Château CHEVAL BLANC 1974
Mythical, the Château Cheval Blanc is one of the greatest wines in the world.
Until 1835, the Cheval Blanc vineyard was an integral part of the Figeac estate. Sold in two stages, during the 19th century, to the owners of Château l'Evangile, the Fourcaud-Lussac family, the estate is created as such and enlarged by its descendants who will remain owners until the end of the XX Century. In 1998, the tandem Albert Frère - Bernard Arnault bought the shares of the Civil Society of the White Horse, but the continuity remains, in the person of the Director, Pierre Lurton and his team. In 2009, the LVMH group bought 50% of the shares in the personal holding of Bernard Arnault. Since 2011, vinification takes place in the new cellar designed by the architect Christian de Portzamparc; a vast, bright and ecological space dreamed by Pierre Lurton. Cheval Blanc has been confirmed as the first Grand Cru Classé A in the 2012 ranking, and thanks to the annexation of the neighboring castle Tour du Pin, 1.40 ha have been added to its property base.
With a very specific terroir, the vineyard is on the edge of Pomerol. The grape varieties are atypical for the Saint-Emilion region, with a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc than Merlot. This wine of great richness and beautiful smoothness is exotic with its characteristic aromas of spices and very ripe black fruits, with minty notes. Among the very great wines of Bordeaux, Cheval Blanc remains the longest at an excellent level. When bottled, the wine is often delicious. At the end of several decades of aging (in the great vintages), it is superb in intensity and richness. Some vintages, like 1947 or 1982, reach the pinnacle of perfection. Despite a slight qualitative downturn in the 1960s and 1970s, Château Cheval Blanc remains, unchallenged since 1954, on the highest step of the Saint-Emilion wine classification, ranked 1st Cru Classé A.
