Chateau Cheval Blanc
One of Bordeaux’s most complex terroirs, Cheval Blanc sits on the site of an ancient river delta, with (to generalize) clay-rich soils in the lower-lying parts where rivulets once flowed and gravel and sand elsewhere. This complexity is reflected, of course, in the resulting wine but also in how it is farmed and made, with thoughtful use of cover crops according to soil type and parcel-by-parcel vinification.
A concerted effort is being made, moreover, to bring life back to the vineyard, with hedges of native species to act as wildlife corridors and fruit trees planted among the vines. The same attention to detail that’s applied in the vineyards, for example with regard to developing and testing an in-house massal selection, is applied in the cellar, where cooperage trials are notable for their exigence.
- Appellation: Bordeaux
- Owner: Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frere
- Winemaker: Cellar Master: Thierry Garnaud. Œnologists: Cornelis Van Leeuwen, Gilles Pauquet
- Varieties Grown: Carbenet Franc, Carbernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Hectares/Age of Vines: 39.5 hectares / 45 years old
- Altitude/Soil: Clay, gravel and sand
- Farming Methods: N/A
Wines
Red
Rose
White
Sparkling
Sweet
Fortified
Spirits
Cider