Petit Cheval Blanc - Bordeaux 2022

Petit Cheval Blanc - Bordeaux 2022

Petit Cheval Blanc, a bold white wine

For more than 10 years, Château Cheval Blanc has challenged itself to produce a great white wine on this small 6.6 hectares vineyard nested in the parcels of its elder. This wine is a genuine variation, in white, of the identity of Cheval Blanc, and benefits from the same exacting standards and rigor as its elder sibling. It is crafted from a blend of some 12 different plots, on sandy and clay soils, where 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% sémillon fit perfectly.

The 2022 vintage

The 2022 vintage is one of the driest on record at the estate, joining the years 2005, 2011 and 2015, which saw annual rainfall totals of between 500 and 550 mm. But it is above all the average annual temperature, at 15.4°C, that is quite exceptional: never before have average temperatures exceeded 15°C. As the vineyard lacked water from the start of the cycle, it was clear from the beginning of the season that the whole cycle would be early. The drought of 2022 significantly limited berry size, therefore yields. Unsurprisingly, the harvest took place very early, between August 18th and 20th. The heat waves at the end of August were therefore avoided for Le Petit Cheval blanc. 

Tasting notes

The nose is elegant and temperate, with yellow-fleshed fruit, citrus, zest and beeswax notes. Airing the wine, brioche, butter and pastry notes also emerge. Flowers are also prevalent, white flowers and lime blossom. The very fresh nose is also characterised by the generosity of this sunny vintage. The palate is round and supple. The acidity, less pronounced in this vintage, combines with a bitterness that stretches and lengthens the wine. The wood, though very discreet, adds volume and complexity to the texture on the palate.