Le Petit Cheval 2018 (750ML)

93-95 JD / 94 JS / 94 WE / 93 DE / 93 WCI / 92 WA / 91 WS / 90 VM / 17+ JR

In the running for the top second wine of the vintage, the 2018 Le Petit Cheval checks in as 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and has incredible quality for a second wine. Floral notes of black cherries, graphite, and smoked earth all emerge from this medium to full-bodied Saint-Émilion that has plenty of classic Cheval Blanc elegance and purity as well as length. It’s already seamless and hard to resist, and ideal for drinking over the coming two decades or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

Beautiful aromas of bark, dried mushroom, berry and tile follow through to a full body with richness of fruit, creamy and ripe tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs two or three years to come around. Try after 2024. - James Suckling

The second wine of Château Cheval Blanc, this is rich and structured in its own right. It offers powerful tannins as well as ripe, smoky fruitiness. Blackberry flavors vie with structured richness, always keeping a center of freshness. The wine will age well and should not be drunk before 2026. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

This is sappy and bright, very light on its feet; an excellent second wine that is hard to argue with. A yield of 44hl/ha. The production split for this vintage was 74% Cheval Blanc, 10% Petit Cheval and 16% sold in bulk (including all of their press).  Drinking Window 2025 - 2040 - Jane Anson, Decanter

A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Le Petit Cheval rocks up with open-knit notes of crushed black raspberries, plum preserves and mulberries, plus hints of wild mushrooms, pencil lead, mossy tree bark and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush, juicy and pretty much ready for business, featuring plenty of earth and black fruit layers, finishing long with a spicy kick. Ten percent of the total production this year went into this second label of Cheval Blanc. I'd give it just another year or two in bottle to fan its tail out a little more and then drink it over the next 15-18 years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Nicely focused, with a mix of red and black currant coulis notes laced with savory details and a fine chalky thread. There is tight-grained cedar on the finish, with lingering perfume as well. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 872 cases made. - Wine Spectator

The 2018 Le Petit Cheval has a pretty bouquet that demands some coaxing from the glass (indeed, I left the bottle a couple of hours to fully open). Blackberry and bilberry fruit, tobacco and light autumn leaf aromas gently unfold but never slip into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with a leafy, slightly herbaceous entry that I personally like, though others seeking more fruit intensity might find it a little lean. But it is fresh and harmonious, and very classic in style, with residues of tobacco and bell pepper on the aftertaste. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media