| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Cheval Blanc's second label is used for fruit not considered up to the quality level required for the grand vin but still of a high standard. It's not produced every year. In 2018 16% of the crop was sold off in bulk, 10% only went into Petit Cheval from 5 plots that all went into the Cheval Blanc itself in 2016 (so 1500 cases) and 74% into the grand vin. Pierre-Olivier Clouet believes this to be the best vintage ever for Petit Cheval which is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.
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This shows beautiful density of fruit, but the tannins arrive at the end and show impressive length and density. Full body. Wild fruit. Excellent second wine from Cheval.
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Le Petit Cheval rocks up with open-knit notes of crushed black raspberries, plum preserves and mulberries, plus hints of wild mushrooms, pencil lead, mossy tree bark and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush, juicy and pretty much ready for business, featuring plenty of earth and black fruit layers, finishing long with a spicy kick. Ten percent of the total production this year went into this second label of Cheval Blanc. I'd give it just another year or two in bottle to fan its tail out a little more and then drink it over the next 15-18 years. Drink: 2022 - 2040
Bright ruby in colour, with a fragrant nose of vanilla pod, bramble fruit and black pepper. The palate is extremely refined and glossy, with seamless tannins melting into bright, fleshy red and black fruits. Superb intensity without any heavyness, and a rounded, forward finish of summer pudding fruits make this absolutely delicious, and a wine that will drink well when young.
In the running for the top second wine of the vintage, the 2018 Le Petit Cheval checks in as 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and has incredible quality for a second wine. Floral notes of black cherries, graphite, and smoked earth all emerge from this medium to full-bodied Saint-Émilion that has plenty of classic Cheval Blanc elegance and purity as well as length. It’s already seamless and hard to resist, and ideal for drinking over the coming two decades or so.
(70 Merlot, 30 Cabernet Franc) | 50% new oak for 12 months | 14.5% alc | 20% percent of 18000 bottle production went into this wine More closed and firm and rather mineral-soaked and a little bit too hard right now to fall in love with. There seems to be a lack of generosity and there is a tough finish, too, and this makes this a difficult wine to taste. The lack of overt flesh and juiciness makes me want to mark it down, but I can see a faint glimmer of fruit in the core, which will undoubtedly emerge given time. There is a chance that this might turn out to be one of the great second wines of the vintage but it will be a very long wait! I am crossing my fingers.
“This year, this is truly a baby Cheval, right in line with the grand vin,” commented Technical Director Pierre-Olivier Couet. Ten percent of the total production this year went into this second label of Cheval Blanc. Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Le Petit Cheval needs a lot of coaxing to encourage subtle nuances of crushed rocks, fallen leaves, potpourri and fertile loam to emerge before giving way to fragrant notes of warm blueberries, black raspberries, kirsch and unsmoked cigars with a touch of Marmite toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers layers of fresh, crunchy black fruits and loads of earthy sparks, framed by soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long.
