emilion classification must not be used. So now, for the moment, there is no St Emilion GCC… Why not just simply scrap the classification and let the consumers decide what they think the wines are worth? decanter.com
