Château Cheval Blanc 2022

100% of the grapes went into the Grand Vin. An astonishing nose—noble, clear and pure like a mountain stream—fruit, violet blossoms, tea, herbs, ginger, lactic notes; on the palate, great elegance, almost two mouthfuls of wine, perfectly ripe tannins, outstanding structure and length. Perhaps the greatest Cheval Blanc ever produced?

The 2022 Château Cheval Blanc has turned out beautifully in bottle, bursting from the glass with aromas of minty mulberries, licorice and rose petals mingled with hints of pipe tobacco and baking chocolate. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it's layered and unctuous, with sweet, powdery tannins and a broad, enveloping profile, concluding with a long, fragrant finish. Flamboyant but controlled, this blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon spent only 12 months in barrique. There's no Petit Cheval this year, as what little wasn't deemed up to the level of the grand vin was sold off in bulk.

Loganberry, boysenberry and blackberry compote notes give the core an almost outsized feel, but there's restraint and focus, as touches of warm loam, licorice root and smoldering tobacco keep this well-grounded. There's cut and drive too, even though this is dense and slow-moving, with alder smoke, Turkish coffee and bittersweet cocoa checking in. Then a lilting black tea and violet backdrop emerges at the very end, adding grace and sensuality. A marvelous expression of a distinctive vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2028 through 2050. 6,845 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Extremely aromatic—floral and perfumed, with rich dark black fruits, liquorice, crayon, blueberries, and purple flowers, lifted by hints of mint. Fresh and vibrant from the start, this has a defined core with tension and structure. Velvety-soft tannins and precise, mouthwatering fruit with a creamy touch that enhances its sumptuous feel. Juicy and clean, with a vein of liquorice spice that adds seriousness. With air, it softens and becomes more chewy and round—gentle yet utterly moreish. Graphite minerality lingers on the finish. A charged yet charming Cheval Blanc that will benefit from air to fully express itself. 78% grand vin, no Petit Cheval, with the remaining 22% (press wine) sold as bulk. pH 3.83.

Extremely perfumed, showing red roses and violets as well as hints of flower stems. A touch of sandalwood. This turns to blue fruits with such pure grape character, like smelling must. Savory, light brine and black olives. The palate is tight and refined before taking off at the end. The perfectly integrated tannins melt into the wine, giving it fascinating tension and intensity. 53% merlot, 46% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028.

Mind-blowing in every sense of the word, this has everything you could ask for in a wine, and more! The perfume is striking with its display of flowers, black cherries, saffron, black raspberries, plums, smoke, licorice, and a background note of citrus. The sensuous palate is even better, building in intensity as the wine lingers. Silky, sexy, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, the wine is seamless. The extraordinary sense of purity in the fruit makes you take another sip just to taste it all over again. The finish hits the 60-second mark and, without a care in the world, leaves you with continuous waves of opulent fruit that linger long after the wine has left the glass. The wine is made from 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a future legendary wine that, if you can afford it, you don’t want to miss. Drink from 2028–2065.

Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, aromas of delicate smoky spices, dark cherry, a hint of ripe plum, a touch of nougat, and some candied orange zest in the background. The elegant palate is firm and juicy with ripe tannins, hints of cherry and clove, and a touch of nougat on the saline mineral finish which has verve and length. Already very harmonious, this wine has enormous ageing potential, designed to last decades.

The 2022 Château Cheval Blanc is based on 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up entirely in new oak, and this is the second year with no Petite Cheval produced (2015 was the last). Its deep purple color is followed by a riveting Cheval Blanc with fabulous aromatics of blackcurrants, spice, flowers, spicy wood, and white truffle. These carry onto a medium to full-bodied 2022 that’s remarkably pure, elegant, and seamless, with a layered, rounded mouthfeel, absolutely riveting purity, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It calls to mind a more refined, elegant version of the 2010 and is every bit its equal. At 14% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.83, it deserves a solid decade of bottle age and will offer 40–50+ years of prime drinking.

An extraordinarily deep, black-berried bouquet: noble violet perfume, freshly picked Alpine blueberry, morello cherry juice, dark chocolate, and a delicate iris scent. On the regal palate, super-silky tannins and a cashmere-like tannic framework, a David-like body that seemingly glides across the floor with incredible pedigree. The cascading finish is profound and magically balanced; in the never-ending, exalted finale, wild cherry, tarragon, and freshly ground cocoa emerge. This wine usually shows shy and reserved during en primeur, but not this year: like a top model, it struts down the catwalk, fully aware of its beauty! “A super sexy and super serious Cheval Blanc,” Pierre-Olivier proudly sums up. Only the highest score will do—this is one of the wines of the vintage. Of the (possible) 41 plots, all are in the Grand Vin, meaning there is no Petit Cheval this year.

Expressive aromatic profile, generous structure. The Cabernet Franc pulls its weight in terms of tension and freshness, infusing the luscious fruits with mint, roses and peony. Showcasing the opulent side of Cheval Blanc while retaining a finesse and classic uplift, pulses of electricity, as ever careful construction and just a ton of utter pleasure, harvest 29 August to 20 September, earliest ever, 3.8 pH, 28 hl/ha yield. No Petit Cheval, and first year since stepping back from the classification.

A bucolic, sapid nose revealing hypnotic, juicy, inviting fruit. Slate nuances intertwine with notes of honeysuckle and tulip. On the palate, the fluidity is sensational, evoking raw silk that glides and caresses the palate. The finish, with magical purity, is so indulgent it becomes almost irresistible.

No second wine in 2022. As a result, 78% is first wine, while 22% was sold in bulk. Plenty of finesse and elegance, with a beautiful harmony between all the elements—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 élevage, the complexity is at its peak. On the palate, the wine immediately shows density, charm, and temperament. It unfolds in a linear, seamless way, with myriad details and vigor. The tannins, along with a fine austerity, shore up the finish and deliver improbable freshness and energy. These emerge on the back end and offer great potential. Those who choose to drink it rather young will take much pleasure, though not as much as those who wait. For me, along with 2009, it is one of the greatest Cheval Blanc of the last 20 years. So much definition, precision, and persistence.

Here is the deepest color ever seen at Cheval Blanc! Intense, subtle, complex, and deep nose. Notes of raspberry, blackberry, licorice, and anise. The attack on the palate starts very strong. Immediately, the wine shows itself ultra-caressing and rich, with the radiant tactile class that this cru knows how to offer. And this creaminess turns juicy. The opulence rises without deviating the cru from its aesthetic axis. Ah, the lofty majesty of richness that never overdoes it! This flavor profile is both brilliant and unfathomable. Magnificent, highly sapid length. Blend: 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 14.25% – pH: 3.80. Low yield of 29 hl/ha. The Cabernet Franc berries were under 1 g. No production of Petit Cheval in 2022.

With big, ripe fruit balanced with elegance and spice, this wine has weight and concentration. The juicy acidity is a fine contrast to the dark blackberry flavors and tannins. A great wine that will age well, it should be ready from 2029.