Château Cheval Blanc
1949 was marked by severe drought conditions. This dry weather concentrated the grapes, enabling them to produce remarkable wine, the last of the decade’s trio of great vintages. Possessing a remarkable tannic structure and enormous aromatic complexity, 1949 can be considered the epitome of Cheval Blanc’s true essence compared to the atypical 1947 and 1948
1949 was marked by severe drought conditions. This dry weather concentrated the grapes, enabling them to produce remarkable wine, the last of the decade’s trio of great vintages. Possessing a remarkable tannic structure and enormous aromatic complexity, 1949 can be considered the epitome of Cheval Blanc’s true essence compared to the atypical 1947 and 1948
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
Water balance
1949 was a very dry year, with virtually no precipitation for three months starting on the 10th of June. The water balance shows that a deficit affecting certain plots, with some vines losing part of their leaves.
Growing season
| Begin | End | |
| 1949 harvest dates | September, 29th | October, 9th |
|---|---|---|
| Average harvest dates:1946-2014 | September, 24th | October, 8th |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
The harvest took place without difficulty, but yields were low: just 24.8 hectolitres per hectare. This was largely because of small berries due to water stress. These were consequently very concentrated.
| 1949 yield (hl/ha) | Average yield: 1946 to 2014 | |
| 24.8 | 33.9 | |
Cellar work
Fermentation was not complicated and the alcoholic degree was 12.5°, which was fairly high at the time.
Tasting
The nose is dominated by ripe fruit aromas and an exotic note of fresh banana. Intensely floral, the nose later opens on the very noble note of raspberries, both fresh and in compote, reflecting an exceptional complexity.
The mouth is dense and powerful, driven by an intact freshness. The palate is filled by this bold wine, sweet and of large ampleness. Racy and elegant, this is an exceptional wine with aromas of undergrowth, cedar and truffles and great mineral tension. The finish is interminably long.This is the last of the trio of great vintages from the 1940s. The final blend, made predominately with Cabernet Franc, has tremendous aromatic complexity.
This is unquestionably a great Cheval Blanc. The nose displays some cocoa notes and a perfect balance between freshness and ripeness, along with hints of liquorice, fireplace aromas, and cold smoke, then opening up to reveal vibrant fruity and floral notes. The tannin is both rich and firm.
The wine has an aristocratic structure and an aftertaste that just goes on and on.
Despite its age (sixty-five years old), 1949 Cheval Blanc seems eternally youthful.The nose is dominated by ripe fruit aromas and an exotic note of fresh banana. Intensely floral, the nose later opens on the very noble note of raspberries, both fresh and in compote, reflecting an exceptional complexity.
The mouth is dense and powerful, driven by an intact freshness. The palate is filled by this bold wine, sweet and of large ampleness. Racy and elegant, this is an exceptional wine with aromas of undergrowth, cedar and truffles and great mineral tension. The finish is interminably long.
This is the last of the trio of great vintages from the 1940s. The final blend, made predominately with Cabernet Franc, has tremendous aromatic complexity.
This is unquestionably a great Cheval Blanc. The nose displays some cocoa notes and a perfect balance between freshness and ripeness, along with hints of liquorice, fireplace aromas, and cold smoke, then opening up to reveal vibrant fruity and floral notes. The tannin is both rich and firm.
The wine has an aristocratic structure and an aftertaste that just goes on and on.
Despite its age (sixty-five years old), 1949 Cheval Blanc seems eternally youthful.