The Delicate
Le Petit Cheval
AOC Saint-EmilionRed wine
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
14.3%
Barrel
16°C
Pairs excellently with elegantly prepared meat and earthy flavours: veal loin with morel sauce or duck breast with thyme jus. Also goes well with porcini risotto or tagliatelle with truffles.
Château Cheval Blanc has been building its reputation since the 19th century from vineyards that once belonged to Figeac, and early on established a high proportion of Cabernet Franc as a stylistic feature. Named a Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 1954, the estate embodies the symbiosis of tradition, scientific curiosity and precise parcel work; Le Petit Cheval is the second wine that interprets this philosophy in an accessible way.
Ruby red, initially balsamic on the nose with hints of cocoa, caramel and vanilla, followed by red fruit – cherry and strawberry – with a touch of liquorice and light tobacco. Soft on the palate, silky and transparent, with finely polished tannins; the mid-palate is full and balanced, the finish carried by juicy red fruit and a cool, clear line.
Hand-picked by plot, spontaneous fermentation with the estate's own yeasts, gentle extraction and long maceration. Aged for 16 months, half in new and half in one-year-old French barriques.
Grapes from the mosaic of terroirs at Cheval Blanc on the border with Pomerol: warm gravel and sand layers alternate with cooler, water-retaining clay soils. This combination allows for ripe fruit, fine freshness and the typical, exciting texture of the wine.
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