Le Petit Cheval, St Emilion, 2023

Name: Le Petit Cheval, St Emilion
Brand: Château Cheval Blanc
Price: 720 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2023

justerini & brooks tasting note

There is a Petit Cheval this year, and very good it is too, although only 15,000 bottles have been produced. Slightly subdued initially, then revealing a rather attractive bouquet of vibrant cherries, rose petals, fine cigar tobacco. and sandalwood. Pure, sumptuous fruit on the mid palate, very aromatic and expressive; wild berry fruit, cranberries and vanilla, wrapped in quite serious and multifaceted tannins, grippy but supple. Long, clear fruited finish - very refined.

critic reviews

92-94/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Le Petit Cheval storms out of the glass with powerful earthy/savory notes of tar, tapenade, and underbrush giving way to a core of ripe black plums, boysenberries, and iris bulb with a fragrant touch of dried Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate is satin-soft and refreshing, with a well-sustained mid-palate of savory flavors, finishing with a cheeky red berry lift. The blend is 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, aged in 1-year barrels with no new oak. Le Petit Cheval accounts for 10% of production.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2042

date of review 05/2024

93/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

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

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2044

date of review 05/2024

91-93/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2023 Le Petit Cheval, which sees no new oak, offers blackberry and raspberry fruit on the nose, with hints of fireside hearth and light Earl Grey aromas, all finely delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with expressive Cabernet Franc that imparts subtle bell pepper notes in the background. Cohesive, silky-smooth and moderate in length, this is an attractive Le Petit Cheval that will give a decade's drinking pleasure.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2038

date of review 04/2024

89-91/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

There are only 15,000 bottles of the 2023 Le Petit Cheval, a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc that didn't have quite the plenitude of the grand vin. Offering up an attractive bouquet of minty berries, cherries, plums and petals, it's medium-bodied, pillowy and vibrant, with polished tannins and a bright core of fruit. I suspect that a bit of patience will be rewarded by more fat and texture.

date of review 04/2024