Le Petit Cheval 2019 (750ML)

96 JS / 94 VM / 94 DE / 94 WI / 94 JA / 93 JD / 93 JA / 93 WE / 17 JR

This is so floral and beautiful with roses, violets and some lavender. Spices and stems, too. Medium-bodied, firm and bright with compact density to the wine. Beautiful tannins. This is extremely structured. Second wine of Cheval Blanc. 56% merlot and 44% cabernet franc. Try after 2027. - James Suckling

The 2019 Petit Cheval is a stunning second wine - if it can even be called that. In 2019, Petit Cheval is a blend of four parcels that were in the Grand Vin in 2018. Dark, supple and expressive, the 2019 offers up an exotic mélange of black cherry, spice, new leather and graphite, all of which build effortlessly in the glass. The Petit represents 5.5% of the château's production in 2019, but it is more of a second selection, as 12% of the wine that year was sold in bulk. -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media 

Gorgeous perfume on the nose, delicate but expressive blackcurrants and black cherries, has a real dark side to it but lifted by the perfume. Great acidity from the start, bright and vibrant with a cool and fresh mid palate. This feels quite charming and confident without being too confident. Round and smooth with mouthwatering acidity and lovely bright fruits but at the same time the texture is so soft and comforting. It feels like a cooler baby brother to the grand vin, one who has an effortless style. Brilliant. There are no specific plots of Petit Cheval so all the plots in this 2019 were in the grand vin in 2018, so there is 'zero consistency in terms of quantity, commercialisation and proportion' for Petit Cheval says technical director Pierre Olivier Clouet. At only 5.5% production, this is the rarest of the Cheval wines. A blend of 56% Merlot and 44% Cabernet Franc. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

A blend of 56% Merlot and 44% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Le Petit Cheval is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts with flamboyant notions of baked plums, blueberry preserves, and kirsch, plus suggestions of cedar chest and lavender. The full-bodied palate is bright, refreshing, and breezy with fine-grained tannins and a mineral-laced finish.-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Love this wine, and it has taken a leap in depth and character since the addition of Sémillion as of the 2018 vintage. Fleshy citrus comes through in the rich texture and a contrasting scrape of fresh acidities pulls everything in. Gooseberry and lime zest flavours pick up the pace with a bright Sauvignon Blanc character, all balanced out by the steadying hand of Sémillon. A clean finish, this is an excellent vintage of this wine.-Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2019 Château Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval is a solid (better than solid, actually) second wine offering beautiful elegance, purity, and finesse, which is what this estate does better than anyone. Complex notes of red and black currants, forest floor, cedarwood, and tobacco all define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, with silky, fine-grained tannins, no hard edges, and just a seamless, elegant, layered style that will drink spectacularly well for 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Muscular frame with rippling tannins that close in on the finish but never hide the layers of black chocolate, bilberry and charcoal. Juicy but controlled, with tension right through the core. This is a serious wine, playing between dense and elegant. 5.5% of overall production in Petit Cheval, no added press wine. Harvest September 10 to October 4. 50% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

While Merlot is almost equal with Cabernet Franc in the blend, this second wine of Cheval Blanc, has plenty of structure. At the same time, it has beautifully opulent fruit and ripe blackberry flavors. It will age well over the medium-term. Drink from 2025.  - RV, Wine Enthusiast

Perfumed, floral nose with an innate sweetness that stays through to the palate. Perhaps not quite as fragrant as 2018. Round and flattering on the palate, the attack direct, texture smooth and tannins finely honed. Point of acidity for freshness. Decent length. - Jancis Robinson