The château's history is intimately linked to the Despagne family, who bought a property called Corbin in the early 19th century not far from Cheval Blanc. In 1852 Jean Despagne acquired 20 hectares of vines and continued the work started by his father, Louis, who had always wanted to create a vineyard. The name Grand-Corbin-Despagne first appeared at the end of the 19th century, and the first medals began to confirm the quality of the wines and their growing reputation. It was Paul Despagne who really established the property, developing the quality and ensuring that it remained consistent over his 40 years at its head. Today his grandchildren carry on his work, including, for the past ten years, François Despagne. He manages a vineyard of slightly more than 26 hectares, consisting of 47 plots; the iron-rich terroir is well-suited to Merlot (Pomerol is not far away!). In order to bring out the best of each plot, François Despagne vinifies meticulously each one separately.

Petit Corbin Despagne is a wonderful introduction to the property’s wines. It is a flamboyant Saint-Emilion, fruity, and can be drunk earlier than the first wine of the domain.