The Producer
Château Cheval Blanc, located in Saint-Émilion, is one of the most prestigious estates in Bordeaux. Its history began in the mid-19th century when Jean Laussac-Fourcaud set out to combine several plots from Figeac and other neighboring properties. Quickly, the estate established itself thanks to the vision of its owners and the constant pursuit of a balance between tradition and innovation. By the end of the 19th century, Cheval Blanc had gained an international reputation, solidified by its classification as Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 1954, a status it would maintain until the reorganization of the classification in 2022.
The Cheval Blanc vineyard extends over approximately 39 hectares at the border between Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, a unique location that partly explains the uniqueness of its wines. The terroir is a subtle blend of clays, gravel, and sands, offering perfect drainage and exceptional diversity of microclimates. This rare marriage allows for an expression that is both elegant and powerful, where the cabernet franc, the emblematic grape of the estate, reveals all its finesse, complemented by merlot for roundness and depth.
Today, Château Cheval Blanc is owned by LVMH (Bernard Arnault) and Albert Frère, two major figures in the business and luxury world. Under the technical direction of Pierre Lurton, the estate upholds a philosophy of absolute excellence: sustainable viticulture, parcel-by-parcel vinification, and attention to detail. The winery, designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc, embodies this modernity in service of tradition. Each vintage of Cheval Blanc expresses a rare harmony between power, aromatic complexity, and freshness, confirming its status as a legend among the great wines of the world.
The Wine
At the end of the harvest, the grapes are crushed, whole bunch, and then pressed in a closed cage pneumatic press. The clear juices are cooled (without any addition of oenological products) and then settled after 24 hours. The musts are fermented with indigenous yeasts selected since 2011 on the estate, and then put into barrels of different sizes as soon as fermentation starts. At the end of fermentation, the wines are sulfited to block malolactic fermentation.
The aging then begins. The wines are aged for 15 to 18 months in large containers and spend 2 winters in the cellar to ensure their natural (tartaric and protein) stability.
Tasting
The wine has a light greenish hue, bright and clear.
The first nose expresses citrus notes followed by white-fleshed fruits (peach, pear) and yellow fruits (pineapple, vine peach). A great floral character (white flower, linden) appears on the second nose. The palate, reminiscent of its elder Château Cheval Blanc, starts discreetly before developing a beautiful volume, rich and creamy, leading to an elegant, fresh, and refined finish.
This is a wine where tension, power, and dynamism are balanced by a freshness and a persistent aromatic quality of great pedigree.
Scores and Notes
96
Vinous