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Dassault, 70 Years of Château Life

www.lesechos.fr
April 3, 2026

Three generations after its acquisition by Marcel Dassault, the Saint-Émilion estate continues its pursuit of quality with the same energy.

This year, Château Dassault in Saint-Émilion celebrates 70 years under the ownership of the famous industrial family and fits perfectly into modern times, with updated resources and a refined style.

A long love story

A wine enthusiast, Marcel Dassault quite literally fell in love at first sight in 1955 with Château Couperie and its majestic park filled with centuries-old trees and magnificent magnolias. This property, located in the northern part of Saint-Émilion at the foot of the slopes, was immediately renamed Château Dassault, and every effort was made to elevate it to the rank of Grand Cru Classé during the 1969 classification.

Three generations later, the same energy continues to drive efforts to push quality even further. Since 2022, the vineyard of Château Faurie de Souchard, acquired in 2013, has been integrated into a unified estate. Its complementary terroirs have helped “give a new dimension to Château Dassault,” as explained by its CEO, Valérie Befve.

A precise mapping of the soils has also made it possible to initiate a large-scale uprooting and replanting plan covering 25% of the vineyard, which will be completed in 2033. A newly built gravity-fed winery also supports the implementation of more precise plot-by-plot vinification. The style of the wines clearly reflects these changes, with brighter juiciness.

Details

To celebrate this anniversary, a limited edition of 500 magnums from the 2023 vintage will feature a special label designed by Bordeaux-based artist Coline Gaulot, offering a delicate tribute to the château’s history.