Château Cheval Blanc 2024

Medium-bodied ruby red; clear and pure fruit, delicate floral notes, dark berries, cherry cola, blackcurrant, oregano; straightforward on the palate, slender, fresh, yet compact, the fruit is crisp, the tannins are fine; it doesn’t show quite the same mid-palate drive as the glorious 2021, but in terms of finesse, this Cheval Blanc is also very successful.

Strawberry and red berry fragrance, a touch herbal, milk chocolate, florality with blackcurrant and cherry. Smooth and supple, this has a softly chalky, almost creamy charm with blue fruits on the palate. Light in weight and delicate for sure, but the tannins are extremely well incorporated, giving this a rounded frame. Finessed, not tight at all, relaxed. More vertical acidity behind that pushes the flavours forward. Layered and complex, with saltiness coming in on the finish. It’s easy to drink and super refreshing. Classic, but with charm rather than tension and too much coolness. Really balanced yet still nuanced on the finish; this is multi-layered. I like this a lot. 3.61 pH. Densimetric sorting. 70% grand vin production. Vinified at 28 hl/ha.

48% Cabernet Franc, 46% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. 28 hl/ha. 54% of the harvest. Cask sample. Cabernet-led with the Merlot fleshing out the middle and providing identity. Plenty of freshness with fine, integrated tannins providing length and persistence. Light to medium weight but the oak (new) completely absorbed. Dark-fruit notes again on the finish. Less seductive than some years but has potential. (JL)

Black raspberries, plums, flowers, espresso, citrus, and hints of chocolate fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, long, clean, and intense. It shows lift and vibrancy, along with intensity and purity. This is a classic, firm, and fresh vintage for Cheval Blanc that is long, vibrant, and provides tension, length, and purity from start to finish. The key to this vintage was the willingness to make strict selections, as well as allowing grapes from 37 parcels into the blend, ensuring a true representation of the vineyard. As you can see, this is one of the stars of the vintage. The wine is made from 48% Cabernet Franc, 46% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. 12.8% ABV, 3.61 pH. The harvest began September 18 for the Merlot, finishing their Cabernet Franc on October 3. Drink from 2030-2055. 95-97 pts

(48% Cabernet Franc, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot) The nose is beautifully velvety, elegant, airy, delicate, and offers intense, racy aromatics. It shows delicacy and harmony, with lovely succulent freshness, a sense of detail, and finesse. It reveals notes of pulpy blackberry, cornflower, and, more subtly, pulpy/bright blue plum, combined with touches of roasted-elegant black cherry, lilac, hints of graphene, and a subtle touch of Bourbon vanilla. The palate is beautifully delicate, fine, fresh, elegant, airy, with suppleness and superb finesse in its texture. It also offers a delicate, airy, juicy square of silk. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/bright blackcurrant, violet, juicy/bright red cherry, combined with touches of cornflower and crushed raspberry, as well as a hint of blueberry, star anise, an almost gravelly note, bergamot, and a superb Cabernet Franc touch. The tannins are discreetly clayey.