Chateau Cheval Blanc   Cheval Blanc

2013 Cheval Blanc

By Chateau Cheval Blanc

2013 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux

The 2013 vintage in Bordeaux was not without its challenges; a late flowering, damp summer, and hailstorms set the scene for a year that demanded the utmost skill and precision from the region's vintners. Nevertheless, Chateau Cheval Blanc rose admirably to the occasion, crafting a 2013 Cheval Blanc that showcases both resilience and elegance.

 

Harmonious Balance: A Testament to Tenacity

Despite the testing conditions, the 2013 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc emerges as a testament to the painstaking care taken in the vineyard and the adept adaptation in the cellar. This vintage emanates a layered complexity, a multifaceted expression of Cabernet Franc blended masterfully with Merlot. It speaks to the triumph of unstinting attention to detail against climatic adversity.

 

Climatic Influence on Character

The cooler conditions of 2013 translated into an uncustomary restraint for this typically opulent wine; a paradoxical mix of concentration and finesse is evidenced in its structure. The gently bracing acidity interlaces with supple tannins to fashion a frame around the core of dark berries, nuanced by whiffs of fresh herb and forest floor that resonate a unique identity of place and time.

Fruit harvesting at Chateau Cheval Blanc was taken to the eleventh hour, ensuring optimal ripeness; this meticulous timing is mirrored in the 2013 Cheval Blanc’s poised fruit profile. Investors with an appreciation for vintages born out of challenge might well find their diligence rewarded by this particular Saint-Émilion, as it hints at promising development over time.

In sum, for enthusiasts keen on adding a Bordeaux that speaks of resilience and subtlety to their portfolios, the 2013 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc offers just that. Its intriguing juxtaposition of poise against adversity encapsulates an exceptional narrative worthy of investment consideration.

Current market price

£4,100.00

12x75cl

Highest score

92

POP score

341.67

Scores and tasting notes

92

Medium garnet colored, the 2013 Cheval Blanc has a captivating, open-knit nose of roses and lilacs over a core of fragrant soil, charcuterie, kirsch and raspberry preserves plus a waft of stewed plums. Medium-bodied, chewy and with tons of spring to its step, the palate is delicately fruited with an earthy finish.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 August 2018

89-91

The final blend of the 2013 Cheval Blanc is 53% Cabernet Franc and 47% Merlot. It is a light- to medium-bodied, but stylish, perfumed, complex wine exhibiting hints of forest floor, raspberries and underbrush in a gentle, nicely textured style that builds incrementally in the mouth. Attractive fruit and substance give the wine more completeness than many of its peers. Administrator Pierre Lurton compares it, in a positive manner, to the style of the 2001, but I do not think it has quite the richness of that vintage. Nevertheless, this is an early-maturing, easygoing Cheval Blanc to drink in its first 10-12 years of life.

Cheval Blanc began their harvest on September 26 and, because of the tropical humidity and disease pressure, finished quickly.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #214 Aug 2014

Vintage performance