Château Cheval Blanc

Italy is not only one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world, but also one of the most diverse. From the alpine north to the hot south, from the Mediterranean coasts to the heights of the Apennines – hardly any other country offers such a wide range of grape varieties, climate zones, and wine styles. With over 20 wine regions, more than 400 indigenous grape varieties, and a deeply rooted culture of enjoyment, Italy is one of the most significant wine producers worldwide.

In 1998, a partnership between Bernard Arnault (LVMH) and Belgian investor Baron Albert Frère acquired the estate from the Fourcaud-Laussac family for around €135 million and appointed Pierre Lurton to manage it. In 2009, LVMH fully acquired the remaining shares – reportedly at a price of around €15 million per hectare, a Bordeaux record at the time.

Another milestone followed in 2011: the château invested more than $20 million in a new winery designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc – a sweeping modern building beneath a hill that blends harmoniously into the Saint-Émilion landscape and is equipped with 52 temperature-controlled concrete vats in 14 different sizes for fully parcel-by-parcel vinification.

In 2021, Cheval Blanc made a historic decision: together with Château Ausone, followed shortly afterwards by Château Angélus, it withdrew from the Saint-Émilion classification. From the 2022 vintage onward, the label no longer carries a classification designation – the estate's reputation stands well beyond any administrative ranking.

Italy is not only one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world, but also one of the most diverse. From the alpine north to the hot south, from the Mediterranean coasts to the heights of the Apennines – hardly any other country offers such a range of grape varieties, climate zones, and wine styles. With over 20 wine regions, more than 400 autochthonous grape varieties, and a deeply rooted culture of enjoyment, Italy is one of the most important wine producers worldwide.

Château Cheval Blanc occupies a unique position in Bordeaux: the estate lies in the north-west of Saint-Émilion, directly on the border with Pomerol – so close that its vineyards adjoin those of Château L'Évangile. This border location is no geographical coincidence, but the source of its unmistakable style: the opulence and depth of Pomerol combined with the floral elegance and structure of Saint-Émilion.

The 39-hectare vineyard plateau has a three-part terroir:

• 40% gravel over blue clay (argile bleu) – the most important soil, where the old Cabernet Franc vines grow
• 40% deep gravel soils – for freshness and structure
• 20% sandy clay – for softness and aromatic accessibility

Two of Saint-Émilion's five gravel mounds lie on the estate. Drainage through the historic 19th-century system and the warmer microclimate created by the buildings surrounding the site promote characteristically early and even ripening of Cabernet Franc – in a region where the variety has traditionally been considered demanding.

The grape composition is unusual for Bordeaux's Right Bank:

• 52% Cabernet Franc – for floral aromas, structure and longevity; some vines date back to 1920, with the majority planted in the 1950s
• 43% Merlot – for richness, dark fruit and texture
• 5% Cabernet Sauvignon – used sparingly depending on the vintage

The average vine age is 45 years, with a planting density of 8,000 vines per hectare.

The story of Cheval Blanc's white wine, Petit Cheval Blanc, began in 2006 when the neighbouring Château La Tour du Pin, an approximately eight-hectare Cru Classé, was acquired. The vineyard was then planted almost exclusively with around 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon.

The Château Cheval Blanc portfolio is deliberately focused – three wines that express the same terroir at different levels.

Château Cheval Blanc
(Grand Vin)

The Grand Vin is the fullest expression of the entire estate. Each parcel is vinified separately in one of 52 individually sized concrete vats. The finest lots are selected for the Grand Vin blend. The wine matures for 18 months in 100% new French oak. Between 6,000 and 10,000 cases are produced per vintage. It is one of Bordeaux's longest-lived wines – the finest vintages can develop for 50 years or more.

Outstanding vintages include: 1947, 1949, 1961, 1982, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Le Petit Cheval
(Second wine, since 1988)

Le Petit Cheval comes from the same vineyards, using parcels and barrels that do not pass the strict selection for the Grand Vin. It is aged with 50% new oak and is more Merlot-dominant than the Grand Vin – more approachable in youth, yet capable of ageing for 15–20 years in good vintages.


Le Petit Cheval Blanc
(White wine, since 2015)

The estate's youngest wine is a white Bordeaux made from 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, aged in 400-litre oak barrels.