A Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, Château Balestard la Tonnelle is owned by the Capdemourlin family. Its name has a dual origin: "Balestard" is the name of a canon of the Saint- Émilion chapterhouse, while "la Tonnelle" refers to an ancient stone watchtower dating from the 15th century that still stands in the heart of the vineyard.
Château Balestard la Tonnelle is mentioned in a poem by François Villon, which appears on the label.
With a surface area of 10.50 hectares, the vineyard is ideally situated at the top of a hillside on a clay-limestone plateau on the outskirts of Saint-Émilion. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines of Château Balestard La Tonnelle are vinified in the traditional way and then aged in oak barrels, half of which are renewed each year. Their elegance and rich palette of aromas are highly appealing.