Chateau Cheval Blanc St. Emilion, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with a history of the property, plus information on their wine making techniques and their terroir, along with wine tasting reviews and links.
Chateau Cheval Blanc, which is translated into white horse has a long, colorful history which, can be traced back to 1832. In that year, the Ducasse family purchased land from the much larger Figeac estate to form their own Bordeaux wine property. At that time, Figeac was owned by Countess Félicité de Carle-Trajet. The Countess sold portions of her estate to numerous interested buyers. That explains why so many chateaux include the word Figeac as part of their name.
In 1838, the Ducasse family seeking to enlarge their holdings purchased more land in St. Emilion. All this land eventually formed Cheval Blanc. In 1852, when Mille Henriette Ducasse married Jean Laussac-Fourcaud, she came with a dowry that included the recently recently acquired Bordeaux wine vineyards. The land featured 2 of the 5 gravel mounds running through Cheval Blanc and Figeac. This was an amazing dowry! The family Laussac-Fourcaud further augmented the Bordeaux wine estate with additional purchases. By 1871, they accumulated a total of 41 hectares. Cheval Blanc remains that size to this day.
Around 1860, when the chateau was being built, extensive work took place in the vineyards as well. This included the most modern development at the time which was the network of drains placed in the fields. Cheval Blanc was probably the first estate in the Right Bank to install this ystem. In the burgeoning years of the property, they sold their wine under the Figeac label. Bordeaux wine history was made when that arrangement came to an end. Cheval Blanc began winning medals for their wine. Those medals are pictured on the labels today. In 1893, when Jean Laussac-Fourcaus passed away, his son Albert began managing the property. His children took over managing the estate after he died.
In 1998 Cheval Blanc was purchased by Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère. They asked Pierre Lurton to manage the property for them. In 2009, LVMH purchased the shares owned by Bernard Arnault.
While 2000 was a perfect Bordeaux wine vintage for Cheval Blanc, for the remainder the decade, Cheval Blanc produced good, but never amazing wines. For Cheval Blanc, they missed the mark in 2005. With 2009, they produced a candidate for wine of the vintage.
In 2010, with the help of famed architect Christian de Portzamparc, the chateau began a major construction project. This project included building a new winery, barrel cellars, vinification rooms, tasting areas and work will be done with the landscaped gardens.
Being located on the Pomerol border is part of the reason for the voluptuous quality of Cheval Blanc. In fact close to 30% of their terroir resembles that of the top Pomerol estates. The terroir of Chateau Cheval Blanc consists of 3 different soils. The Bordeaux wine vineyards of Cheval Blanc are planted deep layers of gravel, sandy clay over compact blue clay and sndy clay with iron deposits. Those three unique soils allow the 91.4 acre Bordeaux wine vineyard to express a unique style of wine.
The vineyards are planted with 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot. The terroir and the unique plantings with so much cabernet franc help to produce one of the most opulent, majestic wines in the world.
The beauty of Cheval Blanc is the complex, powerful perfume paired with textures that can feel as soft as polished silk and velvet. The wine feels incredibly rich. Yet it’s never heavy. Cheval Blanc can be enjoyed young. However, it is one of the longest lived Bordeaux wines being produced. As you can see from my notes, the legendary 1921 is still going strong at close to 90 years age! I hope I show that well when I’m 90.
7 Comments
Laurent… I am not a big fan of the Bordeaux wine produced by Cheval Blanc in the 70’s. You will love the 2009. If I had enough money, I would buy it. It reminds me of Petrus in that vintage. It’s intense purity and perfect refinemet with an endless finish.
Jeff – Nice write-up. Glad I found your site, and how cool that it all started with a dowry! Now I’m dying to try the 2009 CB. I produce a Napa “Right Bank” blend, and love to blind-taste with St. Emilions to learn, learn, learn. I have a group of collectors and customers in LA with whom I’d like to organize a special RB Bordeaux dinner party… possibly include a 1961CB…!! Maybe you would advise/join us. I have a shortlist of RB estates to try recommended by my first winemaking consultant. I had this missionary idea, waiting to taste my 1st CB on pilgrimage to the estate, but not sure I can delay gratification much longer…
Hi Emily
What a great post! If it works for you and my schedule, please let me know when your Right Bank dinner is. I’d be honored to join you. If you need any help arranging things, please let me know.
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I’d love to read your shortlist of Right Bank estates that were suggested to you. I have more than a few in my cellar and I’m always happy to share.
You can send me an Email through the site. Just use the Contact icon in the navigation bar.
Unfortunatly not.
A very good 1975.
I should soon taste the 2009.
Laurent… Have you tasted 90, 98 or 2000 lately? Those are for me, the best recent vintages of Cheval Blanc, along with wonderful 1983.
I am a big fan of the 2001 Chaveal Blanc as well!
I really loved Cheval-Blanc 1982 (twice) and Cheval-Blanc 2005 (en primeur) : a great score !