2021 Le Petit Cheval Blanc

Le Petit Cheval Blanc

Bordeaux Blend White

France / Bordeaux / Libournais / Saint-Emilion

$175
RP 90
V 94
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 12

2021 Chateau Cheval Blanc 'Le Petit Cheval Blanc' White, Bordeaux, France

Technical Sheet

For more than 10 years, Château Cheval Blanc has challenged itself to produce a great white wine on this small 6.6 hectares vineyard nested in the parcels of its elder.

A genuine variation, in white, of the identity of Cheval Blanc, this wine is a blend of some 12 different plots, on clay, sandy and gravelly soils, where 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% sémillon fit perfectly.

TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL
The 2021 vintage is average in terms of rainfall (789 mm), as is the temperature (13.8°C), which is nevertheless one degree lower than in the last three vintages. The heavy rainfall in May (102 mm) and June (166 mm) was significantly above normal, as the average for these months since 1955 is around 60 mm.

The vintage was characterised by a summer of alternating sun and rain. In mid-August, drier weather, with occasional showers, set in until the relatively late harvest.

CYCLE DE LA VIGNE
A very classic, average cycle: bud-break, which began around March 15 th, was relatively long, with an average around March 26 th. Flowering was prompt, at the beginning of June, veraison began at the end of July and finished at the beginning of August. It was not until a few days before the harvest that moderate water stress appeared.
The harvest, late for this vintage, ran from 10 to 16 September.
Slight leaf thinning in the rising sun homogenises the ripening process, and inhibits "green varietal" notes, sometimes attributed to sauvignon blanc, giving rise to floral, fruity and mineral wines.

VINIFICATION
At the end of pressing, the lightly settled grape musts ferment in demi-muids (600L), foudres (15hL) and wooden vats (15, 20, 25 and 30 hL).
After vinification, the rhythm of stirring, initially on a daily basis, decreases, according to the team's tastings.

The wines blended in February continue to age for 18 months. Then they are racked into vats, for massing, stabilisation, fining and clarification, and are finally bottled on May 16th.

Blend: 83 % sauvignon blanc, 17 % sémillon
Yield: 39 hL/ha
Ageing: 20 months
Bottled on: May 16th 2023
Production: 27 993 bottles and 813 magnums
Alcohol content: 14°

TASTING NOTES
Yellow colour with green highlights.
A nose of great freshness and precision, with a fine diversity of white-fleshed and citrus fruits. The wine's energy is already perceptible.
On the palate, the attack is full, straight and full-bodied. It is well balanced between acidity, tension and volume. The bitterness gives a long, lingering finish on the palate, giving it a salivating minerality.

RP 90

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A rich and exotic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, the 2021 Le Petit Cheval Blanc bursts with aromas of green mango, passion fruit, lime and white flowers, followed by a medium-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that's satiny, textural and perfumed. Reviewed by William Kelley, Issue date: February, 2024. Drinking window: 2023 - 2030.
V 94

Vinous

The 2021 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Silky and intensely aromatic, with tons of Sauvignon Blanc character, the 2021 is all raciness. Pear, slate, mint, crushed rocks, lime and white pepper abound, all framed by brisk acids and gorgeous saline undertones. The 2021 is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. It aged for 22 months, mostly in foudres and wood uprights. What a wine! Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: December 2023. Drinking window: 2023 - 2033.

For INTERNATIONAL shipping, click HERE.

We ship within the United States to:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
RP 90

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A rich and exotic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, the 2021 Le Petit Cheval Blanc bursts with aromas of green mango, passion fruit, lime and white flowers, followed by a medium-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that's satiny, textural and perfumed. Reviewed by William Kelley, Issue date: February, 2024. Drinking window: 2023 - 2030.
V 94

Vinous

The 2021 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Silky and intensely aromatic, with tons of Sauvignon Blanc character, the 2021 is all raciness. Pear, slate, mint, crushed rocks, lime and white pepper abound, all framed by brisk acids and gorgeous saline undertones. The 2021 is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. It aged for 22 months, mostly in foudres and wood uprights. What a wine! Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: December 2023. Drinking window: 2023 - 2033.

2021 Chateau Cheval Blanc 'Le Petit Cheval Blanc' White, Bordeaux, France

Technical Sheet

For more than 10 years, Château Cheval Blanc has challenged itself to produce a great white wine on this small 6.6 hectares vineyard nested in the parcels of its elder.

A genuine variation, in white, of the identity of Cheval Blanc, this wine is a blend of some 12 different plots, on clay, sandy and gravelly soils, where 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% sémillon fit perfectly.

TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL
The 2021 vintage is average in terms of rainfall (789 mm), as is the temperature (13.8°C), which is nevertheless one degree lower than in the last three vintages. The heavy rainfall in May (102 mm) and June (166 mm) was significantly above normal, as the average for these months since 1955 is around 60 mm.

The vintage was characterised by a summer of alternating sun and rain. In mid-August, drier weather, with occasional showers, set in until the relatively late harvest.

CYCLE DE LA VIGNE
A very classic, average cycle: bud-break, which began around March 15 th, was relatively long, with an average around March 26 th. Flowering was prompt, at the beginning of June, veraison began at the end of July and finished at the beginning of August. It was not until a few days before the harvest that moderate water stress appeared.
The harvest, late for this vintage, ran from 10 to 16 September.
Slight leaf thinning in the rising sun homogenises the ripening process, and inhibits "green varietal" notes, sometimes attributed to sauvignon blanc, giving rise to floral, fruity and mineral wines.

VINIFICATION
At the end of pressing, the lightly settled grape musts ferment in demi-muids (600L), foudres (15hL) and wooden vats (15, 20, 25 and 30 hL).
After vinification, the rhythm of stirring, initially on a daily basis, decreases, according to the team's tastings.

The wines blended in February continue to age for 18 months. Then they are racked into vats, for massing, stabilisation, fining and clarification, and are finally bottled on May 16th.

Blend: 83 % sauvignon blanc, 17 % sémillon
Yield: 39 hL/ha
Ageing: 20 months
Bottled on: May 16th 2023
Production: 27 993 bottles and 813 magnums
Alcohol content: 14°

TASTING NOTES
Yellow colour with green highlights.
A nose of great freshness and precision, with a fine diversity of white-fleshed and citrus fruits. The wine's energy is already perceptible.
On the palate, the attack is full, straight and full-bodied. It is well balanced between acidity, tension and volume. The bitterness gives a long, lingering finish on the palate, giving it a salivating minerality.

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