St Emilion Grands Crus Association visits Chicago

St Emilion Grands Crus Association visits Chicago 

As we do with the UGCB Vintage Release Tour when it comes to Chicago each year for their annual release tour across America, a couple of our Pour Boys wine group (so named for when we’re called to duty to pour wines as such events) had the privilege of helping host the L’Association de Grands Crus Classes de Saint Emilion USA Tasting Tour 2024 visit to Chicago. 

The Association focuses primarily on the quality of the wines produced over ten years, vineyard terroir, and the renown of the growths. It also examines vine-growing and wine-making practices, especially when dealing with environmental care. 

The 2024 Trade and Press Tour showcased the 2020 vintage - one of the most successful vintages in St. Emilion with its “explosion of flavors and pleasure”.

A fortuitous and interesting twist to this tasting was that each producer showed two vintages, comparing their current release against an earlier vintage, going back as far as a decade - often aged or stellar benchmark vintages such as the 2015, ‘15, or ‘17. 

Being single appellation specific, the event was much smaller than the 130+ producers that participate in the broader Bordeaux organization event, yet there were no less than twenty-six Chateaux represented at the event.

As it was previously, when we  Pour Boys Served at the Grands Crus Classes of St Emilion 2015 Chicago Tasting, the event was held at the magnificent Venue Six10, at that address on South Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park and the lakefront. Shown above are producers from that previous event. 

Participating CHÂTEAUX Included:

• CHÂTEAU BADETTE
• CHÂTEAU BELLEFONT BELCIER
• CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE
• CHÂTEAU CHAUVIN
• CLOS DE L'ORATOIRE
• CLOS DES JACOBINS
• CHÂTEAU LA COMMANDERIE
• CLOS DUBREUIL
• CHÂTEAU CORBIN
• COUVENT DES JACOBINS
• CHATEAU CROIX DE LABRIE
• CHATEAU DASSAULT
• CHÂTEAU DE PRESSAC
• CHÂTEAU FOMBRAUGE - 
• CHÂTEAU FONPLEGADE
• CHÂTEAU FONROQUE
• CHÂTEAU FRANC MAYNE
• CHÂTEAU GRAND CORBIN
• CHÂTEAU GRAND CORBIN-DESPAGNE - 
• CHÂTEAU LA CONFESSION -
• CHÂTEAU LA CROIZILLE
• CHÂTEAU TOUR BALADOZ
• CHÂTEAU LA TOUR FIGEAC
• CHÂTEAU YON-FIGEAC

The event was attended by a full house of wine professionals and journalists from across the region. 

Right Bank Bordeaux 2020 was an ideal vintage for Merlot based wines that showed exquisitely, displaying concentrated rich, vibrant bright ripe red and dark brambly fruits. 

We appreciate the efforts of the L’Association de Grands Crus Classes de Saint Emilion and participating producers for coming to visit us here in the Midwest and share with us their handicraft, and sharing and educating the trade and pundits on the recent release.