Château Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classé A 1978

Lot presentation

Château Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classé A 1978

The wine

One of Bordeaux’s most beautiful labels, Château Cheval-Blanc remains among the elite of Saint-Emilion with each new vintage. Its strength resides in the domain’s magnificent terroir, where Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes thrive in their self-expression. The proportion of each can vary depending on the vintage, though there is usually more Merlot in the mix. This grape brings the sense of maturity and flavour, whilst the Cabernet Franc structures the wine. It has a deep colour, an intense ruby. On the nose there is an explosion of floral notes as well as blackcurrant, a flavour that carries through to the palate to blend with the powerful tannins. Cheval Blanc is one of the most concentrated Saint-Emilion wines and needs 15-25 years of ageing in order to fully develop. With its perfect balance, this cuvée has a mouthfeel that brings it in line with its fine neighbours in Pomerol.

Until 1835, the Cheval Blanc vineyard was part of Domaine de Figeac. Acquired by the owners of Château l’Evangile, the Fourcaud-Lussac family, in two stages during the 19th century, the estate itself was subsequently established and extended by their descendants, who continued to own it until the end of the 20th century. In 1998, Albert Frère and Bernard Arnault joined forced to acquire the shares of the Société Civile du Cheval Blanc with the same team and director, Pierre Lurton, remaining in place. In 2009, the LVMH group purchased 50% of Bernard Arnault’s personal stake in the estate.
Since 2011, vinification has been carried out in a state-of-the-art winery designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc, a vast, light-filled, environmentally friendly space bringing to life Pierre Lurton’s dream. Cheval Blanc was confirmed as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A in the 2012 classification, and thanks to the acquisition of neighbouring Château Tour du Pin, 1.40 hectares were added to the estate. Located on the edge of Pomerol, the vineyard lies on a highly specific terroir. The grape varieties planted there are unusual for Saint-Emilion, with a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc than Merlot. The estate benefits from exceptional plants, including prized massale selections of Cabernet Franc and some century-old vines.
Despite a slight dip in quality during the 1960s and 1970s, Château Cheval Blanc has remained, since 1954, at the pinnacle of Saint-Emilion’s classification as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A. The estate also produces a second wine, Petit Cheval, and a white wine. Cheval Blanc’s wines are renowned worldwide for their legendary finesse and remarkable ageing potential.