Le Petit Cheval 2000

A standout 2nd wine in the 2000 vintage, and a fraction of the price that you will pay for the main estate wine of Cheval Blanc, even if still something of an investment. I almost suggested the 2010 Petit Cheval, also an incredible wine, but the 2000 is just at such a lovely moment to drink right now, full of creamy black fruits, mint leaf and tannins that have softened up enough to make it a no-brainer. 100% new oak.

The fully mature 2000 Le Petit Cheval reveals some herbal notes interwoven with sweet red currants. Medium-bodied with lots of spice and menthol, the wine tails off in the mouth. It needs to be drunk up.

For those not lucky or rich enough to purchase the 2000 Cheval Blanc, there is an alternative ... the 2000 Le Petit Cheval. This offering has often been an afterthought, but the 2000 possesses some of its bigger sibling's character. A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc (40% of the production made it into this wine), it does not have the mass or depth of the Cheval, but this exceptional effort offers sweet, concentrated, plush flavors, wonderful opulence, and lovely density. This beauty will be drinkable upon release, and will last for 12-15 years. Believe it or not, the 2000 Le Petit Cheval is better than some vintages of Cheval Blanc have been over the last two decades.