Magnum Petit Cheval - Château Cheval Blanc - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. A masterful showing from the oft-overlooked second wine, which outclassed many a Grand Vin under blind conditions. The 2009 has a classy, sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, cherry and a cheeky touch of espresso. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasurable tealeaf and bay leaf element that complements the ripe spicy black fruit. This has a lot of character with a very composed finish. Just a shame it is as expensive as it is. Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

(a 65/35 blend of cabernet franc and merlot): Moderately saturated medium red-ruby. Cabernet franc-dominated aromas of black cherry, licorice and flowers. Juicy, vibrant and light on its feet, with currant and violet flavors accented by herbs and pepper. Not at all fat but nicely smooth in the middle palate and on the lingering aftertaste, which features fine-grained tannins and lovely perfume. Nothing austere about this second wine.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2012

This has density and heft, but stays pure and almost accessible now, thanks to its lovely, rounded feel, which allows the plum, fig, steeped black currant, melted licorice snap and loam notes to hang gracefully through the finish, with well-buried acidity. Best from 2013 through 2023. 1,665 cases made. –JM

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

Possibly the finest second wine Cheval Blanc has yet produced, the 2009 Le Petit Cheval is a blend of 35% Merlot and 65% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits more caramelized notes than the grand vin along with a luscious, open-knit, subtle herbaceous component. This fleshy, sexy 2009 is ideal for drinking over the next decade.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

This has a little more Cabernet Franc than usual. Intense aromas of dried flowers, spices and blueberries. Full-bodied, juicy and fruity, with a beautiful softness and polish. Goes on for minutes. Best Petit Cheval. The second wine of Cheval Blanc. Best after 2018.

Le Figaro

91-93 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe grenat. Nez assez ouvert. En bouche, souple et assez frais, honnête matière, assez élégant, petite sécheresse, 65 % cabernet-franc, 35 % merlot.

timatkin.com

93 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010

14.2% alcohol. 658 CF, 42M The second wine of Cheval Blanc benefited from a couple of parcels of Cabernet Franc that didn’t make it into the grand vin, so it’s a correspondingly supple, aromatic wine. Brambly, black fruit-scented with a touch of greenness adding acidity and bite. Creamy mid-palate with well-handled oak. Well worth buying if you can’t get hold of (let alone afford) Cheval Blanc. 10+ years.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

(65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot; pH 3.87; 14.3% alcohol) Deep ruby. Vinous nose offers precise and surprisingly deep aromas of blackcurrant and strawberry. Enters light and smooth, with nicely concentrated flavors similar to the aromas. The extremely silky tannins are not at all those of a second wine, and this Petit Cheval displays much greater than usual texture and depth of flavor as well. Finishes with lively acidity and a lingering blackberry quality. A tasty, well-made, nicely balanced midweight wine that should offer immediate drinking pleasure, this is one of my three best "second wines" of the vintage.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/17/2010

Tiefes Purpur. Fast rauchiges Bouquet, viel Korinthen, schwarze Pflaumenhaut, Tabak, tolle Gewürznoten. Am Gaumen schwarzbeerige Aromen, veloursartige Textur. Wird eines Tages wie der geniale Petit Cheval 1990 schmecken, in einer etwas direkteren Form. 2016-2024

Le Point

15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Deux tiers merlot, un tiers cabernet franc. Résine, épices, fruits rouges, bouche ronde, bien grasse, moelleuse, beau fruit, beaucoup de longueur; l'alcool se fait sentir un peu en finale. O=2012 G=10 ans

TAST

17-17,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Le tanin est superbement fin. Le vin est long, élancé, brillant et très soyeux; l'ensemble est parfaitement représentatif du style du grand vin. C'est l'un des plus beaux Petit Cheval jamais réalisé.

Wine Enthusiast

88-90 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010

Density with an important structure, this wine is concentrated, with fresh plum flavors. There is a slight edge of greenness, bringing out acidity.

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Verhalten, stoffiges Beerenkonfit, Zwetschkenröster, Kräuterwürze. Präsente Tannine, rotbeerige Frucht, extraktsüßer Kern, zart nach Bitterschokolade, schwarze Kirschen, edelbitter im Abgang.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

The 2009 Le Petit Cheval is the best second wine I have ever tasted from this estate. Composed of twothirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Franc, it is better than most vintages of the grand vin from the sixties and seventies. Notes of chocolate, black cherries, herbs, and spice emerge from this full-bodied, thick, juicy wine. Enjoy it over the next 10+ years. (Tasted once.) Drink 2010-2020. (91-93*) points

Periodic Review of Wine

92-94 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

The large-scaled Petit boasts an opaque purple hue followed by white flower perfumes, lead-pencil dust, minerals, blueberry, and crème de cassis. There is wonderful intensity, definition of flavors, a mineral-driven style, a full-body and density. This beauty is somewhat old-school in style, but, there is excellent length to this wine. It has the potential to last close to two decades. This is the finest Petit yet tasted! Maturity period 2014-2028+

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

Delivers plum and spices on the nose, with hints of coffee and black licorice. Full-bodied, offering a wonderful silky texture and a long, long finish. So inviting and delicious already.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/8/2010

65% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot. Mild, low-key, soft nose. A little inky and awkward at the moment. Chewy finish not integrated with the fruit. A bit of alcohol on the end. This does rather taste like offcuts (15% only, apparently) rather than a wine in its own right. Awkward acidity on the end too. 14.3% Drink 2015-2025.