Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse

The estate sits on a south-southwest facing limestone plateau on the western slope of the Saint-Émilion côtes, adjoining Château Bélair-Monange. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone, with the deeper profiles featuring clay over a dense asteriated limestone subsoil. This combination of excellent drainage, mineral richness, and favorable sun exposure defines the house style. The moderately oceanic climate, with an average annual temperature of 12.8°C, allows for measured ripening and the preservation of natural acidity, both essential to the estate's characteristic tension.

• South-southwest aspect maximizes sunlight on the plateau
• Asteriated limestone subsoil provides drainage and mineral character
• Clay-limestone surface soils retain moisture during dry periods
• Neighboring Château Bélair-Monange shares similar plateau geology

The Duffau-Lagarrosse family acquired the property in 1847, and it remained in family hands for over 170 years. The estate earned its Premier Grand Cru Classé designation in the 1969 classification of Saint-Émilion. Despite the prestige of the ranking, the property went through periods of relative obscurity before a transformative resurgence beginning around 2009. In April 2021, the Courtin-Clarins family, best known for the Clarins cosmetics group, purchased the estate in a partnership arrangement with Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, ensuring continuity of the family connection alongside significant investment in facilities.

• Family ownership from 1847 to 2021, over 170 years
• Premier Grand Cru Classé B status confirmed in 1969 classification
• Courtin-Clarins family acquisition completed April 2021
• Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse retained a partnership role post-sale

Nicolas Thienpont, who also oversees Pavie-Macquin and Larcis Ducasse, took the lead at Beauséjour HDL from 2009 onward, working alongside a series of prominent consultant oenologists including Stéphane Derenoncourt and Michel Rolland. This period marked a step change in quality and precision. The wines lead with Merlot at 81%, supported by Cabernet Franc at 16% and a small contribution of Cabernet Sauvignon at 3%. The result is a wine that balances power with mineral elegance, reflecting the limestone plateau as much as the fruit. A new chai completed by 2024 further modernized production capabilities.

• Nicolas Thienpont has managed the estate since 2009
• Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt among consulting oenologists
• Merlot-dominant blend with meaningful Cabernet Franc backbone
• New winery chai built and operational by 2024

Few estates on the Right Bank can match the scoring pedigree of Beauséjour HDL. Robert Parker awarded a perfect 100 points to the 1990 vintage, a score that placed the estate on the global fine wine map. The resurgence under Thienpont brought two more perfect scores, with both the 2009 and 2010 vintages receiving 100 points. Three centuries of winemaking on this site, combined with three perfect scores across two very different eras, makes the estate a compelling subject for understanding the evolution of Saint-Émilion winemaking.

• 1990 vintage: 100 points from Robert Parker
• 2009 vintage: 100 points from Robert Parker
• 2010 vintage: 100 points from Robert Parker
• Three 100-point scores span more than two decades of production