SGC is a brand of three Bordeaux wines coming from parcels of land that were not discovered at the time of the

Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the Exposition Universelle (1855), 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III of France, Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordea ...

. The secret parcels on both left and right banks of Gironde river produce a Grand Vin. SGC parcels are small in size and produce a red wine in the following appellations: Medoc, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. Each of the wines have their own blend of grape varieties matching the specifics of the appellation. On average, SGC produces 1,500 cases per year. Created in 2006 by Arnaud Christiaens, a former financier in 2006, it quickly gained recognition from famous wine critics such as

Michel Bettane Michel Bettane is a leading French wine critic, and for twenty years, a writer for the French consumer wine publication '' La Revue du vin de France''. He left ''La Revue'' in 2004 to work for the rivaling wine publication ''Le Classement des Meil ...

and

Jancis Robinson Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW (born 22 April 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the ''Financial Times'', and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She ...

. World champion

sommelier A ''sommelier'' ( , , ), ''chef de vin'' or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role of the ''s ...

, Gerard Basset, was an ambassador and shareholder of the brand. Nina, his wife, remains a shareholder.

History

Oenophile financier Arnaud Christiaens founded SGC in 2006 with the goal to produce a wine good enough to compete with the best of the appellation.

wrote "This is a scheme designed to kick the whole Bordeaux system where it hurts most". Coined as the 'Tesla of Wine' due to its innovative and scientific approach to soil analysis, SGC produces from the highest-rated areas of land. Arnaud's knowledge and respect for the region, combined with his inherent desire to challenge the status quo, led him to develop a business model that would turn the market on its head. He set out to find the best-untapped terroir in the region through in-depth soil analysis, thus adding a new layer of sophistication to Bordeaux's premier status in the wine producing industry. The enterprise bore its first results with the production of 2006 vintage. As of 2020, SGC is sold by invitation and allocation only, and successful prospective clients are thereby invited to join the feted Le Cercle Group, the community of SGC owners who meet regularly around the world to celebrate and discuss their shared passions. The only exception from this being Hedonism Wines Mayfair, London with the 2009 vintage.

Recognition

World champion

Gérard Basset was an ambassador for the brand from 2012 until his death in 2019. Master of Wine and

wine critic A wine critic is a person who evaluates wine and describes it either with a numerical rating, a tasting note, or a combination of both. Their critiques, found in books, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, online, or in sales materials for wine, ar ...

wrote that the wines " withstand comparison with first growths" after a blind tasting putting SGC wines up against four first growths. Notes from Jancis Robinson:

References

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External links

SGC Wine Official websiteHedonismGérard Basset
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French brands Wine brands Bordeaux wine