Château Le Prieuré

Château Le Prieuré, originally known as Cru des Cordeliers, has been shaped by a series of notable proprietors. The Guichard family acquired the estate in 1897, and it remained in their hands for over a century. Olivier Guichard, a prominent French statesman who served as Minister of State and Chief of Staff for General de Gaulle, owned the property until 2004, when management passed to his daughter Aline and her husband Paul Goldschmidt. In 2017, Artémis Domaines, the wine division of the Pinault family, took ownership. Suravenir, part of the Arkéa banking group and also the proprietor of Calon-Ségur in Saint-Estèphe, completed its acquisition of the estate in 2020.

• Guichard family ownership began 1897 and lasted over a century
• Olivier Guichard held the estate until 2004; Aline Guichard and Paul Goldschmidt managed it until 2017
• Artémis Domaines (Pinault family) owned 2017 to 2020
• Suravenir/Arkéa group acquired in 2020, connecting the estate to Calon-Ségur

The 6.24-hectare vineyard occupies a privileged position on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau and its clay-limestone slopes, with a south-facing aspect that maximises ripening potential. The plateau soils are predominantly calcareous, contributing finesse and elegance to the wines. The slope parcels introduce clay into the mix, adding force, texture and density to the blend. This combination of soil types across a relatively small estate allows winemakers to build wines of both precision and structural complexity. The climate is temperate oceanic with continental influences, a characteristic shared across the Saint-Émilion appellation.

• Calcareous plateau soils deliver finesse and elegance
• Clay-limestone slope soils add force, texture and density
• South-facing aspect across the estate's 6.24 hectares
• Temperate oceanic climate with continental influences

The estate is planted exclusively to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the classic pairing of the Saint-Émilion plateau. Merlot thrives on the calcareous and clay-limestone soils, delivering ripe red fruit and roundness, while Cabernet Franc brings floral character, spice and structural definition. Stéphane Derenoncourt, one of Bordeaux's most respected consulting oenologists, has guided winemaking at Château Le Prieuré since 2006. His influence is associated with precision viticulture and a restrained, terroir-focused approach to vinification.

• Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the sole varieties grown
• Merlot excels on the calcareous and clay-limestone soils of Saint-Émilion
• Stéphane Derenoncourt has consulted since 2006
• Derenoncourt is known for precision, terroir-driven winemaking across Bordeaux

Château Le Prieuré holds Grand Cru Classé status within the Saint-Émilion classification, having been included from the very first iteration of the ranking in 1954, formally published in 1955. Unlike the Médoc classification of 1855, the Saint-Émilion classification is subject to periodic revision, meaning estates must maintain quality standards to retain their standing. Le Prieuré sits in the broader Grand Cru Classé tier, below the Premier Grand Cru Classé designations held by estates such as Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Pétrus's neighbour, Figeac.

• Grand Cru Classé since the 1954/1955 Saint-Émilion classification
• Saint-Émilion classifications are reviewed periodically, unlike the static 1855 Médoc ranking
• Grand Cru Classé sits below Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) and (B) tiers