2017 Petit Cheval
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Mid ruby colour. Dried leaves, graphite and cool red fruit on the nose – complex and enticing. There is elegance here, but there is a threat of being too lean and light. Dried leaves and pencil shavings. Both the tannins and acidity remain balanced, preventing a harsh edge. It may improve with time. (TP)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Tom Parker MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Petit Cheval is a very pretty second wine. Expressive Franc aromatics give the 2017 freshness and vivacity that make it wonderfully inviting. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice, sage, mint and white pepper are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop in the glass. Classy and polished to the core, the 2017 is flat-out delicious.
A blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple 2017 Le Petit Cheval strides confidently out of the glass with notes of baked black cherries, blueberry preserves and warm plums plus wafts of tilled soil, chargrill and Marmite toast with a hint of cardamom. Medium-bodied, the palate is very tightly knit at this stage with lovely tension defining the earth-laced black fruits, finishing minerally with a bit of chew. Tiny quantities of around 4,500 bottles were produced.
The 2017 Le Petit Cheval has a tightly wound bouquet with blackberry, briary, hints of aniseed and black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, plenty of black fruit that feels dense with light touches of green pepper notes towards the finish, courtesy of the Cabernet Franc. The 5,000 bottles production was deemed too small to release commercially so for the time being this will remain at the château.
About the producer
Ch. Cheval Blanc is one the finest producers in Bordeaux. The Saint-Emilion estate’s Cabernet Franc-dominant wines are consistently among the top wines of the vintage.