Today, on the Comptoir des Millésimeswe're going to show you the best way to serve and enjoy a Saint Emilion Grand Cru. Discover how to prepare a tasting of a great St Emilion wine. Should it be decanted, at what temperature should it be served and with what dishes? Find the answers in this article.
Over 200 wines, 50 vintages and 40 Châteaux of St Emilion in stock
Before tasting St Emilion wine
Depending on the vintage, bottle preparation will differ. In all cases, it's best to reassemble your bottle a day before tasting, in a cool room (17-18°), to avoid thermal shock. And don't hesitate to stand the bottle upright, to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom.
If your Saint Emilion is between 6 and 8 years old, it's best to put it in a decanter, uncorked, 2 hours before tasting. This will allow it to air out, develop its aromas and soften its tannins.
If you wish to open a bottle of old vintage (over 15 years old), we call this decanting. This must be done just before the wine is tasted. The aim of decanting is to separate the wine from its sediment so as to avoid any inconvenience when serving it. To do this, carefully pour the wine into the decanter, stopping a few centimetres before the end of the bottle to ensure that the deposits remain inside, then close the decanter with the stopper.
Some restaurants even use a candle placed just below the neck to catch a glimpse of the deposit arriving, and thus stop the manipulation.
SERVING TEMPERATURE OF A ST EMILION
Assuming a room temperature of 20°, your wine will rise 2° per half-hour in your glass. It is therefore preferable to serve a St. Emilion grand cru at a temperature of 15° temperature. This will allow the wine to develop its aromas progressively, because serving a wine too cool could break down its aromas. On the contrary, serving a wine too warm would increase the perception of alcohol and imbalance in the wine.
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SAINT-ÉMILION WINES?
Whether it's the Saint-Émilion appellation or any other wine appellation, each estate, each winemaker has his or her own approach to wine, to the work to be done in the vineyard and in the cellar. For Saint-Émilion, there are 4 types of soil, 3 main grape varieties and 3 secondary ones. In other words, there are a multitude of combinations to which the winemaker's personal touch can be added.
Here are a few examples:
The characteristics of the Château are interesting because we can capture the typicality of 2 typical Bordeaux grape varieties. Firstly, it is composed of more than 80 % Merlot, which gives it notes of red berries and forest fruits, and secondly, it is complemented by Cabernet Franc, to give it character and tannins.
Another Saint-Émilion style. The Château has been around since the first Saint-Émilion classification and has never left. It's one of the world's great estates, thanks to the work of a family, but above all to a fantastic terroir. Situated between the hills ofAusone and Paviethe property enjoys a formidable terroir. Still with a majority of Merlot and complemented by Cabernet Franc, but this time on limestone plateaux that give it remarkable minerality and finesse.
A third original feature, offering all the possibilities of the Saint-Émilion vineyard. Visit Château Cheval blanc comprises no less than 39 hectares, spread over 45 parcels. So many small vineyards from which to extract all the richness of the terroir. What's more, the Château is also original in its blending, offering a Saint-Émilion with a majority of Cabernet Franc. The result is a richer, more powerful wine, with supple tannins.
WHAT DISHES TO SERVE WITH A SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU?
Once you have selected your St Emilion wineAll that's left is to choose the dish to cook! Just bear in mind that wines remain supple and fruity. It is therefore preferable to serve simmered dishes or red meats while avoiding game:
- Seven-hour leg of lamb
- Angus rib steak
- Tournedos Rossini
It's up to you to select a recipe that suits you... Now you have all the resources you need to serve and accompany your St Emilion grands crus to perfection.
Taste the Best Saint Emilion Wines ! Discover also st emilion grands crus classification.
