Château CHEVAL BLANC - Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2023
Le Petit Cheval Blanc was born from a unique project initiated after the acquisition of Château La Tour du Pin by Château Cheval Blanc in 2006. Located on the other side of the road connecting Saint-Émilion to Pomerol, this former classified growth had terroirs with characteristics particularly interesting for the production of great whites. Part of the vineyard was gradually restructured around Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The soils notably combine sandy and sandy-gravelly formations resting on more clayey horizons, capable of maintaining a regular water supply. This configuration allows the Sauvignon to retain freshness while developing a less strictly varietal expression. The Sémillon brings flesh, depth, and complementary aromatic evolution. Petit Cheval Blanc thus fits into an ambitious conception of dry white Bordeaux, with the precision and parcel work typical of the Cheval Blanc team.
The 2023 vintage blends 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Sémillon. Harvesting began on August 23 and ended on August 29, after a season marked by fairly regular rainfall and beneficial precipitation during maturation. A slight leaf thinning on the sunrise side helped homogenize ripeness while seeking floral, fruity, and mineral profiles rather than overly marked varietal expressions. After pressing, the lightly settled musts ferment in 600-liter demi-muids, 15-hectoliter casks, and various wooden vats. Batonage, frequent at the start of aging, is then spaced out according to tastings by the technical team. Blending takes place in February, then the wine continues aging for eighteen months before preparation for bottling. The vintage is 13.5% alcohol and was bottled on May 27, 2025.
The color presents a bright pale yellow hue, highlighted by silvery and slightly golden reflections. The nose opens on white peach, fresh pear, and citrus, before gaining nuances of white flowers, ripe lemon, and fine vegetal notes. The palate combines a lively attack with a more enveloping texture, where the tension of the Sauvignon meets the natural roundness of the Sémillon. Aging in large containers brings volume and a delicately creamy texture without imposing a dominant woody presence. Fine bitters structure the mid-palate and prolong a particularly appetizing saline sensation. The finish remains long and precise, on citrus, white fruits, and a discreet stony touch. Petit Cheval Blanc 2023 will accompany langoustines, roasted turbot, scallops, poultry with morels, lobster, or fish served with a creamy sauce.
Grape varieties: 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Sémillon
