Château Cheval Blanc 1997 (Red)

The wines of the legendary Château Cheval Blanc are among the best in the world. Until 1835 Cheval Blanc's vineyard was part of Figeac. Sold in two stages during the 19th century to the Fourcaud-Lussac family, the owners of Château l'Evangile, a separate estate was created and expanded by their descendants, who remained the owners until the end of the 20th century. In 1998, Albert Frère and Bernard Arnault joined forces to buy the Cheval Blanc Société Civile, but the same team and director, Pierre Lurton, remained in place. In 2009 the LVMH group bought 50% of Bernard Arnault's personal stake. Located on the edge of Pomerol, the vineyard has a very particular terroir. The grape varieties planted are unusual for the Saint Emilion, with a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc than Merlot. Tremendously rich and smooth, this wine is characterized by exotic flavours, with notes of spices and very ripe black fruit, and a just a hint of mint. Ranked among Bordeaux's greatest wines, Cheval Blanc has maintained an excellent level of quality for many years. This wine is usually delicious even at bottling. After ageing for several decades (in the great vintages) it develops a superb intensity and richness. Some vintages, such as 1947 or 1982, reach extraordinary levels of perfection. Despite a slight wobble in quality in the 1960s and 1970s, Château Cheval Blanc has remained at the top since 1954, with the highest possible rank of Premier Cru Classé A in the Saint Emilion classification. You will not find any 1991 Cheval Blanc. The wine was not produced in that year.

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.

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