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2013-PETIT-CHEVAL-Grand-Cru-Saint-Emilion-Château-Cheval-Blanc

PETIT CHEVAL

2013 Grand Cru Saint Emilion Château Cheval Blanc

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Saint Emilion & Satellites
Village Saint Emilion
Classification Grand Cru

There is no Quinault l'Enclos this year as it was hailed completely, so the tasting at Cheval Blanc kicks off with the Petit Cheval. 79% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc. 60% new wood. They tried not to force the extraction to retain 'balance and elegance', says Kies van Leuwen. Light and bright in aroma, it actually has good weight, the expression very cool, silky textured, full. Intensity builds subtly to a reasonably long and balanced finish. Rating: 91 L&S (Apr 2014)


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A one-dimensional, elegant, but unsubstantial effort, this light- to medium-bodied 2013 reveals plummy mocha and black cherry fruit, but not much of it. The wine falls off on the palate, and should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. 2014-2018 Rating: 84-86 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)

(75% merlot and 25 cabernet franc): Vivid ruby-red. Complex, scented nose is very cabernet franc-dominated, offering delicately spicy blackcurrant, truffle, mint and leafy aromas. Juicy, silky and sweet, with highly nuanced flavors of aromatic herbs and flowers. Not especially dense but wonderfully expressive today, finishing with a firm but polished tannic spine. Pierre Lurton told me that this estate went after only their really ripe cabernet franc and therefore had no issues with dilution. One of the best second wines of the year, this is more successful than many grands vins in 2013. Very well done. Rating: 86-89 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)

The nose is sweet fruited and the palate has depth the richness of ripe fruit. Black plum enriches the mid palate the sweet fruit underpinned by freshness and supported by firm but fine tannins. The finish has black fruited richness. 2017-27. Rating: 89-92 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)

Château Cheval Blanc

Château Cheval Blanc sits at the pinnacle of the St Emilion meritocracy, unarguably alongside Château Ausone and arguably alongside Château Angélus and Château Pavie, the two estates elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) status in 2012. But, whilst the other three are clustered around the village of St Emilion, Cheval Blanc is far to the north-west and possibly only a St Emilion by accident of human geography. This is not classic St Emilion limestone and clay territory, Château Cheval Blanc (and neighbouring Figeac) sits on the gravel band that benefits its northerly neighbours across the road and across the border in Pomerol, namely Château Conseillante and Château l’Evangile. Next door Château Figeac was once a mighty estate of some 200ha, but by the early 19th Century the extravagances of the Comtesse de Carle-Trajet had taken their toll and large portions of the estate had to be sold off. Jean-Jacques Ducasse bought a plot of Figeac in 1832, and then a little bit more; his son-in-law, Jean Laussac-Fourcaud bought some more; and by 1871 Château Cheval Blanc had been carved out of the Figeac estate. Initially the wine was still sold as Château Figeac but from 1852 the name Château Cheval Blanc was used. The Laussac-Fourcaud family, morphing into the Fourcaud-Laussac family, owned Cheval Blanc until 1998. With the first classification of St Emilion’s vineyards in 1954, Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone were given special status as Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). New owners in 1998 brought Pierre Lurton in to manage Château Cheval Blanc, something he does alongside managing Château Yquem. A new space-age looking winery was completed in 2011. The 39ha of vineyards are planted to 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot, with an average age of 40 years. They were augmented by a 1.4ha block added from Château Tour du Pin in 2012. Another block of vines from Tour du Pin appear to be destined for white wine production.

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