Piotr Tomaszewski
Google
One of four best vinery in Saint-Ėmilion with Piere Lurton real star on the top. Architects Christian de Portzampar.
•Châteaux Cheval Blanc, 2016
• Is dominated by Merlot at 59% with 38% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, which returns in this year’s blend.
•Château Cheval Blanc, 2015
For the first time in the history of Château Cheval Blanc, there will be no 2015 Petit Cheval. All grapes from this harvest were soo good to go into a proces of making the grand Vin.
2015 Château Cheval Blanc.
55% Merlot
45% Cabernet Franc.
The average sugar content on the Cab Franc were higher than the Merlot (Similar to 2011).
Vine from forty - one plots went to the blend.
Weather Conditions
Temperature and precipitation were near to average during the first three months of the year.The rest of 2015 was very dry.
535 mm of rainfall, the second dryer vintage after 2005 (501 mm) in 20 years.
Only a rainy first two weeks of August. But after the 15th of August dry weather come back again.
The Growth cycle
Bud break in 2015 was the latest for the last 25 years of Ch. Blanc, normal growth with short and fast flowering (from April to July). Similar situation with Véraison: rapid and even. Quick ripening, especially on gravelly soil. August shower gave a boost to photosynthesis. Small berry size.
Merlot was picked on the 3th of September, just 31 days after mid-véraison. Harvest was finished on the 6th of October (34 days), another record at Ch. Blanc.
Good ripening condition, grapes had high sugar levels and a low malic acid content. But thanks to the cool end of the season, the grapes had a lower pH than usual and a very good aromatic freshnest.
Deep ruby and red color, quite intense with a touch of purple shadow (the efect of cool Autumn) with a lot of sexy legs on the glass. Very shiny.
Rich clean nose, midium plus, with a big basket of of autumn fruits, like red apples, plums, sour cherries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blueberries and forest berrys jam with overtones of violet, purple roses and lilac.
Wet wooden floor, pencils shapes and balsamic aromas with a black and a white peper, an aniseed and cinnamon.
Dry, midium palate with similar character of fruits and flowers, like on the nose side with a creme de cassis, ripe soft tannin and soft almonds. Concentrated wine with long finish. Midium plus acid. Power full on one side and round, elegant, well structured wine on the other side. Well build architecture shape. Very long finish.
Big potential for aging. Minimum 12 years, to show the all power of this vintage.
I can't wait, for another chance to tast this wine again, in few years.
Outstanding, premium wine and vintage.
P.T.
Tasted on the 5th of April, 2016.
•The best vintage for this Château was probebly 1947.
