2016 Château Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint-Emilion

Together with Château Pétrus and Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc is one of the legends of the right bank. Always has an enormous concentration, but at the same time finesse and freshness. This cru is owned by the Belgian Albert Frère and Bernard Arnault. It is Pierre Lurton (from the branch of Dominique Lurton) who vinifies the wine there (just like in Château d'Yquem). This year, vinification was made for the fifth time in the ultra modern new chais by the architect Christian de Portzamparc. 50 specially shaped (tronconian) concrete cuvees are responsible for a microvinification per plot. Concrete was chosen because it has good thermal insulation and a tronconic shape because this ensures a softer extraction of the berries for better fermentation. Everything is also vinified with the principle of gravity (so the wine or berries are no longer pumped up). A huge investment in the service of quality!

The wine lover knows that 2015 and 2016 were unprecedented good years in Bordeaux and this 2016 Chateau Cheval Blanc has therefore received the maximum score of 100/100 Parker points. The harvest could be done step by step, thanks to the beautiful summer, every crop, on every piece of soil, could be harvested at the ideal, ripe moment. The harvest lasted 34 days (a record).

The 2016 Cheval Blanc is mixed with 59.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc and 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, the wine is very dark purple with a violet appearance. In the nose very complex notes of fruit, flowers (lilas and violets), herbs and freshness. Memorable concentrate of invigorating red fruit, anointing finesse and graceful fraiche. As always in a pure, refined and particularly nuanced style. With loads of kirsch, raspberry, blueberry reduction and impeccably integrated oak. After a powerful attack that is rich and full, follows a very full-bodied, pure and delicate middle taste with fine tannins that are very precise and elegant. The volume and the greasiness continue to continue in the non-ending finale.