Château Cheval Blanc is renowned for its exceptional wines, described as “the finest cashmere” and “elegance in motion” by Pierre Lurton, who manages this Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A Estate. Though not included in the 1855 classification, Château Cheval Blanc’s wines rival the quality of Left Bank First Growths. Despite their acclaim, the team attributes their success to the terrain.
Located on the Right Bank, Château Cheval Blanc boasts a unique mosaic of soil types, including blue clay shared with Château Pétrus and gravel similar to Château Figeac. This diverse terroir allows optimal clones to be planted in perfect soils, resulting in legendary wines each year.
The estate’s history dates back to 1546, when it was part of Château Figeac’s vast property. During the French Revolution, the exceptional terroir warranted the attention of two vignerons. In 1832, the Ducasse family purchased the land, then called “Le Barrail de Cailloux” (The Barrel of Tiny Stones). The estate changed hands through marriage and was eventually acquired by Jean Laussac Fourad, who aimed to create the best wine in Saint-Émilion. After winning awards in London and Paris, the name was changed to Château Cheval Blanc—"The House of the White Horse."
In 1998, Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frere acquired the estate and appointed Pierre Lurton to manage it. Under Lurton’s guidance, each vineyard worker is assigned specific vines to develop familiarity, and fruit is picked “al dente” to blend grapes of varying phenolic ripeness, enhancing complexity. The wines are vinified in a state-of-the-art gravity-flow vat room.
Drinking Window: 2022–2032
