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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

With apple trees nestled among the vines, chickens, sheep, and a few pigs, Cheval Blanc has a sustainable approach to agriculture. These are just some of the assets of this legendary 39-hectare estate, which occupies a prime location on the sandy-gravel plateau of the appellation, with slightly more clay on its northern flank, towards Pomerol. Cheval Blanc stands out from its neighbors thanks to its legendary longevity, due to the high percentage of Cabernet Franc in its blend. Pierre Lurton, its director since 1991 (he also presides over Château d'Yquem), and his talented teams demonstrate rigor and ingenuity in perpetuating its inimitable style. The 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages are superb.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

With its supreme depth and balance, Cheval Blanc 2022 is the epitome of elegance. 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and a touch (1%) of Cabernet Sauvignon make up this exceptional, extraordinary vintage. The color is dense, intense and finely polished. Cherry, redcurrant, blueberry, violet, mint, exotic spices, and a mineral touch of graphite: the nose is a palette of admirable precision. This precision continues on the palate, which is full-bodied, dense, concentrated, and yet almost light, delicious, and airy, with a silky, delicate texture, masterful freshness, and tannins of absolute finesse. The finish, both soft and lively, long and broad, marks a vibrant wine of exquisite refinement. 2030-2050

About the estate:

Originally a simple farmstead in Figeac, Cheval Blanc became an independent property in 1832 when Jean-Jacques Ducasse, president of the Libourne court, purchased it and built the current château. His descendants undertook major works, particularly drainage, and by the end of the Second Empire, the estate had reached its current size (37 hectares) and was among the most renowned in Saint-Émilion. Its terroir, similar to that of Pomerol with ancient gravel and sand on clay, explains the originality of its grape varieties, dominated by Cabernet Franc and complemented by Merlot. The descendants of President Ducasse remained at the helm of the estate until it was bought in 1998 by Bernard Arnault (LVMH) and Albert Frère. The latter appointed Pierre Lurton as general manager and provided the château with a new winery, designed by Christian de Portzamparc.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

Against a backdrop of increased competition between the premier grands crus classés, and following a period of neglect (until 2005), the return of businessmen Albert Frère and Bernard Arnaud to the Saint-Émilion elite has proved sensational. A new chapter is being written on this exceptional sandy-gravelly terroir on the edge of Pomerol, with a vineyard that relies heavily on Cabernet Franc, including 8 hectares planted in 1956, which gives the great wine a unique freshness and depth of flavor. Since 2011, vinification has taken place in the new, airy cellar designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc. A tall, vast, luminous, elemental, and ecological vessel. Fifty-five custom-made, corseted, and contoured ivory cement vats. It is the "beautiful and useful" tool that captain-director Pierre Lurton and technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet had dreamed of. This spectacular but unostentatious investment follows a vigorous overhaul of the vineyard since 2008. With its confirmation as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the 2012 classification, the estate's land base has expanded. For the first time, 1.40 hectares from the annexation of Château Tour du Pin (a clay hill in the perfect extension of the château's driveway) have been included in the grand vin. Although never the most powerful, Cheval Blanc is capable of offering rare elegance and refinement. These characteristics can be found in the last five vintages and justify Cheval Blanc's return last year to the exclusive club of three-star wines.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Château Cheval Blanc 2022 is composed of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged exclusively in new oak barrels. This is the second consecutive year that no Petite Cheval has been produced. (The last one dates back to 2015.) Its deep purple color gives way to a captivating Cheval Blanc, with fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, spices, flowers, spicy wood, and white truffle. These linger in a medium-bodied to full-bodied wine that is remarkably pure, elegant, and harmonious. Its rich and beautifully rounded palate offers a complex and harmonious texture, velvety tannins and a lingering finish. It evokes a more refined and elegant version of the 2010 vintage, and is every bit as good. With an alcohol content of 14% and a balanced pH of 3.83, it can be kept in the bottle for a good ten years and will have a total lifespan of 40 to 50 years or more. 2035-2085

Yves Beck

About wine:

No second wine in 2022. This results in 78% first wine, while 22% was sold in bulk. Lots of finesse and elegance, with a beautiful harmony between all the elements present, and there are many! Whether it's black berries, licorice wood, spices, a touch of red fruit, hints of peony and, in the background, notes of garrigue and aging, the complexity is at its peak. On the palate, the wine displays density, charm, and temperament from the outset. It reveals itself in a linear fashion, without a hitch, with a wealth of detail and vigor. The tannins and a fine austerity consolidate the finish and ensure an unlikely freshness and energy. These appear at the end of the palate and offer great potential. Those who want to drink it young will enjoy it, but not as much as those who are willing to wait. For me, along with the 2009, this is one of the greatest Cheval Blancs of the last 20 years. Such definition, precision, and persistence. 2030-2060

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

This is the darkest color ever seen at Cheval Blanc! Intense, subtle, complex, and deep on the nose. Hints of raspberry, blackberry, licorice, and anise. The attack is very powerful. Immediately, the wine reveals itself to be ultra-caressing and rich, with the radiant tactile class that this vintage is known for. And this creaminess becomes juicy. The opulence increases without detracting from the vintage's aesthetic balance. Ah, the majesty of richness that never overdoes anything! This taste is both brilliant and incomprehensible. Magnificent length and sapidity.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Breathtaking in every way, this wine has everything to please, and much more! Its bouquet is striking, blending flowers, black cherries, saffron, black raspberries, plums, smoke, licorice, and a hint of citrus. The palate, sensual to perfection, is even more exquisite, gaining intensity with each passing minute. Silky, sexy, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, this wine is remarkably fluid. The extraordinary sensation of purity in the fruit invites you to take a second sip to fully savor every detail. The finish, with an exceptional length of 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. Best enjoyed between 2028 and 2065.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego