Le Petit Cheval 2023

The elegance and balance of a second wine from Saint-Émilion

The estate

Known worldwide, Château Cheval Blanc, 1er Grand Cru Classé A, is one of the legendary estates of the wines from the right bank of the Bordeaux region. The Second Wine of the estate, Petit Cheval, offers a superb introduction to the excellence of the grand wine Cheval Blanc, with wines that are refined, powerful, with a palate of striking and delicious fruit. With a new cellar designed by Christian de Portzamparc and inaugurated in June 2011, Château Cheval Blanc continues to write the legend of the greatest wines of Bordeaux.

The vineyard

Château Cheval Blanc benefits from a unique and rare terroir composed of 39 hectares that enjoy a particular position on the plateau of Saint-Émilion. While the Saint-Émilion appellation is known for its limestone formations, Château Cheval Blanc is located on the quaternary alluvium of the Isle, a non-limestone formation with a varied texture, combining gravel and clay soils in roughly equal proportions. This particularity of the soils means that this estate benefits from soils similar to those of the greatest wines of Pomerol.

The vintage

The beginning of the year is marked by a period of great freshness that does not impact the buds that appeared at the end of March for the Merlots and the beginning of April for the Cabernet Francs. The flowering took place at the end of May under good conditions, suggesting satisfactory yields. The vineyard was spared from mildew pressure as well as excessive water stress, particularly during the two heat peaks at the end of August, thus ensuring high-quality harvests carried out from September 6 to October 3 under very good conditions.

Blend

The Petit Cheval 2023 is the result of a blend of Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Franc (50%).