\b0 By an irony of history, one of the most highly considered wines in the world bears the name
of a pious hermit who led a frugal existence on this limestone hill in the eighth century. Developing into an important medieval city, Saint-Emilion has preserved traces of its ramparts and a royal castle and still has many religious buildings, including
a church carved entirely out of the limestone rock from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. The vineyards designated ôSaint-Emilionö produce a red wine of full flavor that ages wonderfully and provides a marvelous accompaniment to roasts, game, and
cheeses. Its \i premiers grands crus classΘ A\i0 (top vintages) such as \i ChΓteau Cheval-Blanc\i0 and \i ChΓteau Ausone\i0 are considered to be among the finest wines in the world and remind us of the fact that, back in the Middle Ages, the wines of
Saint-Emilion were described as ô\i vins honorifiques\i0 ö in France and as the ôking of winesö in England.\par
