Château Cheval Blanc produces the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world and is without a doubt the leading estate in St Emilion. Vines have been grown here since the 15th century but the most prestigious part of Cheval Blanc's history can be said to date from 1832, when Jean-Jacques Ducasse, President of the Libourne Trade Tribunal, purchased the core of the present-day estate. Over the next twenty years, the purchase of plots belonging to Château Figeac led to the creation of the 39 hectare vineyard as we know it today.

The marriage of Jean-Jacques' daughter, Henriette, with Jean Laussac-Fourcaud, a Libourne wine merchant, opened a new chapter in the history of Cheval Blanc that would define and consolidate the identity of this unique property. Her husband, aware of Cheval Blanc's outstanding potential and helped by an extraordinary intuition, replanted part of the estate in the 1860s with a totally atypical proportion of grape varieties: half Merlot (the king of the Right Bank) and half Cabernet Franc.

Formerly known as vin de Figeac, the wine was first sold under the name Cheval Blanc in 1852 and so began a prestigious career. By the 1880s Cheval Blanc was considered to be on a par with the first growths of the Médoc and in 1954 was one of only four estates that was given the highest possible distinction in the first classification of St Emilion: Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”.

In 1998 Bernard Arnault (owner of LVMH) and Baron Albert Frère purchased Cheval Blanc. They asked Pierre Lurton to manage the property for them. Cheval Blanc is turned resolutely towards the future. An impressive new cellar was completed In 2011 which is both futuristic and in keeping with the surrounding historic landscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today Pierre Lurton now manages their other estates, Chateau d’Yquem, Chateau La Tour du Pin and Quinault l’Enclos.

Saint-Émilion is one of Bordeaux's most historic wine appellations, located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River approximately 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux city. The appellation encompasses the medieval town of Saint-Émilion and eight surrounding communes, with vineyards planted across a diverse landscape of plateaus, hillsides, and sandy plains. Saint-Émilion received AOC status in 1936 and operates under its own classification system, separate from the Left Bank's 1855 Classification.

The appellation's terroir is notably varied, featuring three distinct soil types: limestone plateaus around the town itself, clay-limestone slopes (côtes), and sandy-gravel soils (graves) in the plains toward the Dordogne. This diversity allows for different expressions within the same appellation. The climate is oceanic with maritime influences from the nearby river systems. Merlot dominates plantings and typically comprises 60-70% of most blends, supported by Cabernet Franc and smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon. The appellation produces exclusively red wines, with many estates holding Grand Cru status.

Saint-Émilion wines are generally more approachable in their youth compared to Left Bank Bordeaux, owing to the predominance of Merlot. They typically display rich fruit flavors with plum and blackberry notes, complemented by earthy minerality that reflects the limestone soils. The Cabernet Franc component adds structure and aromatic complexity, while the diverse terroir creates wines ranging from elegant and mineral-driven on the plateaus to fuller-bodied and fruit-forward from the clay slopes.