Château Cheval Blanc St-Emilion 2022 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

With apple trees between the vines, chickens, sheep and a few pigs, Cheval Blanc has a sustainable vision of agriculture. The 39 hectares of this legendary estate occupy a prime position on the appellation's sandy-gravel plateau, which is slightly more clayey on its northern flank, near Pomerol. Cheval Blanc is distinguished from its neighbors by its legendary longevity, due to the high percentage of Cabernet Franc. Pierre Lurton, its director since 1991 (he also presides over Château d'Yquem) and his talented teams apply rigor and spirit to perpetuate its inimitable style. 2018, 2019 and 2020 are superb.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

With its sovereign depth and balance, Cheval Blanc 2022 is a summit of elegance. 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and a 1% Cabernet Sauvignon make up a very grand cru, out of a class of its own. The color is dense, intense and finely lustrous. Cherry, redcurrant, blueberry, violet, mint, exotic spices, a mineral touch of graphite, the nose is a nuancier of admirable precision. This precision continues on the palate, which is ample, dense, concentrated and yet almost light, delicious and airy, so silky, delicate, masterfully fresh and supported by tannins of absolute finesse. The finish, at once sweet and lively, long and broad, is the sign of a vibrant wine of exquisite refinement. 2030-2050

About the domain :

Originally a simple Figeac tenant farm, Cheval Blanc became an independent property in 1832 when Jean-Jacques Ducasse, president of the Libourne court, bought it and had the present château built. His descendants undertook major works, including drainage, and by the end of the Second Empire, the vineyard had reached its current size (37 ha) and was one of the most renowned in Saint-Émilion. Its Pomerol-style terroir, with gravel and ancient sand over clay, explains the originality of its grape varieties, predominantly Cabernet Franc, complemented by Merlot. The descendants of President Ducasse remained at the head of the estate until it was bought out in 1998 by Bernard Arnault (LVMH) and Albert Frère. The latter appointed Pierre Lurton as general manager and endowed the château with a new winery, built by Christian de Portzamparc.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Against a backdrop of heightened competition between premier grands crus classés, and after a period of neglect (until 2005), the return of the property owned by businessmen Albert Frère and Bernard Arnaud to the elite of Saint-Emilion has been a resounding success. A new page is being written on this exceptional sandy-gravel terroir on the edge of Pomerol, with a vineyard that relies on a high proportion of Cabernet Franc, including 8 hectares planted in 1956, giving the grand vin a unique freshness and depth of flavor. Since 2011, vinification has taken place in the new, airy winery designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. A tall, vast, luminous, elementary and ecological vessel. 55 custom-built, corseted and profiled ivory cement tanks. The "beautiful and useful" tool that captain-director Pierre Lurton and technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet dreamed of. This spectacular, but not ostentatious, investment follows a vigorous return to viticulture since 2008. With its confirmation as a premier grand cru classé A in the 2012 classification, the land base has expanded. For the first time, 1.40 ha from the annexation of Château Tour du Pin (a mound of clay in perfect continuity with the château's driveway) is included in the grand vin. Never the most powerful, Cheval Blanc is nonetheless capable of offering rare elegance and refinement. These characteristics are found in the last five vintages and justify Cheval Blanc's return last year to the select group of three stars.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Château Cheval Blanc 2022 is 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged exclusively in new oak barrels. This is the second year in a row that no Petite Cheval has been produced. (The last was in 2015.) Its deep purple color gives way to a captivating Cheval Blanc, with fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, spice, flowers, spicy wood and white truffle. These continue in a medium- to full-bodied wine that is remarkably pure, elegant and harmonious. Rich and round on the palate, with a complex, harmonious texture, velvety tannins and a lingering finish. It evokes a more refined and elegant version of the 2010 vintage, and has nothing to envy it. With an alcohol content of 14% and a balanced pH of 3.83, it can be kept in bottle for a good ten years, and will have a total lifespan of 40-50 years or more. 2035-2085

Yves Beck

About the wine:

No second wine in 2022. The result is 78% first wine, while 22% went to bulk. A lot of finesse, elegance, with a beautiful harmony between all the elements present, and there are a lot of them! Dark berries, licorice wood, spices, a touch of red fruit, hints of peony and, in the background, hints of garrigue and ageing, complexity is at its peak. On the palate, the wine immediately displays density, charm and temperament. It is linear, smooth, detailed and vigorous. Tannins and a fine austerity consolidate the finish, ensuring an unlikely freshness and energy. These appear on the finish and offer great potential. Those who want to drink it young will enjoy it, but not as much as those who can wait. For my part, along with the 2009, this is one of the greatest Cheval Blancs of the last 20 years. So much definition, precision and persistence. 2030-2060

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

The blackest color ever seen at Cheval Blanc! Intense, subtle, complex, deep nose. Hints of raspberry, blackberry, licorice and anise. The entry into the mouth is very strong. Immediately, the wine is ultra caressing and fat, with the radiant tactile class that this cru knows how to offer. And this unctuousness becomes juicy. Opulence rises, without deviating the wine from its aesthetic axis. Ah, the lofty majesty of wealth that abuses nothing! This taste port is both brilliant and incomprehensible. Magnificent sapid length.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Stunning in every way, this wine has everything to please, and more! The bouquet is striking, blending flowers, black cherries, saffron, black raspberries, plums, smoke, licorice and a hint of citrus. The palate, sensual to the core, is even more exquisite, gaining in intensity with each passing minute. Silky, sexy, concentrated and perfectly balanced, this wine is remarkably fluid. The extraordinary sensation of fruit purity invites a second sip to fully savor every detail. The finish, which lasts an exceptional 60 seconds, gives way to a continuous wave of opulent fruit that lingers long after leaving the glass. This wine is composed of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. An exceptional wine in the making, not to be missed if you can afford it. To be enjoyed between 2028 and 2065.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego