Tasting Notes
JancisRobinson.com – 16.5
Tasted blind. Scented. Mellower texture than most of its peers with the tannins insisting only on the very end of the palate. Dry finish but good juicy fruit on the way there.
Anticipated maturity: 2027-2042
Robert Parker – 92
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Le Petit Cheval rocks up with open-knit notes of crushed black raspberries, plum preserves and mulberries, plus hints of wild mushrooms, pencil lead, mossy tree bark and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush, juicy and pretty much ready for business, featuring plenty of earth and black fruit layers, finishing long with a spicy kick. Ten percent of the total production this year went into this second label of Cheval Blanc. I’d give it just another year or two in bottle to fan its tail out a little more and then drink it over the next 15-18 years.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040
Vinous – 93
The 2018 Petit Cheval is a rich, heady wine. The natural intensity of the year comes through loud and clear in the wine’s super-ripe profile and voluptuous feel. Black cherry, tobacco, new leather, licorice and menthol saturate the palate. When I tasted it from barrel I thought the Petit Cheval would drink well upon release, but I suggested cellaring for a few years. There’s a lot here.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2038
