Chateau Cheval Blanc2015
RED WINE
- Producer Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Appellation Saint-Emilion
- UPC 0 15643 50657 4
Reviews
James Suckling 98
Not a particularly deep color for this very ripe vintage, but this has a really beautiful nose, with a wide spectrum of red and black fruit, plus some floral notes. Rich, yet poised, with excellent balance of ripe fruit and full, fine tannin. Very long finish that's bright and lively, considering the imposing scale of this wine. Drink or hold.
by JS, James Suckling , 2022
Vinous Media 99
Totally seamless in the glass, with no beginning and no end, the 2015 Cheval Blanc is simply extraordinary. It's hard to describe the 2015, because all of its elements are so perfectly in place. Beautifully delineated aromatics make a strong opening statement. Vibrant and wonderfully nuanced on the palate, the wine exudes energy and vitality through to the persistent, silky finish. Many other 2015s speak with more assertiveness and volume, but Cheval Blanc is more understsated.
by AG, Vinous Media , 2018
Wine Enthusiast 100
Cellar Selection
Made with 45% Cabernet Franc, this great wine offers a beautiful, rich and perfumed character. This is an exceptional vintage for this estate which incorporated into the blend fruit from parcels of the vineyard that would normally go into the second wine. It is packed with black-fruit flavors and broad tannins, with a background of juicy acidity and a firm structure.
by RV, Wine Enthusiast , 2018
Wine Spectator 98
A lovely sanguine hint leads off, followed by racy, elegant juniper, tobacco, red currant and damson plum notes that move in unison. Broadens and deepens, adding notes of currant preserves, warm ganache and smoldering tobacco, with a swath of loamy structure. Yet even as the bass line increases in volume through the finish, this maintains purity and poise. Should deliver some stunning aromatics at peak, which will take awhile to achieve.
by JM, Wine Spectator , 2018
Wine Advocate 100
As many readers may know, 2015 was the first year since 1988 that Cheval Blanc did not produce its second wine, Petit Cheval. This said, parts of two of the Cheval Blanc blocks were not used at all—Plot 17A and the north part of Plot 10—which had problems with water availability during the dry spell, and the fruit was sold for bulk. Therefore, this vintage of the Grand Vin equates to roughly 90% of the total production, making it one of the most complete expressions of Cheval Blanc ever produced. Composed of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cheval Blanc slowly opens up to reveal plum preserves, black forest cake, blackberry pie and pronounced licorice notes with suggestions of cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, dried Provence herbs and lavender plus wafts of iron ore and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and densely packed with incredible layers of black, red and blue fruits, it completely fills the palate with energy and expression, framed by very ripe, wonderfully velvety tannins and a racy line of acid, finishing with incredible length and poise. At once achingly graceful and captivatingly cerebral, this is a legendary vintage for this great estate.
by LPB, Wine Advocate , 2018
Technical Details
Background
The bud-break of the vine was correct, and flowering took place in fairly good conditions. Despite a near average berry weight, performance was fairly significantly below the normal value for both varieties.Early water stress reduced the size of the berries for Merlot. The rains of August further impacted the weight of Cabernet franc berries, a later variety.
The composition of the must reflected the good ripening conditions. The grapes were rich in sugar and low in malic acid. The average degree of Cabernet Franc was slightly higher than the Merlot, which had already been observed in 2011. However, thanks to the cool conditions of the end of the season, the pH steeping were lower than the mean values and the grapes kept a very good aromatic freshness. They were moderately rich in phenolic compounds.
The grapes were poor in nitrogen, especially for Merlot. This low nitrogen supply poses no qualitative problem, but the vats needed added nitrogen to ensure a good fermentation of the musts.
2015 is a dry year, punctuated by rain at veraison. The beginning of the year was hot and cooler temperatures were recorded during the ripening period. These climatic conditions were favorable for maturation. The wines of 2015 are particularly harmonious and balanced.