Chateau Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval Bordeaux Blanc 2016
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
The refined, yellow grapefruit nose and the elegant first impression on the palate hardly prepare you for the tidal wave of flavor and freshness that then hits you. Yet, the wine remains so light-footed and delicate. Then you glide into the distance through the very long, silky finish. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pow! The 100% Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Le Petit Cheval Blanc explodes from the glass, delivering a tantalizing perfume of ripe peaches, mango and fresh pineapple with hints of lime blossoms, lemongrass, fresh ginger and spearmint plus a waft of cedar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with tropical and stone fruit flavors complemented by a compelling textural component and a racy line of acid, finishing very long and very delicious.
Rating: 94+ -
Jeb Dunnuck
While the red deservedly gets all the attention from this estate, they make a thrilling white as well. The 2016 Le Petit Cheval Blanc is all Sauvignon Blanc brought up in barrel. It boasts a vivid light gold color to go with notes of key lime pie, crushed citrus, and white peach that build beautifully with time in the glass. It’s balanced, medium-bodied, and pure.
Other Vintages
2021-
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
- Decanter
-
James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
The present-day Cheval Blanc vineyards had vines at least as far back as the 18th century, as shown by Belleyme's map of the region dated 1764. Nearly a century later, the estate was acquired by the Fourcaud-Laussac family who owned it until 1998, when it was sold to Mr Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère.
The vineyard is in a single block, and borders on the Pomerol appellation. An outstanding terror and unusual proportions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot give this great wine an absolutely unique flavor. Chateau Cheval Blanc has had a greater number of outstanding vintages than any other classified great growth over the past century.
Another unusual characteristic of Cheval Blanc is that once it reaches its peak, it maintains it for a very long time. This admirable wine is powerful, soft, rich, round and silky. It has tremendous fruit and elegance as well as exceptional quality from year to year.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
One of the most important wine regions of the world, Bordeaux is a powerhouse producer of wines of all colors, sweetness levels, and price points. Separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a coastal pine forest, this relatively flat region has a mild maritime climate, marked by cool wet winters and warm summers. Annual weather differences create significant vintage variations, making Bordeaux an exciting French wine region to follow.
The Gironde estuary, a defining feature of Bordeaux, separates most of the region into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. Farther inland, where the Gironde splits into the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, the bucolic, rolling hills of the area in between, called Entre-Deux-Mers, is a source of great quality, approachable reds and whites.
The Left Bank, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, contains the Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes, as well as the region’s most famous chateaux. Merlot is important here as the perfect blending grape for Cabernet Sauvignon adding plush fruit and softening Cabernet's sometimes hefty tannins. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec may also be used in the Left Bank Bordeaux wine blends.
Merlot is the principal Bordeaux wine variety of the Right Bank; Cabernet Franc adds structure and complexity to Merlot, creating wines that are concentrated, supple, and more imminently ready for drinking, compared with their Left Bank counterparts. Key appellations of the Right Bank include St. Emilion and Pomerol.
Dry and sweet Bordeaux white wines are produced throughout the region from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and sometimes Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris. Some of the finest dry whites can be found in the Graves sub-appellation of Pessac-Léognan, while Sauternes is undisputedly the gold standard for sweet wines. Small amounts of rosé and sparkling Bordeaux wines are made in the region as well.