Cheval Blanc reigns unquestionably over Saint-Émilion. Its distinctive blend, dominated by Cabernet Franc, gives it a style and elegance admired across the Right Bank. Although it contains no Cabernet Sauvignon, this Premier Grand Cru Classé A remains an outstanding wine for ageing, evolving over years—indeed decades—to ultimately reveal highly complex bouquets where mocha intertwines with truffle and hints of raspberry.

Indispensable for lovers of great wines, this legendary cuvée is capable of retaining remarkable concentration even in very old vintages.

The iconic 1947 Cheval Blanc is the perfect proof: regarded as one of the five greatest wines in the world, it has matured for more than half a century, continuing to captivate the fortunate few who have the chance to taste it.

More than a century and a half ago, the property was part of the great Figeac estate, another monument of the Libournais region. It was separated in two stages when 15 hectares of vines were ceded to the Ducasse family. The Ducasse children expanded the vineyard and divided the shares of the Société Civile du Cheval Blanc, the estate's new name. It was during the 18th century that the ingenious idea of blending Merlot, the region's traditional grape variety, with Cabernet Franc emerged; the Cheval Blanc style was born!
During the 19th century, the winemakers of the Libournais saw their Médoc neighbors rise to the rank of "cru classé," although the quality of Saint-Émilion Merlots would take longer to achieve equivalent success. Nature would take its revenge with the phylloxera crisis, which was much kinder to Cheval Blanc, allowing it to produce wines of consistent quality while its neighbors faced catastrophe. This event enabled Cheval Blanc to find its way onto counters around the world and finally obtain the recognition it deserved.
If the 19th century smiled upon the Médoc, the 20th was undoubtedly that of Saint-Émilion. In 1954, the village's crus were classified, and Cheval Blanc obtained the illustrious rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. It was equaled only by Ausone until the 2012 revision allowed Château L'Angélus and Château Pavie to also join this very exclusive circle.
Today...
In 1998, Albert Frère and Bernard Arnault purchased the shares of the Société Civile du Cheval Blanc. A new cellar was built in 2011, the work of architect Christian de Portzamparc. As the first cellar to be awarded the HQE (High Environmental Quality) label, this resolutely modern space allows for precision winemaking that lives up to Cheval Blanc's ambitions. Always atypical due to its grape varieties, Cheval Blanc has remained one of the best ambassadors of its appellation... And one of the greatest wines in the world.