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a featured wine
Our Cheval Blanc wines |
Parker Score hover or click for more |
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| Wine | Vintage | Case size | Price/case | Cases | ||
| Cheval Blanc | 1990 | 12×75cl | £8,200 | 1 | 98 |   |
| One of my favorite Cheval Blancs, it remains to be seen if the 1998, 2000, and 2008 will live up to this offering. It is the ripest wine of the aforementioned vintages, with a complex bouquet of tobacco leaf, Christmas fruitcake, sweet black fruits, bordering on fig and plum, but no hint of overripeness, and notions of new saddle leather, mint, and incense. The gorgeously expressive aromatics are followed by a full-bodied wine revealing abundant glycerin as well as elevated alcohol, but it is not hot, and nothing is out of place. Expansive, rich, and revealing the nuances and complexity that come from bottle age, it is at its peak of maturity where it should remain for another 10-15 years. Release price: ($3000.00/case) | ||||||
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Château Cheval Blanc
Cheval Blanc is a leading St. Emilion estate whose prized terroir famously gives expression to one of Bordeaux’s most alluring grape varities, Cabernet Franc, while the more than 40% Merlot provides its much-regarded opulence. It sits atop the famous gravel mounds in St Emilion on the Right Bank north of the Dordogne River.
Chateau Cheval Blanc has a rich history going back to 1832 when the Ducasse family purchased land from the Figeac estate, a large estate owned by the Countess Félicité de Carle-Trajet, who gradually sold-off parcels of it to numerous buyers. Six years later the Ducasse’s extended their holdings through the acquisition of further vineyards area, their holdings to be consolidated in 1852 by way of a dowry through the marriage of Mille Henriette Ducasse and Jean Laussac-Fourcaud, including the two famous gravel mounds. The new couple built the chateau building circa 1860 as well as undertaking extensive work in the vineyard. One notable aspect of this period was the introduction of a drainage system, probably the first in Bordeaux. In this period the estate reached its current extension of 41ha.
During this period Cheval Blanc was sold under the label Figeac, after the orginal purchase from the Countess de Carle-Trajet. However, by the end of the century this had come to an end, Cheval Blanc was gaining international acclaim and had the medals to prove it, which can still be seen today on the Cheval Blanc label.
The recent history of Chateau Cheval Blanc has seen the changing of the guard that has periodically accompanied every leading Bordeaux chateau. Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère bought the estate in 1998 for the former to sell his share to the group LVMH in 2009.
This time the change of guard gave rise to a period of a certain inconsistency since 2000, an excellent vintage for Cheval Blanc. The remainder of the decade saw good wines returned but overall the chateau has searched for form, it struggled in 2005 to meet with triumph again in the outstanding years of 2009 and 2010, a year which introduces a brand new cellar.
Style
Cheval Blanc displays a hallmark perfume that is at once complex and powerful accompanied by a silk-like rich texture. An exceptionally long-lived wine, it may also be enjoyed young and is one of the most opulent and regal wines of Bordeaux.
Top-rated vintages
| Vintage | RP | JR | Market price £ | £ / Parker points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 96-98 | 18.5 | 9,500 | 97.93 |
| 2009 | 98-100 | 18.5 | 7,800 | 78.78 |
| 2000 | 99 | 18.5 | 8,300 | 83.83 |
| 1990 | 98 | 18.5 | 9,350 | 95.40 |
| 2006 | 95 | 17 | 3,950 | 41.57 |
| 1947 | 100 | 16 | 41,000 | 410 |
| 2005 | 96 | 18 | 6,000 | 62.50 |
| As per July 2011 |
Market
The Right Bank wines have fallen behind overall in a fast changing market that has seen tremendous expansion with the entrance of a new and more global public. Collectors, drinkers and investors have sought refuge in the Medoc, with its simpler and consistent classification system. Nonetheless, leading right bank growers are seeing a certain return to form amid a widening of the market. Cheval Blanc has a loyal following and worldwide reputation; few are better positioned to ride the trends of the future.
Liv-ex Power 100 ranking
| 2010 | total score | 2009 | move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 193 | 21 | +1 |
As per June 2011
The Liv-ex Power 100 is a list of the top performers over the previous year and their position starting the current year. The indice traces the movement of chateau and other wines using a sophisticated weighting system based on average prices, production, notional availability and Parker Points.
Release price evolution
| Vintage | ex Negociant € / btl | London release price £ / cs |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 850 | 9,100 |
| 2009 | 700 | 7,750 |
| 2008 | 300 | 3,450 |
| 2007 | 370 | 3,600 |
| 2006 | 480 | 4,200 |
| 2005 | 480 | 4,300 |
Cheval Blanc at a glance
Commune: St. Emilion
Soils: gravel with sand and clay over a layer of compact blue clay and sand (sedimentary rock) with iron deposits.
Climate: maritime
District: Libourne
Classification: St. Emilion Premier Cru Classe (A)
Owner: LVMH and Alfred Frere
Winemaker: Pierre Lurton and Pierre Olivier Clouet.
Vineyard: 41ha/100 acres planted to 39% Merlot, 57% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vinification and ageing:steel vats followed by 18 months in new oak barriques.
Production: 6,000 Grand Vin and 2,500 Le Petit Cheval
Other wines: Le Petit Cheval (2nd wine).
