Château Cheval Blanc, Le Petit Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux 2018
Overview of the Wine
The present-day Cheval Blanc vineyards had vines at least as far back as the 18th century, as shown by Belleyme's map of the region dated 1764. Nearly a century later, the estate was acquired by the Fourcaud-Laussac family who owned it until 1998, when it was sold to Mr Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère.
The vineyard is in a single block, and borders on the Pomerol appellation. An outstanding terror and unusual proportions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot give this great wine an absolutely unique flavor. Chateau Cheval Blanc has had a greater number of outstanding vintages than any other classified great growth over the past century.
Another unusual characteristic of Cheval Blanc is that once it reaches its peak, it maintains it for a very long time. This admirable wine is powerful, soft, rich, round and silky. It has tremendous fruit and elegance as well as exceptional quality from year to year.
Grape / Blend
74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Sémillon
Origin
Bordeaux, France
Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Ruby red color, characteristic of its youth.The nose starts out intense, with balsamic notes and aromas of cocoa, caramel, and vanilla, combined with fruity nuances reminiscent of cherry and strawberry. Swirling in the glass enhances these fruity hints. The wine’s freshness is brought out with licorice overtones along side wonderfully expressive notes of Virginia tobacco. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied and silky, with round, delicate and smooth tannin mid-palate.The long finish is redolent of very ripe red fruit. A very rich wine that is guaranteed to please!
98 Points - James Suckling
A wonderful and rather exotic white with aromas of pears, lychees, lemons and some green apples that follow through to the palate and show layers of dreamy texture and a long, flavorful finish. The texture is more like a red that a white. Fermented and aged in slightly larger oak barrels. This is a special wine and the best release so far. Very intense. 74% sauvignon blanc and 26% semillon. One for the cellar.
95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Cheval Blanc's relatively new white wine, the 2018 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, is a blend of 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Sémillon. This is the first vintage that the Sémillon plantings have come online to make the blend. Profound notions of ripe pineapple, passion fruit and white peaches explode from the glass, followed by fragrant notes of lemongrass, lime blossoms and yuzu zest with a waft of sea spray. The palate is full-bodied with an alluring oiliness to the texture and layer upon layer of tropical fruits, citrus peel and minerals, marked by a refreshing line and finishing with loads of mineral sparks. Put aside all your preconceptions of "Bordeaux Blanc" and don't even try to compare it to Pessac-Leognan. This has its own gorgeous expression of these grapes, defying regional tradition. Give yourself over to the rich decadence of this flamboyant white that is at once without peers, but is also quintessentially Cheval Blanc.
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
With its ripely herbaceous character, this wine is both rich and intensely fresh. Wood aging has contributed spice to the superripe flavors. Still young, the wine opens onto a blend of citrus and yellow fruits underlined by spice. Drink this wine from 2023.
92 Points - Wine Spectator
This shows a juicy edge, with a very focused mix of white peach, ginger, fennel and mandarin notes racing through. Chiseled finish.
Product size: 750ml
