Château Cheval Blanc is one of the greatest estates of Saint-Émilion, and one of the most distinctive names on the whole of Bordeaux's Right Bank. It built its reputation on an unusually high share of Cabernet Franc, a grape most châteaux use only in support, and on a rare terroir of gravel, clay and sand right on the Pomerol border. The result is a wine that is perfumed and silky yet genuinely powerful, and one that ages for decades.
A rare terroir on the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol border
The 39-hectare vineyard sits where Saint-Émilion meets Pomerol, and that position tells you a great deal about the wine. Around 40% of the soil is gravel and another 40% is clay, including the deep blue clay in front of the château where the oldest Cabernet Franc vines grow. Held as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A from 1954, the estate has belonged since 1998 to LVMH's Bernard Arnault and the late Albert Frère, with Pierre Lurton running things day to day. In 2022 it chose to leave the Saint-Émilion classification altogether, confident its name needs no ranking. For more of the region, browse our wider Bordeaux range.
The Cheval Blanc style, the wines and the vintages
Cheval Blanc leads with Cabernet Franc and rounds it out with Merlot, which is why it smells of violets, black cherry, truffle, tobacco and cocoa, and feels like satin on the palate. The strongest vintages, the legendary 1947 among them, drink beautifully from around fifteen years and hold for half a century. When you want to open something sooner, the second wine Le Petit Cheval offers the house perfume at a younger age. It sits among the finest red wine in Bordeaux, blurring the usual line between Right Bank plushness and Left Bank structure.
Cheval Blanc FAQ
What makes Cheval Blanc different from other Bordeaux?
Its blend. Most great Bordeaux leans on Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, while Cheval Blanc is built around Cabernet Franc, which brings that floral lift and silky texture on gravel and clay soils.
How long does Cheval Blanc age?
It is one of the longest-lived wines in Bordeaux. Strong vintages reach their best from around fifteen years and can keep improving for forty or fifty, so it rewards patience in the cellar.
What food suits Cheval Blanc?
Classic red meat dishes. Roast lamb, beef, duck, veal and game all work well, and a little truffle on the plate echoes the note the wine develops with age.