Le Petit Cheval 2022

Exotic fruits, limes, pink grapefruit and a hint of vanilla; juicy palate, slightly creamy texture, great acidity, crisp fruit, shows power and fullness, a certain warmth, while remaining fresh and very elegant, long finish, ending on salted caramel.

A pure version, with a mix of sel gris, quinine and Key lime notes leading the way, backed by subtle accents of lemon curd, salted butter and honeysuckle. The long, refined finish shows a flash of wet stone. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2027. 1,452 cases made, 250 cases imported.

Lovely density and brightness to this wine with white lilacs, pear blossoms and citrus fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, it has creamy texture and hints of salt and lemon rind. Sliced-pear undertones. There’s a pretty richness and complexity at the same time plus plenty of energy for the harvest. 71% sauvignon blanc and 29% semillon. Drink or hold.

The 2022 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) bristles with hints of pear, white flowers, mint, sage, dried herbs and tangerine oil. Light tropical overtones appear with air, adding lovely nuance. Today, I find the 2022 a bit tight. My impression is that this fruit may have been picked too early. There was probably not an attractive alternative. It will be interesting to see if this softens a bit with time in bottle.

Flowers, lemon, lime, orange rind, honeysuckle, and fresh-cut lawn grass create the nose. The palate is refined, medium-bodied, vibrant, and a touch salty, with an elegantly textured, lemon curd–oriented finish. Drink from 2025–2037.

The 2022 Château Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval Blanc comes from vines just across the road from the château and is 70% Sauvignon and 30% Semillon, brought up in a mix of demi-muids and foudre for 20 months. Green citrus, crushed mint, and citrus rind define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a vibrant, layered yet racy mouthfeel, beautiful balance, and a great finish.

This has tension, fresh figs, white peach, liquorice root, mint leaf, lemon verbena, spiced white pear and citrus blossom. Less grip than in cooler vintages, as you would expect, but this has been well handled, with an attractive savoury edge and a bitter fennel character that helps give focus and length. Harvested August 19, with 20 months of ageing in large oak casks for the whites, the longest to date; 10% new oak, spread across a mix of 600L demi-muids for 20% of the volume and the rest in larger oak casks of various sizes. Estate Director Pierre-Olivier Clouet.

The wine has a herbal aroma with a touch of toast on a rich, citrus wine. It is packed with freshness, hinting at tropical fruits such as pineapple. The aftertaste is bright and fruity. Once Cheval Blanc decided to commit all its red vines to the grand vin, it launched the first vintage of this small-production white in 2016.