Montagne-Saint-Émilion

The place

The appellation is the commune of Montagne, in the Gironde, and no other; 23 neighboring communes make up the area of immediate proximity, where the wine may be made and raised but not grown. The ground is of 3 kinds: hillsides of clay and limestone over starfish limestone, sandy silty and sandy clayey soils, and the sandy gravel terraces of the Isle. Montagne, Saint-Georges and Parsac were all built on the limestone plateau, and Parsac was later taken into the commune of Montagne. The vineyard covers 1,793 hectares and makes an average of 80,000 hectoliters a year, on holdings of about 7 hectares.

The rules

Red only. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot are the principal varieties and together must make at least 70% of the blend; Carmenère and Petit Verdot are accessory, to 10%. At least 5,500 vines a hectare, rows of no more than 2 meters, vines no closer than 1 meter in the row, or 0.80 under the short pruning provisions. 53 hectoliters a hectare with a ceiling of 65, and 11% of natural alcohol. The wine is raised until March 15 and sold from March 31 of the year after the harvest. The cahier des charges (the appellation’s official rulebook), the appellation’s official rulebook, was last modified on April 10, 2019.

The names

Montagne-Saint-Émilion is 1 of the 4 satellite appellations entitled to put Saint-Émilion after their own name, with Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion. What the name does not carry is the classification: the Premiers Grands Crus Classés and the Grands Crus Classés belong to the appellation Saint-Émilion Grand Cru alone, and no growth of a satellite has ever been on that list. The appellation dates from the decree of November 14, 1936, the same day the appellation Bordeaux was recognized.

Color

Red

Communes

Montagne, and no other; 23 more make up the area of immediate proximity

Vineyard

1,793 hectares, 80,000 hectoliters a year, holdings of about 7 hectares

Ground

Hillsides of clay and limestone over starfish limestone; sandy silty and sandy clayey soils; the sandy gravel terraces of the Isle

Grapes

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, at least 70% together; Carmenère and Petit Verdot to 10%

Density

5,500 vines a hectare at least

Yield

53 hectoliters a hectare, ceiling 65

Alcohol

11% natural at least

Release

From March 31 of the year after the harvest

Classified

No classification

The satellites

Montagne, Lussac, Puisseguin and Saint-Georges, the 4 appellations entitled to add Saint-Émilion to their name

AOC since

November 14, 1936; cahier modified on April 10, 2019

Sources: FGVB, cahier des charges Montagne-Saint-Émilion, arrêté du 10 avril 2019 · Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, Montagne-Saint-Émilion