CHÂTEAU CHEVAL BLANC
2022 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
A real standout in 2022, Cheval Blanc is hugely successful. The sensation is one of slickness - joyfully broad and sweeping up front - but with a dark, serious line underpinning the whole. Just so approachable. Gorgeously pert dark berries, with the freshness of blueberry too, a citrus splash and a delicate waft of humidor. All delivered with real flair and sophistication, bright lines keep this charging through the palate. Almost irresistible already, full bore, and yet so refined. Really charming, loaded with structure and tannins but they are so fine, so polished that you just want more. They started picking on the 29th of August, which helped capture that freshness, and were finished by the 20th September, including a 10 day break between the early Merlot and the Cabernet. Healthy fruit from their bio-diverse vineyard proved very resilient to the conditions. Judged just right, this is a gem. There is no Petit Cheval this year - as the quality of fruit was so high they used it in the Grand Vin, which must help negate the small crop. (28 HL/HA as opposed to a more normal 35 HL/HA). 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.L&S (May 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 100% new oak (seven coopers and medium toast, between 16-18 months). 13.9% alc. 72 IPT . Harvested between 29 August – 20 September. 85000 bottles made (usually 125000 with Petit Cheval). There is a very small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in Cheval Blanc in 2022, and while I cannot necessarily detect it, I imagine without this eye-dropper of cassis, it would be a lesser creation. And this is the point of 2022 Cheval Blanc – it is a very intricately assembled wine. The other noteworthy fact in 2022 is that no Petit Cheval was made. All of the parcels were deemed good enough for the Grand Vin, and anything substandard for Cheval Blanc was sold as bulk. A super-composed nose leads the way here, with deep, dark wells of black fruit and stunning but subtle spice. This makes for a very smooth and subtle Cheval Blanc with none of the bombast or, indeed, the amplitude of some of the other top wines in this vintage. It is hard to hang onto any one theme here as there is a slippery nature to this vintage which glides across the palate without any noticeable traction or astringency. This is polished winemaking, appearing weightless and silky on the palate, and the tannins are ultra-fine, suave and hidden within the suspension of the wine. This vintage of Cheval Blanc will appeal to purists and novices alike and will drink young, too, and then last the long haul. It appears to have an array of talents that some of the previous vintages lack, and for this reason, it is one of the foremost wines on the Right Bank in 2022. Rating: 19.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2023)
Naturally on the dark side in this vintage, the aromatic definition of the fruit is brilliantly precise and determines a serene balance. This majestic balance permeates the wine from start to finish, perfectly in time. Very detailed tannins shape a dense palate that is of the utmost refinement. Rating: 97-100 La Revue du Vin de France (May 2023)
53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. No Petit Cheval this year and two parcels sold 'en VRAC' (sold in bulk to the négociants), the rest in the grand vin. Cask sample. Floral notes from the Cabernet Franc with a hint of mint and chocolate. Sumptuous texture, the fruit juicy and fresh but the perception silky and smooth. Powerfully built but ripe tannins behind. Delicious and just so refined. One of the wines of the vintage. (JL) 13.9% Drinking range: 2032 - 2055 Rating: 18.5 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (May 2023)
Kicks off with an explosive nose of freshly crushed red roses, liqourice root and smoked sandalwood. The exuberance of the vintage means that this is a Cheval that feels more approachable at this stage than many years, but no less complex. Blueberry, raspberry and cassis fruits, along with ink, soot, baked earth, incense and saffran, closing to mouthwatering lime and mandarin zest that add juice and length on the finish. Just a great wine from director Pierre Olivier Clouet and the team. 100% new oak barrels for ageing. Harvest began on August 29 (earliest ever, with 80% of Merlot bought in by the end of August), then Cabernet Franc in by September 20. 3.86ph. No Petit Cheval this year, but just 78% of production in the 1st wine. And this is the first year where Cheval Blanc is just a simple, lowly AOC St Emilion, after its withdrawal from the classification. A potential 100 points. Rating: 98-100 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2023)
This is a wine that soars to new heights with its brightness and weightlessness. The balance of serene fruit that’s perfectly ripe. Full-bodied yet tight and polished where it seems delicate and compressed, with berry, chocolate and walnut character. The finish is endless and poised. Wine of the vintage? 53% merlot, 46% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. Rating: 99-100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
One of the stars of the vintage is the striking 2022 Cheval Blanc, a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, cherries and wild berries mingled with mint, orange zest, pencil lead, vine smoke and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and gourmand, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, saline, pungently perfumed finish. Harvest began on 29 August, with all the Merlot picked before the month was out, and the result is a wine that is as vibrant as it is lavish. Rating: 97-99+ William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)
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.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.