Château Cheval Blanc

Saint Emilion

The prestigious character of Cheval Blanc began in 1832 with the purchase of the heart of the estate by Jean-Jacques Ducasse. During the following twenty years, the successive purchase of plots from Château Figeac will allow the creation of the Cheval Blanc estate, whose plot of 39 hectares has been practically identical since then. But the most striking work of the new master of the place concerned the vines: detecting in Cheval Blanc an exceptional terroir, Jean Laussac-Fourcaud replanted part of the property in the mid-1860s and opted for a singular grape variety, made for half of Merlot, emblematic grape variety of the Right Bank, and half of Cabernet Franc. A completely atypical choice, the implementation of which will be completed in 1871.

In 1954, during the first classification of Saint-Emilion wines, Cheval Blanc obtained the supreme distinction: the classification of Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”. This distinction has since been confirmed every decade: excellence is maintained from ranking to ranking. Cheval Blanc enters the prestigious and coveted "Club des 9", which brings together the first among the first in Bordeaux.

The passing of the torch took place in the fall of 1998. Two long-time friends, lovers of great wines, joined forces to acquire this jewel of Saint-Emilion: Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère became owners of the prestigious château.

Thus, for six centuries, winegrowers and owners have followed one another on this land of Cheval Blanc, which is itself part of a 2,000-year-old "vine civilization".