Chateau Cheval Blanc 2010

Château Cheval Blanc occupies one of the most distinctive terroirs in Saint-Émilion, immediately beside the Pomerol border. Unlike the Merlot-dominated profile typically associated with the Right Bank, Cheval Blanc has long been defined by its unusually important plantings of Cabernet Franc, which bring perfume, freshness, structure, and exceptional longevity to the wine.

Historically recognized as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Cheval Blanc sits among Bordeaux's most collectible estates. Its approach is intensely parcel-focused: individual vineyard plots are vinified separately, with each parcel assigned to its own vat. The final 2010 blend is reported by Wine Advocate as 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot, an unusually Cabernet Franc-driven composition that helped give this vintage its remarkable aromatic intensity and structure.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep, saturated garnet-purple, with remarkable concentration and still considerable youthful depth.

Nose: Intensely layered blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, and Morello cherry unfold alongside violet and other floral notes. With air, the fruit gives way to graphite, cigar box, forest floor, sandalwood, spice, mint, and dark chocolate.

Palate: Powerful and concentrated, but extraordinarily refined. Dense black and blue fruits are wrapped in ultra-fine tannins, with graphite, cocoa, spice, mineral, and earthy complexity emerging underneath. The Cabernet Franc provides remarkable freshness and aromatic lift despite the sheer scale of the wine.

Finish: Exceptionally long and mineral-driven, carrying dark fruit, earth, graphite, spice, and floral character seemingly without end. Its combination of immense concentration and precision is what separates this vintage from simply being a powerful Bordeaux.