Château Cheval Blanc 2021

Château Cheval Blanc reveals a Saint-Emilion wine with a great aromatic freshness and a perfect balance

The estate

Known all over the world, the Grand Cru Classé A Château Cheval Blanc is one of the legendary winemaking estates on the right bank of the Bordeaux region. The property's Second Wine, Petit Cheval, offers a superb introduction to the excellence of Cheval Blanc: a refined, powerful wine, with punchy and delicious fruit on the palate. With a new winery designed by Christian de Portzamparc and inaugurated in June 2011, Château Cheval Blanc continues to be an important part of the legend of Bordeaux’s greatest wines.

The vineyard

Château Cheval Blanc boasts a unique and rare 39-hectare terroir that enjoys a special position on the Saint-Emilion plateau. While the appellation of Saint-Emilion is known for its limestone formations, Château Cheval Blanc is situated on Quaternary alluvium soils of Isle, a non-limestone formation with a varied texture, combining gravel and clay soils in roughly equal proportions. This unique soils is quite similar to those of the finest estates of Pomerol.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage is characterised by rainfall and temperatures which are within the season’s average range. Nevertheless, a higher-than-average amount of rainfall was recorded during the months of May and June. The summer months alternated between sunshine and some minor rainfall. By mid-August, dry weather set in and lasted until the harvest. This enabled the grapes to complete a slow and heterogeneous ripening process while providing the fruit with a pleasant concentration.

Vinification and ageing

Following the grape harvest between September 22nd and October 14th, over 65 days after the veraison period for certain plots, the grapes are taken to the cellar. The ‘’haute-couture’’ vinification process of Château Cheval Blanc is based on a fresh maturation of the grapes along with a pure plot-based vinification, with the use of indigenous yeasts and a gentle extraction. Maceration is long and pumping over is carried out manually. Only one délestage is carried out during the 4-week vatting period. Before the wine is aged in new barrels, malolactic fermentation is carried out in vats. This process lasts 16 months.

The blend

Cabernet Franc (52%)

Merlot (43%)

Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).

Château Cheval Blanc 2021: Characteristics and tasting tips 

The tasting

Colour

Château Cheval Blanc 2021 showcases an intense and deep dark red colour.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet harmoniously exudes aromas of ripe red fruit, wild berries, blackberry and blackcurrant. Violet, spice and subtle woody aromas add to the highly elegant ensemble.

Palate

Château Cheval Blanc 2021 opens with a savoury, powerful attack, followed by an exquisitely supple and round expression. The tannins are round and intense. The aromatic persistence of this wine is impressive and its remarkable freshness will stay long on the mind and the palate.