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Château Cheval Blanc Website
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Château Cheval Blanc
Order Château Cheval Blanc »
Top Vintages Produced: |
1921, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1982, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009
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Classification: |
Château Cheval Blanc – Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”
Le Petit Cheval – Appellation Saint-Émilion Contrôlée
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Varieties: |
Cabernet Franc (57%), Merlot (39%), Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), Malbec (1%)
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Wines Produced: |
Cheval Blanc – First Wine: Cabernet Franc (58%), Merlot (42%)
Le Petit Cheval – Second Wine: Cabernet Franc, Merlot
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Reserve your 2010 Château Cheval Blanc En Primeur »
History
The estate of Château Cheval Blanc is situated in the furthest corner of northwest Saint-Émilion, bordering Pomerol.
Formerly part of the Figeac estate, in 1832 the land was purchased by the Ducasse family who subsequently bought
adjacent vineyard plots and expanded the holdings over the next 20 years. In 1852 Mlle Henriette Ducasse married
Jean Laussac-Fourcaud and they continued to develop the estate with extensive plantings of Cabernet Franc on carefully
selected rootstock. One of the greatest influences the Ducasse family had on the estate was the drainage system they
carefully constructed to prevent flooding of the vineyards, the first of its kind in Saint-Émilion.
In 1998 Bernard Arnault and Albert Frère privately acquired the estate, appointing Pierre Lurton as the general manager.
Lurton, who also manages Château d’Yquem, has continued to produce the distinctive wines for which Château Cheval Blanc is
justifiably famous, wines which are at once mellow and delicate but with ample body. (read more)
Viticulture and Vinification
Unchanged since 1871, the vineyard covers 41 hectares and offers a curious mixture of gravel-, sand- and clay-based
soils, underpinned by iron bedrock. This terroir is highly unique and, combined with the unusual choice of Cabernet Franc
as the dominant variety, allows Lurton to produce one of Bordeaux’s most exotic and individualistic wines.
Assiduous care is taken during the winegrowing and winemaking process, with rigorous selection taking place in both the
vineyard and winery. Each vineyard plot is vinified separately and the wine is subsequently matured in 100% new oak barriques
for 18 months.
Although approachable in its youth, Château Cheval Blanc’s high percentage of Cabernet Franc produces a wine
that often shows better in bottle than in cask. A bit of bottle maturity is needed to allow the hallmark aromatic complexity, elegance and finesse to develop.
Classification
- Château Cheval Blanc – Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”
- Le Petit Cheval – Appellation Saint-Émilion Contrôlée
Varieties
Four varieties are cultivated: Cabernet Franc (57%) with the remainder being mostly Merlot (39%).
In addition, there are small plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon (3%) and Malbec (1%).
Wines Produced
In each vintage the blends differ slightly. However, the general make-up is as follows:
- Cheval Blanc – First Wine: The components of the blend tend to be Cabernet Franc (58%) and Merlot (42%)
- Le Petit Cheval – Second Wine: Cabernet Franc is dominant and is balanced by a small amount of Merlot
Order top vintages of Château Cheval Blanc
- Château Cheval Blanc 2009: (98-100 RP)
"Irresistible already, it is almost frightening to think how compelling this beauty should be in a few years..." – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
- Château Cheval Blanc 2008: (95-97 RP)
"The profound 2008 Cheval Blanc will rank alongside this estate's great successes..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
- Château Cheval Blanc 1990: (98+ RP)
"Expansive, rich, and revealing the nuances and complexity that come from bottle age, it is at its peak of maturity..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
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The wines displayed here only represent a small portion of our total inventory.
To check our complete stockholdings, please contact
us via email or call us on +44 (0) 20 3219 5588.
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