About Château Cheval Blanc
Cheval Blanc lies at the northwestern edge of Saint-Émilion, close enough to Pomerol that its gravel and clay have more in common with Pétrus than with the limestone plateau around the town. That soil is why the estate planted so much Cabernet Franc, which struggles elsewhere on the Right Bank but ripens fully here. The vineyard runs to about thirty-nine hectares and the blend is usually close to half Cabernet Franc and half Merlot, an arrangement no other major Bordeaux estate matches. Bernard Arnault and Albert Frère bought the château in 1998, and a curved concrete winery designed by Christian de Portzamparc opened in 2011. Le Petit Cheval is the second wine.
Saint-Émilion and Pomerol meet at this corner of the Right Bank. Our Saint-Émilion Wines and Pomerol Wines pages cover the neighboring châteaux, and Bordeaux Wines holds the wider selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Cheval Blanc use so much Cabernet Franc?
The vineyard sits on gravel over clay rather than the limestone that covers most of Saint-Émilion, and that warmer, better drained soil ripens Cabernet Franc properly. Most Right Bank estates use it as a seasoning grape; here it is half the wine and the source of its floral, red-fruited character.
Why did Cheval Blanc leave the Saint-Émilion classification?
It withdrew before the 2022 revision, along with Château Ausone, objecting to criteria that gave weight to marketing, tourism and communication alongside the wine itself. Bottles from 2022 onward no longer carry Premier Grand Cru Classé A on the label, though nothing about the vineyard or the wine changed.
What is so famous about the 1947 Cheval Blanc?
It came from a scorching vintage that pushed alcohol and sugar to levels which should have produced a flawed wine and instead produced one of the most celebrated bottles ever made in Bordeaux. It is also among the most counterfeited wines in existence, so any bottle needs serious documentation.
How long does Cheval Blanc age?
Good vintages want twelve to fifteen years and hold for forty or more. The Cabernet Franc gives perfume early, which makes the wine seem ready before its structure has finished resolving.