Le Petit Cheval 2023

Beautiful bouquet, eucalyptus and minty herbs over pure cassis fruit, cherries; juicy and fresh on the palate, the tannins of Cabernet Franc are somewhat reminiscent of a Loire wine, on the edge of ripeness and precisely for that reason full of character and breed.

Very floral and highly perfumed on the nose. Supple and agile, this has weight and a super smooth texture—quite tart and high in acidity though, with liquorice, aniseed, clove, and some wet stone minerality that gives the fine tannins a real chalky grip around the mouth. It’s a little austere and youthful, but it has structure and muscle and lots of ripe fruit as well as freshness. Not charming and welcoming but sleek, straight, and focused. Ageing 14–16 months in one-year barrels. pH 3.8.

Cherry blossoms, chocolate, plums, black cherries, and flowers create the aromatics. Medium-bodied, silky, elegant, and fresh, with a voluptuous texture that sets the table for the chocolate-covered black cherries, plums, and truffles. The wine is perfectly balanced between its freshness, and its opulent nature. There was a time when second wines were simply second wines. Clearly, that is no longer the case. You can enjoy this on release and for the following 2 decades after that. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc, with 50% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2042. 93-95 Pts.

Dark ruby, an opaque core with purple reflections, and a subtle ochre rim. Delicate herbal savouriness, ripe cherries, a hint of blackberry and liquorice, with candied orange zest in the background. Medium complexity, cherry, ripe tannins, mineral and saline, a hint of nougat on the finish, a substantial food wine.

50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot. A fine, very delicate bouquet of redcurrant, sandalwood and light tobacco, followed by cranberry juice and coriander, with hints of iris. On the elegant palate, a silky texture, playful yet taut freshness, a tightly knit tannic framework and a straight, linear body. The focused finish shows red berries, heather and refined minerality.

Precise carved quality to this Petit Cheval, with gorgeous vibrancy to the tannins, savoury cassis and blueberry fruits, edged with sage, fennel and lemongrass, and grilled, mouthwatering spices on the finish. Drawn from five plots in 2023. Pierre Olivier Clouet, director, yield of 40 hl/ha, 10% of overall production, harvest from September 6 to October 3.

Score: 92–94. On the nose, there are pure, enticing notes of violet and black fruits, with a sweet touch. Dense and voluptuous on the palate, the wine shows superb suppleness, like rich silk brocade, with an incredibly flavorful texture.

The nose is beautifully crafted and precise, with an airy feel. It reveals notes of blackberry, pulpy/fresh small black fruits and, more lightly, fleshy blackcurrant, alongside hints of sour cherry, floral touches (lily, iris), a delicate sappy note and a very subtle touch of blueberry. The palate is nicely juicy, fruity and balanced, with a tangy, fresh, pleasantly saline/iodine-tinged backbone, energy and precision, a fine freshness and well-managed, pleasant bitters. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, fresh/crunchy raspberry and, more lightly, bright small black fruits, combined with hints of racy, saline/iodine-like minerality, fresh flowers and subtle touches of light fresh toasting, star anise, creamy/fresh small blue fruits, as well as delicate toasted notes, cardamom and a discreet hint of toasted almond. Good length; the tannins are mouthwatering, flavoursome and subtly mellow. A creamy freshness on an airy palate, with depth, a touch of concentration and suppleness. A pleasing sense of density in freshness, nicely defined in its richness. A fine handling of pleasant bitters on the finish.

93-95. Barrel Sample. This second wine of Cheval Blanc is produced from four separate parcels that can change each year. It has dense black-fruit aromas and great spice and layers of acidity. The wine is balanced, concentrated and likely to age well.

Offers a seductive, crumpled velvet mouthfeel, along with gently steeped black cherry and black currant fruit flavors laced with alder, sweet bay and warm stone notes. All that in a generally forward and accessible package, though there’s enough to merit mid-term cellaring. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2035. 1,250 cases made, 90 cases imported.