French court invalidates the Saint Emilion grand cru classification claiming that previously classified properties enjoyed an unfair advantage due to tasting methods.
The decennial Saint Emilion grand cru classfication, suspended in March 2007 and re-established several months later by the Council of State, was finally declared void yesterday by the Bordeaux administrative court. The jurisdiction, presided over by Henri Pac, considered that the nine classification commission members, appointed by the Saint Emilion syndicate, "had not recognised the principle of equal treatment amongst the classification candidates".
The 2006 - 2016 classified châteaux list, legally validated eighteen months ago by ministerial decree, is now obsolete. It should take at least two years for an appeal to go through the administrative court so yesterday's decision takes effect immediately.
The 16 first classified growths and the other 46 classified growths which were top of the list are now just ordinary Saint Emilion châteaux - at least on the labels.
Discrimination : More than 30 properties had been upgraded or degraded. Nine of the latter initiated the legal battle which has blown the Saint Emilion hierarchy apart. The failed candidates grievances were varied : the incompetence of certain tasters, a biased jury and suspicions aroused by commission visits to certain properties...all added sparks to the fire of discrimination according to those who claim to be the victims in this affair.
The administrative court accepted only one of the aforementioned methods : the tasting proceedure adopted by the commission members. This consisted in isolating the group of previously classified châteaux defending their status as a reference basis for the tasting. This method was criticised as giving these wines an established advantage over others.
"The commission divided up the properties into distinct categories depending on whether they had been previously classfied or not, even though in this classification the right to maintain benefits does not exist", explained court officials.
Saint Emilion professionals have always defended "reliability, discipline and impartiality" in previous classification revisions, not to mention the "quality excellence" of their selection. Yesterday they argued that the death of the classification would have serious financial repercussions for châteaux losing their classified status. These views fell on deaf ears.
Philippe Thévenin and Philippe Magrez, lawyers acting for several litigants, were pleased with the decision : "Up until now an air of suspicious speculation hung over the classification. From now on we are in a position to establish a new indisputable basis. This will be a guarantee of transparency for wine growers and consumers alike".
Necessary revision : If the classification systems are the marketing motors behind the Bordeaux vineyard, they are not without their faults. Many criterion come into play : clearly defined measures of choice based on the principle of equality for all, motivations behind the decisions, the role of local operators, and so on...The competitions' organisation needs to be re-thought through in order to regain credibility lost in legal wrangles. The irradication of the Saint Emilion classification follows last year's cancellation of the Medoc Cru Bourgeois classification. The latter was accused by the court of lack of impartiality : several château owners on the classification list where also members of the jury of tasters....
Dominique Richard, S.O. 2/07/08
Translated by Maxine Colas...
doc@sudouest.com