Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne

Appellation : Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

Ever-present in Saint-Emilion, winegrowers for centuries, and at Grand Corbin-Despagne now for over 200 years. While we can trace the origins of the vineyard back “only” two centuries, records of the presence of the Despagne family in Saint-Emilion go back more than 500 years. From that time, each generation of the family enjoyed successful careers in the field of viticulture, before the family finally took up its vocation of wine production. François Despagne, representing the seventh generation at the helm, takes great pride every day in working the lands of his ancestors and rising to the challenges of a unique and multi-faceted terroir. His inquisitiveness and passionate commitment to these lands led him to convert the vineyard to organic farming in 2004, an intuitive decision motivated by his respect for the eco-system in which the previous six generations had lived. The Grand Corbin-Despagne vineyard, located on the Grand Corbin plateau and made up of its characteristic blue clay soils, produces wines with freshness, in density with elegance that age beautifully in bottle.

Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne

Appellation : Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

The owner's pitch.

“After completing my studies in molecular biology (with a specialisation in microbiology, œnology and ampelology) and gaining experience in advising and managing wine properties, I was asked by my family in 1996 to take over the wine estate. I today represent the seventh generation of the same family on the land of Grand Corbin. The common thread in my work as a winemaker is anticipation, respect and stability, which enables me to produce the best possible wine in each vintage. With careful monitoring and decision-making during the whole of the growing season, I aim to make a precise wine that reflects the wine’s terroir and the identity of our Grand Corbin area and is worthy of its origin, which has given it its renown for nearly 200 years.”
François Despagne

Focus on the Chateau.

Surface area

28.79 hectares

Wine types

Red

Ageing

50% in new barrels
50% in one-year-old barrels

Grape varieties

75% Merlot
24% Cabernet Franc
1% Cabernet Sauvignon

Environmental protection

Open for tours

By appointment

Wines.

Each vintage is unique. However, all of them have an undeniable family trait -complex hints of red berry and floral notes, developing with bottle-age towards more spicy nuances and hints of truffle, violets and cherries, underpinned on the palate by delicate, unctuous and velvety tannins. When young, the wines of Grand Corbin-Despagne pair perfectly with red meat and game dishes. Older, they are a wonderful match for white meat and poultry dishes, even fish dishes.