Château Cheval Blanc 1969

Château Cheval Blanc

After a disastrous 1968, 1969 was once again suffered from poor weather in September that dashed any hopes for a great vintage. The wine lacked structure and has aged rapidly.

Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle

Temperatures and rainfall

The first three months of the growing season were rainy, with average temperatures. The summer months were drier, but heavy showers in September (194 mm) ruined any chance of excellent quality.

TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL

Water balance

In order to grow well, the vine needs for water stress to set in slowly so the grapes to ripen well and become concentrated. The water balance shows that medium-strong water stress occurred in July and August. For the second year in a row, this was unfortunately cancelled out by abundant rainfall in September. The soil was practically waterlogged during the harvest, which is very rare in Bordeaux.

1969 Water Balance

Growing season

The summer of 1969 was good for growing grapes, but the harvest was ruined by exceptionally wet weather in September. Yields were quite low (19 hectolitres per hectare), but the degree of alcohol was high (13°).

	Begin	End
1969 harvest dates	September, 29th	October, 8th
Average harvest dates: 1946-2014	September, 24th	October, 8th

Features of the vintage

Ripening and yields

1969 yield (hl/ha)		Average yield 46 – 14
19,3		33,9

Tasting

The 1969 growing season was ruined by heavy rain in September that dashed hopes raised by a dry summer. This is the first vintage in the estate’s history entirely bottled at the château. The wine lacks structure and has aged quickly. It was best enjoyed young.

Tastings

11/08/2015

15/04/2010

The 1969 growing season was ruined by heavy rain in September that dashed hopes raised by a dry summer. This is the first vintage in the estate’s history entirely bottled at the château.

The wine lacks structure and has aged quickly. It was best enjoyed young.