Château Fombrauge

Château Fombrauge has one of the longest documented histories in Saint-Émilion. The estate's origins trace to 1466 and Jacques de Canolle, with the first recorded harvest in 1599. Over the following centuries the property passed through the Canolle, Dumas de Fombrauge, and Taffard families, each leaving their mark on the estate. International recognition came at the 1867 Paris World Exhibition, where Fombrauge earned a gold medal. A Danish trading house held the estate from 1987 until 1999, when Bernard Magrez acquired it and launched an extensive restoration programme. The Magrez era brought significant investment in both vineyard and cellar, repositioning Fombrauge among the most prominent properties in the appellation.

• Origins linked to Jacques de Canolle, 1466
• First harvest documented in 1599
• Gold medal at the 1867 Paris World Exhibition
• Acquired and restored by Bernard Magrez from 1999 onwards

Fombrauge's 58.6 hectares sit on the first line of hills of Saint-Émilion, positioned to overlook the Dordogne Valley. The soils are clay-limestone with Fronsadais molasses, a combination that supports excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture for consistent Merlot ripening. This terroir places Fombrauge on the eastern plateau-hillside zone of the appellation rather than the prestigious limestone plateau centred on the town, yet the scale and aspect of the estate give it a distinctive identity within Saint-Émilion.

• First hillside line of Saint-Émilion, overlooking the Dordogne Valley
• Clay-limestone soils with Fronsadais molasses subsoil
• Largest single classified vineyard in Saint-Émilion at 58.6 hectares
• Commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes within the Saint-Émilion appellation

The vineyard is planted overwhelmingly to Merlot, which accounts for 85 to 90 percent of the blend and shapes the estate's signature plush, forward style. Cabernet Franc makes up 10 to 15 percent, adding structure and aromatic lift, while trace amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon complete the planting. Michel Rolland's consultancy brings a consistent philosophy of ripe fruit extraction, careful oak integration, and polished tannins. The result is a wine firmly in the modern Bordeaux idiom, approachable in relative youth but structured for medium-term cellaring.

• Merlot 85-90%, Cabernet Franc 10-15%, with trace Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Michel Rolland consults on winemaking
• Modern, extraction-focused winemaking philosophy
• Classified Grand Cru Classé in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification

Fombrauge earned its Grand Cru Classé status in the 2012 revision of the Saint-Émilion classification, a direct result of the investment and quality improvements made under Bernard Magrez's ownership. The estate is notable not only for its classification but for its extraordinary scale; no other Grand Cru Classé in the appellation covers as much vineyard area. Bernard Magrez is a prolific Bordeaux proprietor with multiple classified estates, and his focus on consistent quality at Fombrauge has made it one of the more commercially visible Grand Cru Classé properties outside the Premier Grand Cru Classé tier.