Château Cheval Blanc
Diversity brings complexity
In the north-east of Saint-Émilion, near the border with Pomerol, lies the vineyard of Château Cheval Blanc. The vineyard covers 39 hectares and consists of 45 parcels, all of which are considered to be separate vineyards. This is due to the different ages of the vines, grape varieties and soil types per parcel. These differences explain the overwhelming complexity in the wines of Cheval Blanc.
Back to the 15th century
The history of the Cheval Blanc vineyard dates back to the 15th century. At the time of the French Revolution, two wine farmers worked full-time in the vineyard. This was very unusual at the time and shows how high the prestige of the land was. In the 19th century, a few parcels of Château Figeac were used to expand the vineyard to its current size. In 1852, the first wine was sold under the name “Cheval Blanc”.
Today, the vineyard is graced with a futuristic wine cellar designed by Christian de Portzamparc.
Wine lovers and friends
In 1998, the château came into the hands of wine lovers and friends Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère. Baron Albert Frère, who died in 2018, was known as the richest man in Belgium. His companion Bernard Arnault is founder of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, a conglomerate with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and TAG Heuer.
Premier Grand Cru Classé A
Since 2012, the wine of Cheval Blanc belongs to the absolute top with a classification of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. The complexity and the wide window when it comes to drinkability make the wine extremely popular among wine lovers. The vineyard is different from the Saint-Emilion profile, due to the high proportion of Cabernet Franc. Cheval Blanc is a rich wine that is not heavy despite its full-bodied taste.
Star on the big screen
Cheval Blanc, like the Angelus wines, has a modest supporting role in a James Bond film, namely “Never Say Never Again”. The wine also shines in The Naked Gun 33 1/3, Frasier and the Disney film Ratatouille. Of course, Cheval Blanc wine is all about the taste, but the TV appearances will certainly have benefited the château.