Le Petit Cheval
Saint Emilion
Red Blend from Bordeaux, France
Bottle size:
750 ml
Shipping: R99 nationwide
Le Petit Cheval
Château Cheval Blanc undeniably asserts itself at the top of its appellation, a hegemony which is largely due to the work of its tireless director Pierre Lurton for more than 20 years, with the technical support of Pierre-Olivier Clouet. The vineyard extends northwest of Saint-Emilion to the edge of Pomerol, over 39 hectares. Cabernet Franc is present in an extremely rare proportion for the appellation (49%), almost equal to that of Merlot (47%), with a complement of Cabernet-Sauvignon. The unique quality of the terroir distinguishes Château Cheval Blanc from neighboring estates: 40% gravel, 40% clay, and sand on clay. The property has a new ecological winery designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. The wine of Château Cheval Blanc is unlike any other Saint-Emilion. It is unanimously praised for its depth, opulent texture and wonderful aromatic expression. Its ability to age is impressive. The estate produces a second wine called Le Petit Cheval, which offers a perfect introduction to the style of the vintage.
Description
This vintage of Petit Cheval has a great deal of finesse and is remarkably fresh. It benefits from a large proportion of excellent Cabernet Franc in the final blend. The very beautiful, intense ruby-red colour has brown highlights. The nose is rich and complex with floral notes such as honeysuckle. There are also overtones of very ripe fruit, liquorice, pepper, and a touch of fresh butter. 1994 Petit Cheval is powerful and full-bodied on the palate. It is also well-balanced and elegant. The oak is well-integrated and the aromas on the nose follow through onto the palate (blackcurrant, cocoa, and vanilla). This Petit Cheval is remarkably fresh with very good length. It is well-balanced and has retained much of the freshness and fruitiness of its youth.
Food Pairing
Beef, Lamb, Poultry, Game (deer, venison)