Château Cheval Blanc 1956

Château Cheval Blanc

Not a single bottle of Cheval Blanc was produced in 1956 and a killing frost left traces on the vines for many years. Over 10 hectares needed to be entirely replanted.

Not a single bottle of Cheval Blanc was produced in 1956 and a killing frost left traces on the vines for many years. Over 10 hectares needed to be entirely replanted.

Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle

Temperatures and rainfall

1956 was a catastrophic year for Cheval Blanc. A terrible frost more or less wiped out the vineyard. The extremely cold temperatures (an average of -3 °C, i.e. 9.9 °C lower than average!) simply annihilated many vines. More than 10 hectares needed to be replanted. The Merlot vines were hit especially hard.

1956 : TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL COMPARED WITH NORMAL VALUES IN SAINT-EMILION

Water balance

1956 WATER BALANCE

Features of the vintage

Ripening and yields

The thermometer went as low as -20°C in Saint Emilion, and 1956 is considered an annus horibilis!  No one could remember such Arctic cold. The effect on Cheval Blanc was long-lasting: low yields for several years and with so many young Merlot vines after replanting, the blend reflected a high proportion of Cabernet Franc for several vintages.

Tasting

The thermometer went as low as -20°C in Saint Emilion, and 1956 is considered an annus horibilis! No one could remember such Arctic cold. The effect on Cheval Blanc was long-lasting: low yields for several years and with so many young Merlot vines after replanting, the blend reflected a high proportion of Cabernet Franc for several vintages.
Tastings
15/04/2010

The thermometer went as low as -20°C in Saint Emilion, and 1956 is considered an annus horibilis! No one could remember such Arctic cold. The effect on Cheval Blanc was long-lasting: low yields for several years and with so many young Merlot vines after replanting, the blend reflected a high proportion of Cabernet Franc for several vintages.