Just like any major city has its suburbs, most wine communes also have their close, but distinct, neighboring areas. Saint-Émilion, for example has four such “neighbors,” which constitute what are called its “satellite” appellations. Like Saint-Émilion, these appellations are well recognized for producing great wines.
As shown in this map, these nearby appellations are named Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Pusseguin-Saint-Émilion, and Saint Georges-Saint-Émilion. Collectively, they cover an area of approximately 13,550 acres.
Though it wasn’t until 1936 that these satellite regions were granted status by the Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée (otherwise known as the “AOC,” France’s wine certification system), most have very rich histories which can be traced back to the ancient Romans. And fortunately, despite the high prices fetched by Saint-Émilion’s Premier Crus, the majority of these satellite regions produce wines that cost around $25 or less.
Lussac-Saint is the northernmost satellite appellation. Most Lussac winemakers grow predominately Merlot grapes and the terroir is very similar to the rest of Saint-Émilion. On the west side of Lussac, however, the soils tend to be a mix of sandstone and gravel, and the area possesses a slightly different microclimate. For this reason, the wines tend to be less structured and less balanced. Some of the best wines from the appellation tend to be in the communes northern portion, and some of the better known estates include Château de Lussac and Château Lyonnat, both producing high quality wines for a great value.
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is located just northeast of Saint-Émilion, along the right bank of the Barbonne river. Montagne wines tend to be earthier and medium-bodied. They produce 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir of its rolling hills tends to be more clay and limestone. The top producing estates from Montagne are Beausejour Montagne, Faizeau, and Vieux Chateau Palon. We personally love Château Rocher Corbin‘s wines, but many of Montagne’s wines represent a fantastic value.
Next, Pusseguin-Saint-Émilion grows all five red varietals that are found in Bordeaux. Pusseguin lies just northeast of Montagne and southeast of Lussac. The satellite appellation partly gets its name from the Celtic term Puy, which means, “The hill of the powerful wine.” The terroir consists of limestone, clay, sandstone, AND gravel. These wines tend to have more body and tend to be slightly higher in alcohol. The top estates to look out for are Chateau Soleil, Chateau Clarisse, and Croix de Justice.
Last but not least, the smallest satellite appellation of Saint-Émilion is Saint Georges-Saint-Émilion. It is well known for its very soft, feminine merlots, which are made to be consumed soon after vintage release. This is in part due to its higher elevation—the highest point in the right bank in fact. Less than 20 producers make wine from this area, and the terroir tend to have all the typical characteristics of Saint-Émilion, but with the addition of chalk. Because there are few producers, these wines are hardly imported into the United States, making them difficult to find.
These Saint-Émilion satellite appellations all produce great value wines. Not to mention, it’s fun to try them all to see the differences between each terroir.
Next time, we move to Pomerol. Until then, enjoy some great wine!
Fein Wein 